Shloka 15
The Account of Sukalā (within the Vena Episode): Truth-Power and the Testing of a Devoted Wife
पश्यामि ते पौरुषमुग्रवीर्यमितो हि गत्वा तु धनुष्मता वै । तेनापि सार्धं प्रजगाम भूयो रत्या च दूत्या च पतिव्रतां ताम्
paśyāmi te pauruṣamugravīryamito hi gatvā tu dhanuṣmatā vai | tenāpi sārdhaṃ prajagāma bhūyo ratyā ca dūtyā ca pativratāṃ tām
میں تمہاری مردانگی—تمہاری سخت ہیروانہ قوت—دیکھ رہا ہوں۔ یہاں سے اس کماندار کے ساتھ جا کر وہ پھر اسی کے ساتھ روانہ ہوئی، رتی اور عورت قاصدہ کے ہمراہ، اس پتिवرتا (وفادار) بیوی کے پاس۔
Unspecified (context needed from surrounding verses in Bhūmi-khaṇḍa 2.54)
Concept: True heroism is allied with protection of the faithful and support of dharmic resolve; companionship in righteousness strengthens vows.
Application: Stand by those who keep their vows; be a trustworthy companion in difficult journeys; let courage serve protection, not domination.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A bow-bearing hero leads the way along a forest path, while Rati and a discreet female messenger flank a veiled pativrata woman, forming a protective moving circle. The woman’s calm gaze and composed posture contrast with the alert readiness of the escort, as if dharma itself walks with them.","primary_figures":["bowman (hero/escort)","Rati","female messenger (dūti)","virtuous woman (pativrata)"],"setting":"Forest path transitioning toward a settlement or palace gate; flowering trees, distant temple spire, dust motes in the air.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["honey gold","forest green","rose pink","earth brown","sky blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: procession scene with the bowman in ornate armor, Rati richly adorned, the dūti attentive, and the pativrata modest yet radiant; gold leaf highlights on jewelry and halos; rich red-green textiles, embossed borders, temple-gopuram silhouette in background.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate travel tableau through a lyrical forest; refined faces and gentle gestures; soft dawn sky, detailed foliage, subtle textiles; cool greens and warm golds with fine brushwork and Himalayan-like distant ridges.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized procession with bold outlines; the bowman’s dynamic stance, Rati’s graceful posture, the dūti’s watchful eyes, the pativrata’s serene aura; natural pigments, temple-wall aesthetic, decorative floral bands framing the path.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: processional composition framed by lotus and creeper borders; peacocks perched on branches; Rati rendered with ornate patterns; the pativrata centered as a calm axis; deep blue accents with gold and pink floral motifs, intricate textile-like detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["footsteps on path","birds at dawn","soft anklet chime","distant temple bell","rustling leaves"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पौरुषमुग्रवीर्यम् = पौरुषम् + उग्रवीर्यम्; तेनापि = तेन + अपि.
FAQs
This single verse does not name the speaker; identifying it reliably requires the surrounding verses of Bhūmi-khaṇḍa, Adhyāya 54.
“Pativratā” denotes a woman renowned for fidelity and religious devotion centered on loyalty to her husband, a common ethical ideal in Purāṇic dharma narratives.
The verse frames a coordinated movement or mission: Rati and a dūtī accompany the party, suggesting assistance, mediation, or facilitation within the episode’s plot.