Shloka 76
Prohibitions and Rules of Right Conduct (Ācāra): Theft, Speech, Purity, Residence, and Social Boundaries
व्यतिक्रामेन्न स्रवंतीं नाप्सु मैथुनमाचरेत् । चैत्यवृक्षं न वै छिंद्यान्नाप्सु ष्ठीवनमाचरेत्
vyatikrāmenna sravaṃtīṃ nāpsu maithunamācaret | caityavṛkṣaṃ na vai chiṃdyānnāpsu ṣṭhīvanamācaret
لا ينبغي أن يعيق المرء مجرى الماء الجاري، ولا أن يجامع في الماء. ولا يقطع شجرةً مقدّسةً تابعةً للمزار، ولا يبصق في الماء.
Unspecified (narratorial injunction within a dharma/ācāra passage)
Concept: Dharma includes ecological and bodily restraint: do not obstruct natural sacred flows, do not sexualize sacred waters, protect caitya-vṛkṣas, and keep water free from defilement.
Application: Do not dam/dirty small streams near temples; avoid indecent behavior at bathing places; protect old sacred trees; never spit into rivers/ponds—treat water as prasāda.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: river
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A narrow, sparkling stream runs unobstructed through a sacred grove where a caitya-vṛkṣa is wrapped with prayer threads and marked with vermilion. A pilgrim gently cups water for ācamana while a temple attendant stops someone from cutting branches and another from spitting—turning the scene into a quiet manifesto of sacred ecology.","primary_figures":["pilgrim devotee","temple attendant/guardian","caitya-vṛkṣa (sacred tree personified subtly)"],"setting":"sacred grove beside a stream, small shrine-stone under the tree, prayer flags, offerings of flowers","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["leaf green","river silver","vermillion red","marigold orange","earth brown"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: sacred grove with a caitya-vṛkṣa adorned in threads and garlands; gold leaf accents on water highlights and shrine ornaments; attendant prevents tree-cutting and water-defilement; rich reds/greens, ornate border, devotional ecology theme.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical forest with delicate foliage; a clear stream winding through; sacred tree with subtle shrine stone; gentle moral action—guardian stopping harm—rendered with refined expressions and cool natural palette.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines of sacred tree and flowing stream; ritual markings on the tree; figures in clear gestures of prohibition and reverence; warm reds/yellows/greens, temple-wall composition with decorative bands.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: intricate floral borders and lotus motifs; grove scene with peacocks; sacred tree central like a deity; devotees maintaining purity of water; deep greens and blues with gold accents, Nathdwara-like ornamentation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["flowing stream","rustling leaves","soft temple bell","distant conch","forest birds"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vyatikrāmenna = vyatikrāmet + na; nāpsu = na + apsu; maithunamācaret = maithunam + ācaret; chiṃdyānnāpsu = chindyāt + na + apsu; ṣṭhīvanamācaret = ṣṭhīvanam + ācaret.
FAQs
They protect sanctity and public purity: preserving flowing water, avoiding pollution, and refraining from harm to sacred natural sites (like caitya trees).
Water is treated as ritually and socially sacred; spitting is a direct act of contamination, especially relevant at tīrthas and communal water sources.
A tree associated with a shrine, memorial, or sacred spot—treated as worthy of reverence and therefore not to be cut.