Shloka 13
Prohibitions and Rules of Right Conduct (Ācāra): Theft, Speech, Purity, Residence, and Social Boundaries
अलिंगी लिंगिवेषेण यो वृत्तिमुपतिष्ठति । सलिगिंनो हरेदेनस्तिर्यग्योनौ च जायते
aliṃgī liṃgiveṣeṇa yo vṛttimupatiṣṭhati | saligiṃno haredenastiryagyonau ca jāyate
যি প্ৰকৃততে সন্ন্যাসী নহয়, তথাপি সন্ন্যাসীৰ বেশ আৰু চিহ্ন ধৰি জীৱিকা চলায়—সেই জনে সত্য তপস্বীৰ পুণ্য হৰণ কৰে আৰু তিৰ্যক যোনিত জন্ম লয়।
Unspecified (narratorial/teaching voice within Svarga-khaṇḍa context)
Concept: False renunciation is theft of others’ merit; adopting ascetic marks for livelihood leads to demerit and animal rebirth.
Application: Avoid performative spirituality; if teaching or leading, maintain transparency and accountability; support genuine sādhus and institutions with discernment (viveka).
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fraudulent ascetic in saffron robes sits at a busy pilgrimage ghat, collecting alms with practiced gestures, while behind him a genuine renunciant quietly meditates, ignored. Above the impostor, a karmic vision appears: the same figure reborn as a beast of burden, trudging under a load—his stolen merit turned into bondage.","primary_figures":["fraudulent ascetic (alīṅgī in liṅgi-veṣa)","genuine ascetic","pilgrims giving alms","symbolic animal rebirth form (vision)"],"setting":"river ghat or temple entrance during pilgrimage bustle; alms bowl, prayer beads, saffron cloth; distant shrine spire","lighting_mood":"harsh midday light with visionary overlay","color_palette":["saffron orange","river turquoise","stone gray","shadow violet","brass gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: crowded ghat with an impostor ascetic receiving coins, gold leaf highlights on ornaments and vessels, a subtle divine ‘vision bubble’ showing animal rebirth, rich reds/greens, ornate borders, moral contrast between flashy impostor and serene true renunciant.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: detailed ghat scene with delicate crowding, the impostor’s calculating glance, the true ascetic’s calm profile, a translucent vignette of animal rebirth in the sky, cool blues and soft earth tones, refined storytelling composition.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines of ghat steps and temple tower, stylized figures of pilgrims, the impostor ascetic with exaggerated marks, the animal rebirth rendered as a symbolic companion panel, strong red-yellow-green palette with black accents for moral warning.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ornate border of tulasī and lotus motifs framing a ghat vignette, central figure of a false ascetic contrasted with a meditating sadhu, deep indigo background with gold detailing, symbolic animal form integrated into the decorative field as karmic consequence."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["river water flow","crowd murmur","coin clink","temple bell","distant conch"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वृत्तिमुपतिष्ठति = वृत्तिम् उपतिष्ठति; सलिगिंनो = स-लिङ्गिनः (here taken as पञ्चमी एकवचन); हरेदेनः = हरेत् एनः; तिर्यग्योनौ = तिर्यक्-योनौ.
FAQs
It condemns religious hypocrisy: using the external signs of renunciation as a means of livelihood without inner discipline is treated as a serious moral and spiritual offense.
Outward symbols are not rejected in themselves, but the verse warns that they become harmful when used as a disguise to exploit faith or gain support without genuine conduct.
The verse states that such a pretender incurs grave fault—described as taking away the merit of true ascetics—and is reborn in a tiryak-yoni, i.e., an animal birth.