Shloka 29
Teaching on Karma-yoga
Discipline of Action as Worship
ब्राह्मणं कुशलं पृच्छेत्क्षत्रबंधुमनामयम् । वैश्यं क्षेमं समागम्य शूद्रमारोग्यमेव च
brāhmaṇaṃ kuśalaṃ pṛcchetkṣatrabaṃdhumanāmayam | vaiśyaṃ kṣemaṃ samāgamya śūdramārogyameva ca
يُسأل البرهميّ عن عافيته، والكشاتريا عن خلوّه من المرض، وإذا لقيتَ الفيشيا فاسأله عن أمنه ورخائه، وأما الشودرَة فاسأله حقًّا عن صحته.
Not specified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses).
Concept: Appropriate, role-sensitive greetings cultivate social order and goodwill; speech becomes a dharmic act.
Application: When meeting people, ask questions that genuinely support their welfare (health, safety, stability) rather than intrusive or competitive talk; tailor kindness to their responsibilities.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A village pathway shaded by banyan trees where travelers meet: a learned Brāhmaṇa with palm-leaf manuscripts, a Kṣatriya with a modest sword, a Vaiśya with a ledger and grain sacks, and a Śūdra artisan with tools. A courteous householder folds hands and asks each a fitting question, the scene radiating calm social harmony.","primary_figures":["Householder greeter","Brāhmaṇa","Kṣatriya","Vaiśya","Śūdra artisan"],"setting":"Tree-lined village road near a small shrine, with market stalls in the distance and a water pot at the roadside.","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["earth ochre","banyan green","cotton white","indigo blue","terracotta red"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a central householder in añjali-mudrā greeting four figures representing the varṇas, with gold leaf accents on garments and ornaments, rich reds and greens, stylized shrine backdrop, and embossed halos subtly indicating dharmic dignity; emphasize benevolent facial expressions and orderly composition.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a lyrical roadside meeting under banyan shade, delicate linework and soft colors, refined faces, each varṇa figure holding symbolic objects (manuscripts, sword, ledger, tools), with gentle hills and a small shrine in the background; convey quiet civility through gestures and spacing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines depict the greeter and four social figures in a frieze-like arrangement, temple-shrine motif behind, warm red-yellow-green palette, large expressive eyes, and clear hand gestures of inquiry and blessing; focus on didactic clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional border of floral vines and lotuses framing a social-harmony tableau; deep blue ground with gold highlights, peacocks at corners, and a small Vishnu shrine motif above, suggesting that courteous speech is offered as seva to Hari’s world-order."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["village ambience","birds","distant temple bell","soft footsteps"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पृच्छेत्क्षत्रबन्धुमनामयम् = पृच्छेत् + क्षत्रबन्धुम् + अनामयम्; शूद्रमारोग्यमेव = शूद्रम् + आरोग्यम् + एव
FAQs
It teaches dhārmic etiquette: when meeting people, one should inquire appropriately—about well-being, security, and health—according to traditional social roles.
It frames different customary concerns (welfare, security/prosperity, health) in a traditional varṇa-based society, presenting a social convention of polite inquiry rather than a metaphysical hierarchy.
As a general ethic of considerate speech: ask others about what matters most to them—health, safety, livelihood, and overall well-being—when you meet them.