Shloka 131
The Establishment of Vāmana at Kānyakubja and the Sanctification of Setu
कार्मुकं गृह्य हस्तेन रामः सेतुं द्विधाच्छिनत् । त्रिर्विभज्य च वेगेन मध्ये वै दशयोजनम्
kārmukaṃ gṛhya hastena rāmaḥ setuṃ dvidhācchinat | trirvibhajya ca vegena madhye vai daśayojanam
کمان ہاتھ میں لے کر رام نے پل کو دو حصّوں میں کاٹ دیا؛ پھر تیزی سے اسے تین حصّوں میں بانٹ کر درمیان سے دس یوجن تک چیر دیا۔
Narrator (contextual; explicit speaker not provided in the given excerpt)
Concept: When dharma requires, decisive action must be taken without hesitation, even upon one’s own constructions.
Application: Do not cling to plans or ‘bridges’ you built—if circumstances demand, revise swiftly and responsibly for the higher good.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"On the wind-swept edge of the southern ocean, Rāma stands poised with bow drawn, his gaze unwavering. With a single, lightning-like release, the vast stone-and-wood causeway is cleaved and re-formed into measured segments, waves exploding into white spray as if the sea itself bows to dharma.","primary_figures":["Rāma","Lakṣmaṇa (optional)","Vānara engineers (optional)","Ocean personified (optional)"],"setting":"Southern seashore near the Setu, scattered boulders, churning surf, distant silhouette of Laṅkā on the horizon","lighting_mood":"divine radiance amid storm-bright sea glare","color_palette":["sapphire blue","sea-foam white","storm-cloud gray","bowstring gold","vermillion accents"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Rāma in regal stance on a jeweled shoreline mandapa-like frame, bow raised; the segmented Setu shown as three ornate bands across stylized waves; heavy gold leaf on crown, bow, and halo; rich reds and emerald greens in garments; gem-studded ornaments; South Indian iconographic proportions; embossed gold for ocean spray and divine aura.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: slender, lyrical Rāma with delicate facial features, poised on a pale sandy shore; cool blues and grays for the sea; fine white stippling for spray; distant Laṅkā as a faint hill; vānara figures as small narrative details; refined linework and soft gradients, Himalayan miniature sensibility applied to a coastal scene.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, large expressive eyes for Rāma, flat yet vibrant sea bands; natural pigment palette with dominant blues and greens; stylized waves like temple-wall motifs; strong red/yellow highlights on ornaments; halo rendered as concentric rings; dynamic posture emphasizing heroic energy.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional composition with Rāma centered, surrounded by lotus and wave motifs; the Setu rendered as patterned bands like a sacred pathway; ornate floral borders, peacocks at corners, deep indigo background with gold detailing; emphasis on bhakti-līlā rather than realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell","crashing waves","temple bells","bowstring twang","wind"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dvidhācchinat → dvidhā acchinat; trirvibhajya → triḥ vibhajya; daśayojanam → daśa-yojanam.
FAQs
It uses “daśa-yojanam” (ten yojanas) as a concrete distance marker, reflecting the Purāṇic habit of describing sacred or epic landscapes with traditional Indian units of measure.
The verse mentions “setu” (a bridge/causeway) and Rāma’s action upon it, which naturally aligns with the Rāma-setu motif; however, the specific identification depends on the surrounding verses of Adhyaya 38.
Symbolically, it portrays decisive, disciplined action—Rāma acts with clarity and speed, suggesting the virtue of resolute execution when a duty or strategic necessity is understood.