Shloka 15
Exposition of the Duties of Ascetics
Saṃnyāsa-Dharma
मुंडी शिखी वाथ भवेत्त्रिदंडी निष्परिग्रहः । काषायवासाः सततं ध्यानयोगपरायणः
muṃḍī śikhī vātha bhavettridaṃḍī niṣparigrahaḥ | kāṣāyavāsāḥ satataṃ dhyānayogaparāyaṇaḥ
فليكن حليق الرأس، أو ذا شِخا (خصلة القمّة)، أو حامل العصا الثلاثية؛ وليكن منزّهًا عن التملّك، لابسًا ثياب الزعفران، مواظبًا على يوغا التأمّل.
Unspecified (narrative injunction within Svargakhaṇḍa context)
Concept: Adopt renunciant discipline—minimal possessions, ochre robes, and unwavering commitment to meditation-yoga—regardless of external style (shaven, topknot, or tridaṇḍin).
Application: Reduce clutter and commitments that fragment attention; keep a daily meditation/japa routine; let external identity be secondary to inner steadiness and ethical restraint.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A tridaṇḍin renouncer stands near a small forest shrine, holding the triple staff upright, ochre robes flowing in a gentle breeze. Nearby, alternate renunciant forms are subtly suggested—one figure with a śikhā, another shaven-headed—forming a quiet triad that converges in shared meditation before a simple Viṣṇu symbol (śālagrāma on a pedestal).","primary_figures":["tridaṇḍin renouncer","two ascetic variants (śikhī and muṇḍī)","Viṣṇu symbol (śālagrāma/altar)"],"setting":"forest-edge shrine with a stone pedestal, a small oil lamp, and a meditation seat under a tree","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["kāṣāya saffron","lamp gold","deep forest green","stone gray","crimson accent"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central tridaṇḍin in ochre with ornate gold leaf halo, triple staff highlighted with gold, śālagrāma on a pedestal with gem-like embellishments, rich reds and greens in the border, traditional iconographic symmetry and devotional gravitas.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: refined ascetic figures with delicate facial features, cool forest palette, lyrical naturalism in leaves and breeze-touched robes, a small shrine with a glowing lamp, subtle emphasis on stillness and dhyāna.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized tridaṇḍa and robes in strong saffron, large expressive eyes, shrine lamp rendered in bright yellow, red/green background bands, temple-wall solemnity emphasizing aparigraha and meditation.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central ascetic with tridaṇḍa framed by intricate floral borders and lotus motifs, deep blue background with gold highlights, a small śālagrāma altar at center bottom, peacocks and vines subdued to keep the mood contemplative."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["temple bell","oil lamp crackle","forest breeze","soft conch"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vātha = vā + atha; bhavettridaṃḍī = bhavet + tridaṃḍī (t+t→tt).
FAQs
These are outward markers of renunciation: shaving the head, keeping a topknot, or carrying the triple staff—each indicating an ascetic commitment and regulated conduct.
It stresses inner discipline through constant dedication to dhyāna-yoga (meditative absorption), supported by non-attachment (niṣparigraha) and a renunciant lifestyle.
It teaches restraint and freedom from clinging—reducing greed and egoism—so the practitioner can focus on spiritual practice rather than accumulation.