Shloka 21
Narrative of the Śūdra’s Renunciation of Greed
with the Tulādhāra Greatness Prelude
बह्वर्घमल्पमर्घं च क्रयविक्रयणे सुधीः । सत्यवाक्यं प्रशस्तं च विशेषात्साक्षिणो भवेत्
bahvarghamalpamarghaṃ ca krayavikrayaṇe sudhīḥ | satyavākyaṃ praśastaṃ ca viśeṣātsākṣiṇo bhavet
في معاملات الشراء والبيع، سواء كان الثمن غاليًا أو زهيدًا، ينبغي للحكيم قبل كل شيء أن يكون شاهدًا محمودَ السيرة، صادقَ القول.
Unspecified (context not provided in the input excerpt)
Concept: Truthful witnesshood is paramount in commerce; ethical speech safeguards social order regardless of the transaction’s magnitude.
Application: In contracts, sales, and disputes, prioritize accuracy and reputation over gain; be the person whose word can be relied upon even when stakes are small.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A bustling bazaar is depicted with merchants weighing grains and cloth, while a calm, learned witness stands beside a scribe, ensuring fairness. The scene contrasts glittering goods with the quiet radiance of truthful speech—shown as a subtle light around the witness’s mouth and palm raised in oath.","primary_figures":["wise witness (sudhī)","merchant","buyer","scribe"],"setting":"market street with weighing scales, ledgers, cloth bolts, grain sacks, and a small civic pavilion for agreements","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["turmeric yellow","copper brown","jade green","lapis blue","chalk white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a marketplace transaction under a decorated pavilion, ornate scales and ledgers in the foreground, the wise witness with a raised oath-hand and a gentle halo of truth, merchants in rich textiles; gold leaf highlights on scales, jewelry, and pavilion arches, saturated reds/greens, intricate border patterns.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate bazaar vignette with delicate brushwork, the witness and scribe seated on a patterned rug, merchants presenting goods, fine facial expressions conveying trust; soft mountain-like pastel background, cool blues and greens with warm ochres, meticulous textile patterns.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized figures with bold outlines, a prominent tulā (scale) and palm-leaf ledger, the witness centered as moral axis; strong red-yellow-green palette, rhythmic decorative motifs framing the market scene like a temple narrative panel.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: a symbolic ‘dharma-bazaar’ where scales are adorned with lotus garlands, the witness framed by floral borders and peacocks; deep blue ground with gold detailing, intricate lotuses and vines, devotional ornamentation transforming commerce into sacred order."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft crowd murmur (distant)","metallic clink of scales","tanpura drone"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bahvargham → bahu + argham; alpamargham → alpa + argham; krayavikrayaṇe treated as dvandva compound; viśeṣātsākṣiṇo → viśeṣāt + sākṣiṇaḥ.
FAQs
It teaches that truthfulness and reputability are essential in commercial dealings, especially for anyone acting as a witness in buying and selling.
To emphasize that moral duty does not change with the value of the transaction; honesty is required whether the deal is large or small.
One should be a reliable witness—truthful in speech and respected in character—so that social trust and justice are upheld.