Shloka 16
Praise of Pilgrimage (Tīrtha) and Prelude to the Greatness of Prayāga
एतस्मिन्नंतरे राजा कुंतीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । भ्रातृशोकेन संतप्तः चिंतयंस्तु पुनः पुनः
etasminnaṃtare rājā kuṃtīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | bhrātṛśokena saṃtaptaḥ ciṃtayaṃstu punaḥ punaḥ
Trong lúc ấy, vua Yudhiṣṭhira, con của Kuntī, bị nỗi đau vì anh em thiêu đốt, cứ suy niệm hết lần này đến lần khác.
Narrator (Purāṇic narration; specific dialogue speaker not explicit in this verse)
Concept: Grief, when honestly faced, becomes the doorway to dharmic inquiry and the search for purifying practices.
Application: When overwhelmed, pause repetitive mental loops; redirect reflection toward a stabilizing spiritual anchor (japa, prayer, vrata intention, or pilgrimage planning).
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Yudhiṣṭhira sits alone at the edge of a quiet royal courtyard, his crown set aside, hands clasped as if weighing invisible burdens. The air feels heavy with the aftertaste of war; distant flags hang slack, and the king’s gaze turns inward, repeating the same thought like a mantra of sorrow.","primary_figures":["Yudhiṣṭhira"],"setting":"Hastinapura palace courtyard after the war, empty throne hall visible in the background, scattered garlands turned dry","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["ash gray","deep maroon","antique gold","smoky indigo","pale sandalwood"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Yudhiṣṭhira seated in a palace mandapa, crown and sword placed aside, sorrowful eyes lowered; ornate pillars and archways with gold leaf embellishment, rich maroons and emerald accents, gem-studded ornaments on the throne kept empty behind him, traditional South Indian iconographic symmetry, subtle halo-like aureole suggesting dharmic nobility amid grief.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a slender, contemplative Yudhiṣṭhira in simple royal garments, seated near a quiet courtyard lotus pond; delicate brushwork, cool indigo-gray palette, lyrical naturalism with drooping banners and distant palace terraces, refined facial features showing restrained sorrow, soft atmospheric perspective.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Yudhiṣṭhira with bold black outlines and large expressive eyes, seated in a stylized palace interior; natural pigments with red/yellow/green dominance, rhythmic architectural borders, minimal yet powerful gestures of grief, lamp flames rendered as sacred motifs.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: a devotional reinterpretation—empty throne framed by lotus motifs and floral borders, Yudhiṣṭhira seated in humility; intricate patterns, deep blues and gold, peacocks subdued at the margins, symbolic lotuses half-closed to mirror mourning, Nathdwara-like ornamental framing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","distant conch shell","night insects","silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: एतस्मिन् + अन्तरे → एतस्मिन्नन्तरे (n + a → nna); compounds: कुन्ती-पुत्र (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष), भ्रातृ-शोक (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष).
FAQs
The verse describes King Yudhiṣṭhira, identified as Kuntī’s son, as he struggles internally with sorrow.
Intense grief (śoka) for his brothers, shown by the phrase “bhrātṛ-śokena saṃtaptaḥ,” meaning he is tormented by that sorrow.
Even a dharma-oriented king like Yudhiṣṭhira experiences repeated waves of grief; the verse highlights the human reality of sorrow and the need for steady reflection and resilience.