Shloka 85
Account of Kāmākṣā (Bhavānī) at Āhicchatrā
इति संचिंत्य सुतपास्ता उवाच वरांगनाः । का यूयं कुत्र संस्थाः किं भवतीनां चिकीर्षितम्
iti saṃciṃtya sutapāstā uvāca varāṃganāḥ | kā yūyaṃ kutra saṃsthāḥ kiṃ bhavatīnāṃ cikīrṣitam
یوں سوچ کر سُتپاستا نے ان برگزیدہ عورتوں سے کہا: “تم کون ہو؟ کہاں ٹھہری ہو؟ اور تمہارا ارادہ کیا ہے کہ کیا کرنے آئی ہو؟”
Sutapāstā
Concept: When confronted by seductive or destabilizing forces, respond with clarity and inquiry; right questions preserve inner sovereignty.
Application: In confusing situations, ask: Who/what is this influence? Where does it come from? What is its intention?—a practical viveka checklist.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: forest
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Sutapāstā, calm and luminous from austerity, raises his hand in a gesture of measured address, speaking to a cluster of exquisitely adorned apsarās. Their smiles hover between invitation and concealment, while the hermitage—fire-altar, water-pot, and sacred trees—stands as a quiet witness to the power of questions.","primary_figures":["Sutapāstā","apsarās"],"setting":"hermitage clearing with agni-kuṇḍa, kamandalu, japa-mālā, and a lotus pond at the edge","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["warm gold","sandstone beige","turquoise","rose pink","leaf green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Sutapāstā in saffron/white garments with a subtle gold halo, addressing apsarās with ornate jewelry; gold-leaf highlights on ornaments and altar flames, rich red-green background panels, symmetrical composition emphasizing dignified dialogue over seduction.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate conversational tableau, delicate facial expressions, apsarās in pastel veils, hermitage details rendered with fine brushwork; soft dawn sky, lyrical trees, and a poised hand-gesture capturing the moment of inquiry.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized apsarā costumes, Sutapāstā with commanding eyes and composed posture; warm yellow-red palette, patterned borders, and iconographic clarity of speech as dharma.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ornate floral borders and lotus motifs; Sutapāstā centered, apsarās arranged in a semicircle like decorative panels; deep blue and gold accents, peacocks at the margins, emphasizing the aesthetic tension between beauty and restraint."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["gentle tanpura","soft bells","morning birds","stillness between phrases"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सुतपास्ता → सुतपाः + ताः; भवत्योऽक्षि… (next verse) not here. संस्थाः taken as क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘सम्+स्था’ (स्थिताः/संस्थाः) predicative with यूयम्.
FAQs
Sutapāstā, after thinking, addresses a group of noble women and asks their identity, location, and purpose.
It means “what you intend to do” or “your purpose/plan,” referring to the women’s intended action.
It models prudent inquiry: before acting, one should reflect and then ask clear questions about identity, circumstances, and intention.