Shloka 34
Praise of Pilgrimage (Tīrtha) and Prelude to the Greatness of Prayāga
आख्याहि त्वरितो राजन्किमर्थं त्वरितं त्वया । केन वा विक्लवीभूतः कथयस्व ममाग्रतः
ākhyāhi tvarito rājankimarthaṃ tvaritaṃ tvayā | kena vā viklavībhūtaḥ kathayasva mamāgrataḥ
اے راجَن، جلد بتاؤ—تم اتنی عجلت میں کیوں ہو؟ کس سبب سے تم اس قدر مضطرب ہو گئے ہو؟ میرے سامنے بیان کرو۔
Unspecified (a narrator/interlocutor addressing a king within the Adhyaya’s dialogue)
Concept: In crisis, truthful disclosure and seeking counsel are dharmic; haste and distress require diagnosis before action.
Application: When overwhelmed, pause and articulate the cause; ask for wise counsel rather than acting from panic.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: city
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A concerned interlocutor leans forward, palm raised in questioning, as the king stands tense—garments slightly disordered, eyes shadowed by worry. The court’s earlier serenity gives way to a charged stillness, as if the next words will decide fate.","primary_figures":["interlocutor/narrator figure","king (Yudhiṣṭhira or addressed rājā)","attendants"],"setting":"Royal corridor or sabhā threshold—half-lit, with a sense of movement halted mid-step; a doorway to the outside suggests haste interrupted.","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["storm gray","muted gold","deep maroon","olive green","ashen white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: dramatic court moment—questioning figure gestures toward the anxious king; gold leaf accents on pillars and borders contrast with darker tones; expressive eyes, rich maroons and greens, ornate frame emphasizing tension.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: subtle psychological drama—king poised as if to depart, questioned by a calm figure; cool palette, delicate brushwork, architectural arches, restrained gestures conveying urgency.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines and heightened expressions; the questioning gesture prominent, the king’s distressed face stylized; warm pigments with darker background bands, temple-wall narrative panel feel.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: narrative panel framed by floral borders; central figures in expressive posture; deep blue-black ground with gold motifs, peacocks subdued at corners to keep focus on the tense inquiry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["sudden silence","distant drum pulse","rustle of garments","echoing hall ambience"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: राजन्किमर्थं = राजन् + किमर्थम्; ममाग्रतः = मम + अग्रतः.
FAQs
It frames a compassionate inquiry: the speaker asks the king to explain the reason for his haste and the cause of his agitation, setting up a moral or narrative explanation.
Yes—before reacting to urgency or fear, one should articulate causes clearly; it highlights attentive listening and responsible communication in leadership contexts.
From this verse alone the speaker is not named; it is an interlocutor addressing a “king.” Identifying the exact speaker requires the surrounding verses of Adhyaya 40.