Shloka 43
The Episode of Cyavana
Cyavana’s Hermitage and the Power of Tapas
तदानुग्रहमाधाच्च सर्वभक्षो भवाञ्छुचिः । इत्युक्तवान्हुतभुजं दयार्द्रो मुनितापसः
tadānugrahamādhācca sarvabhakṣo bhavāñchuciḥ | ityuktavānhutabhujaṃ dayārdro munitāpasaḥ
แล้วท่านฤๅษีผู้บำเพ็ญตบะ ผู้เปี่ยมด้วยเมตตา ได้ประทานพระกรุณาและกล่าวแก่อหุตภุชะ (อัคนี) ว่า “จงเป็นผู้บริโภคสรรพสิ่ง แต่จงดำรงความบริสุทธิ์ไว้เสมอ”
A compassionate ascetic-sage (muni-tāpasaḥ)
Concept: Purity is not merely about what is consumed, but about the sanctifying power and intention that transforms contact into purification—Agni can ‘eat all’ yet remain śuci.
Application: Engage the world without inner contamination: perform duties amid mixed circumstances while maintaining integrity, discernment, and a purifying purpose (like fire that burns impurities).
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A compassionate ascetic-sage, matted hair and calm eyes, raises a hand in blessing toward Agni, who rises as a controlled, luminous flame from a small altar. The fire’s tongues touch offerings of varied kinds—grains, leaves, ghee—yet the aura around Agni remains crystal-clear, suggesting purity that sanctifies all it contacts.","primary_figures":["Muni-tāpasaḥ (compassionate sage)","Agni (Hutabhuj)"],"setting":"Forest hermitage yajña-śālā with a modest brick altar, kusa/darbha bundles, and a quiet grove beyond.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["vermillion flame","smoky amber","ash white","sandalwood beige","deep forest green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a serene tapasvin-sage bestowing anugraha mudrā upon Agni emerging from a yajña-kuṇḍa, gold leaf embellishment on the flame halo and ornaments, rich reds and greens, gem-studded altar details, traditional South Indian iconographic symmetry, intricate floral borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate sage with soft facial features blessing a stylized Agni flame, cool natural palette with warm fire accents, lyrical forest hermitage, fine linework on darbha and altar bricks, gentle atmospheric depth.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, Agni with radiant aureole and stylized flame-crown, sage in ochre garments, temple-wall aesthetic with red/yellow/green dominance, patterned background motifs of kusa grass and lotus medallions.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central sacred fire with lotus motifs and ornate borders, attendants implied as small figures, peacocks and floral vines framing the hermitage altar, deep indigo background with gold highlights, devotional symmetry reminiscent of Nathdwara textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","gentle crackle of fire","conch shell (distant)","forest birds","brief silence after the boon"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तदानुग्रहमाधाच्च = तदा + अनुग्रहम् + आधात् + च; भवाञ्छुचिः = भवान् + शुचिः; उक्तवान्हुतभुजं = उक्तवान् + हुतभुजम्.
FAQs
The verse frames Agni’s consuming power as inherently purificatory: even when it ‘takes in’ all offerings or substances, its nature is śuci (pure), symbolizing transformation rather than contamination.
It teaches that one can engage with the world’s complexities without losing inner purity—by acting as a purifier/transformer rather than being morally ‘stained’ by contact.
Hutabhuj means “eater of oblations,” highlighting Agni’s Vedic role as the receiver and conveyor of offerings, fitting the context of being empowered to ‘consume all’ while remaining pure.