Shloka 39
Episode of Vena: The Power of Association and Revā (Narmadā) Tīrtha
ऋषय ऊचुः । मातामहस्य को दोषस्तं नो विस्तरतो वद । स मृत्युः स च वै कालः स यमो धर्म एव च
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | mātāmahasya ko doṣastaṃ no vistarato vada | sa mṛtyuḥ sa ca vai kālaḥ sa yamo dharma eva ca
เหล่าฤๅษีกล่าวว่า “โทษของตาฝ่ายมารดาคืออะไร จงบอกเราโดยพิสดาร เขาคือความตาย เขานั่นแลคือกาลเวลา เขาคือยมะ และเขาคือธรรมะเอง”
Ṛṣis (sages)
Concept: Cosmic governance is unified: Death, Time, Yama, and Dharma are interrelated powers; therefore ‘fault’ attributed to such a principle demands careful explanation.
Application: Before blaming fate, lineage, or ‘time’, inquire into causes with humility; distinguish between personal choice (saṅga) and impersonal law (kāla/dharma).
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A circle of sages raises a profound question in a quiet sacrificial hall, their faces lit by a steady lamp. Behind them, a symbolic cosmic tableau appears: a shadowy figure of Kāla with a wheel, Yama with a noose, and Dharma as a radiant judge—shown not as separate rivals but as facets of one law.","primary_figures":["Ṛṣis (sages)","symbolic Kāla","symbolic Yama","symbolic Dharma","symbolic Mṛtyu"],"setting":"Hermitage assembly hall with yajña implements, palm-leaf manuscripts, and a central lamp; the cosmic figures appear as a visionary backdrop in the sky or on a tapestry-like aura.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["deep umber","lamp gold","indigo","vermillion","pearl white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: sages seated in a semicircle within an ornate mandapa, gold leaf lamp glow and embossed halos; above them a visionary panel: Kāla with a wheel, Yama with pāśa, Dharma enthroned—rendered with traditional iconographic richness, gem-studded ornaments, and a unified golden aura indicating one cosmic order; intricate borders and lotus medallions.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: refined sages in a quiet hall, subtle visionary cloud above showing Kāla-Yama-Dharma as translucent figures; cool indigo shadows with warm lamp highlights; delicate manuscript details and expressive hands in inquiry mudrā; lyrical restraint, philosophical mood.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines; sages with large eyes and calm intensity; central lamp; above, stylized cosmic figures with strong red/yellow/green pigments, Yama’s noose clearly outlined, Kāla’s wheel motif prominent; temple-wall symmetry and decorative bands.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: sages framed by ornate floral borders; the cosmic law depicted through symbolic motifs—wheel (kāla), noose (yama), scales or scripture (dharma)—interwoven with lotus patterns; deep blue cloth with gold and white detailing, devotional yet philosophical composition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["single temple lamp crackle","soft bell at question onset","low tanpura drone","page-turning of manuscripts (subtle)","silence after ‘dharma eva ca’"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दोषस्तम् = दोषः + तम्.
FAQs
“Mātāmaha” is a common epithet for Brahmā, regarded as the grandsire of beings through creation and lineage.
The verse compresses a theological idea that cosmic governance is unified: time brings decay, death ends embodied life, Yama administers post-mortem justice, and Dharma is the underlying moral-cosmic law.
It implies that consequences are not arbitrary: the “judge” of deeds functions according to Dharma, encouraging responsibility, restraint, and righteous conduct.