Shloka 24
The Greatness of the Viṣṇu-pañcaka
Five-Day Kārttika Observance
पथि प्रगच्छतां तेषां भयाद्विप्र न खादितुम् । प्राप्तं किंचित्क्षुधार्त्तास्ते गताश्चान्य स्थलं प्रति
pathi pragacchatāṃ teṣāṃ bhayādvipra na khāditum | prāptaṃ kiṃcitkṣudhārttāste gatāścānya sthalaṃ prati
وبينما كانوا يسيرون في الطريق، أيها البرهمن، لم يأكلوا خوفًا؛ ومع أنهم كانوا يتلوّون جوعًا، ولم ينالوا إلا قليلًا، مضَوا نحو موضعٍ آخر.
Unspecified narrator (contextual narration within Brahma-khaṇḍa)
Concept: Fear and insecurity shrink even basic acts like eating; pāpa-driven life produces constant agitation and scarcity-consciousness.
Application: Notice how unethical choices create chronic fear; cultivate integrity and devotional routine to restore steadiness.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: city
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A small band of frightened travelers moves along a dusty road, clutching meager food but refusing to eat, scanning the horizon for danger. Their faces are gaunt with hunger, and the landscape feels unsettled—empty fields, thorn hedges, and a distant crossroads leading to an unknown refuge.","primary_figures":["fearful travelers (teṣām)","a brāhmaṇa narrator-presence implied by address"],"setting":"a desolate road between settlements, sparse trees, a crossroads marker, distant silhouettes of another village","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["pale moon silver","dust ochre","midnight blue","dry grass tan","muted crimson"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: travelers on a road under a stylized night sky, gold leaf moon and border; anxious faces, small bundles of food rendered with detail; rich blues and reds, ornate framing that contrasts worldly fear with sacred art form.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical night journey with cool palette, delicate stars, thin road line leading to a distant settlement; subtle expressions of hunger and fear; fine brushwork for dry grasses and thorn shrubs.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, rhythmic marching poses, expressive wide eyes showing fear; strong blue-black background with yellow highlights for moonlight; stylized roadside trees and a symbolic crossroads sign.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: narrative procession across a patterned ground; border of thorny floral motifs and closed lotuses; deep indigo field with gold dots for stars; the meager food bundle painted as a small motif of scarcity, hinting at the need for Viṣṇu’s grace."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["night wind","distant dog barks","rustle of dry leaves","soft footfalls","occasional startled breath"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भयाद्विप्र → भयात् + विप्र; किंचित्क्षुधार्त्ताः → किंचित् + क्षुधार्त्ताः; क्षुधार्त्तास्ते → क्षुधार्त्ताः + ते; गताश्चान्य → गताः + च + अन्य
FAQs
It depicts travelers moving along a road who refrain from eating due to fear, remain hungry, receive only a small amount of food, and continue onward to another place.
The verse highlights prudence and endurance: when circumstances feel unsafe, one may forgo immediate comfort and continue seeking a safer place, even while facing hardship.
No. This verse is narrative in tone and contains no explicit mention of deities, sacred places, or ritual instructions.