Shloka 31
The Abduction/Seduction of Ahalyā and Indra’s Mark
Sahasrākṣa
पश्यंति मुनिशार्दूला नराः सिद्धास्सहोरगाः । एवमुक्त्वा मुनिश्रेष्ठो रुदंतीं तां पतिव्रताम्
paśyaṃti muniśārdūlā narāḥ siddhāssahoragāḥ | evamuktvā muniśreṣṭho rudaṃtīṃ tāṃ pativratām
เหล่ามุนีผู้ดุจพยัคฆ์เฝ้ามอง—พร้อมด้วยมนุษย์ เหล่าสิทธะ และนาคทั้งหลาย ครั้นกล่าวดังนี้แล้ว มุนีผู้ประเสริฐยิ่งจึงหันไปกล่าวแก่ภรรยาผู้ภักดีนั้นซึ่งกำลังร่ำไห้
Narrator (contextual; the verse describes events rather than direct speech)
Concept: Private conduct becomes a matter of cosmic dharma when witnessed by the righteous; the pativratā ideal is tested under public moral scrutiny.
Application: Seek counsel from the wise when distressed; let conscience be guided by sādhus and śāstra rather than panic or secrecy.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An austere forest-ashram clearing becomes a moral tribunal: tiger-like sages sit in semicircle, while luminous Siddhas hover above and coiled Nāgas watch from the shade. At the center, a devoted wife weeps, her hair loosened, hands folded, as the foremost sage turns toward her with grave authority.","primary_figures":["muni-śreṣṭha (foremost sage)","pativratā (weeping devoted wife)","muni-śārdūlas (assembled sages)","Siddhas","Nāgas"],"setting":"Forest hermitage court with kusa-grass seats, sacrificial fire nearby, banyan and śāla trees, subtle celestial presence overhead","lighting_mood":"forest dappled with divine radiance","color_palette":["smoke-grey","saffron ochre","leaf green","ivory white","deep indigo"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a forest-ashram tribunal with the foremost sage seated on a raised kusa-mat, gold-leaf halo around his head, rows of rishis with rudrākṣa and matted locks, Siddhas floating in the upper register with shimmering gold accents, Nāgas peering from the lower corners; the weeping pativratā in rich red sari with gem-studded ornaments, tearful face rendered with devotional gravity, ornate borders and gold leaf embellishment throughout.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical Himalayan-forest clearing with delicate brushwork, cool greens and blues, refined rishi faces in profile, Siddhas as pale luminous figures in the sky, a sorrowful woman in muted crimson seated near a small fire altar; soft atmospheric perspective, detailed foliage, gentle narrative intimacy.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and temple-wall composition—central pativratā with expressive eyes and flowing hair, the chief sage in saffron with stylized beard and jata, Siddhas in the upper band, Nāgas in the lower band; natural pigment palette dominated by red, yellow, green, with rhythmic ornamental patterns.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional court-in-forest framed by intricate floral borders and lotus motifs; sages arranged symmetrically like a mandala, Siddhas as decorative celestial attendants; deep indigo background with gold highlights, peacocks at the edges, the weeping devotee centered with folded hands, ornate textile-like detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["forest birds","crackling sacrificial fire","soft temple bells in distance","wind through leaves"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सिद्धास्सहोरगाः = सिद्धाः + सह + उरगाः; एवमुक्त्वा = एवम् + उक्त्वा.
FAQs
They function as “cosmic witnesses,” showing that the event is observed across multiple realms—human, perfected celestial beings, and nāga beings—underscoring its extraordinary, dharma-relevant nature.
“Pativratā” denotes a woman devoted to her husband and to marital dharma, often portrayed as possessing moral and spiritual power rooted in fidelity, discipline, and virtue.
By highlighting a weeping pativratā and the attention of great sages, the verse frames a serious moral situation—inviting compassion, counsel, and dharmic resolution guided by wisdom rather than impulse.