Shloka 19
The Glory of Truthful Oaths and Keeping One’s Promise
Satya & Pratijñā
ब्राह्मण उवाच । शृणु मे वचनं धीर मम जाया मृता शुभा । किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि कथयाद्यानुकंपया
brāhmaṇa uvāca | śṛṇu me vacanaṃ dhīra mama jāyā mṛtā śubhā | kiṃ karomi kva gacchāmi kathayādyānukaṃpayā
قال البراهمن: «اسمع قولي يا ثابتَ القلب. لقد ماتت زوجتي الصالحة. ماذا أفعل؟ وإلى أين أذهب؟ أخبرني رحمةً».
Brāhmaṇa (a Brahmin)
Concept: In bereavement, one seeks dharmic direction—what to do, where to go—opening the door to teachings on rites, vows, and refuge in Hari.
Application: When facing loss, seek wise counsel; respond to others’ grief with practical compassion—listen first, then guide toward stabilizing spiritual practice (prayer, remembrance, charity).
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: house
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A brāhmaṇa, eyes reddened with grief, stands at a humble doorway with folded hands, pleading for guidance after his wife’s death. The listener—steady and attentive—creates a quiet sanctuary of compassion, as if the very air pauses to receive the question.","primary_figures":["grieving brāhmaṇa","steadfast listener (addressed as dhīra)"],"setting":"Threshold of a modest home; a simple mat, water pot, and a dim lamp; funeral garland remnants or white cloth hint at recent loss","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["muted white","smoky umber","lamp gold","deep maroon","soft charcoal"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: poignant supplication scene—brāhmaṇa with folded hands, tearful eyes, sacred thread visible; listener seated calmly; gold leaf on lamp flame and subtle halo accents; rich maroons and earthy browns contrasted with mourning whites; ornate border to elevate the domestic moment into sacred drama.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate emotional realism—soft facial expressions, delicate tears, restrained palette; doorway and interior rendered with fine detail; gentle light falling across hands in añjali; quiet negative space emphasizing grief.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized grief tableau with bold outlines; expressive eyes and hand gestures; lamp and doorway motifs; red-yellow-green pigments subdued with earthy tones; decorative bands framing the scene like a temple-wall moral episode.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotionalized lament—central figures at a threshold framed by lotus borders; symbolic white garments and floral motifs; deep blue background with gold accents; peacocks subdued, emphasizing compassion and prayerful mood."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["soft sobbing (implied)","low temple bell","gentle wind","silence between lines"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कथयाद्यानुकंपया → कथय + अद्य + अनुकम्पया; ब्राह्मण उवाच → ब्राह्मणः + उवाच (pada form with visarga)
FAQs
A Brāhmaṇa is speaking, grieving that his virtuous wife has died, and he seeks compassionate guidance on what to do and where to go.
It introduces bereavement and the search for dharmic counsel—turning to a wise, steady person for direction rather than acting impulsively in sorrow.
No. This shloka focuses on the speaker’s plea for guidance; any theological or tīrtha context would come from surrounding verses.