Shloka 55
Kāṣṭhīla-Upākhyāna: Rākṣasī, Spear-Śakti, and Kāśī as Śakti-kṣetra
पापं किमत्र तन्मत्तः सम्यक्छृणु स्वयं वर । अलीकं नैव वक्तव्यं प्राणैः कंठगतैरपि ॥ ५५ ॥
pāpaṃ kimatra tanmattaḥ samyakchṛṇu svayaṃ vara | alīkaṃ naiva vaktavyaṃ prāṇaiḥ kaṃṭhagatairapi || 55 ||
„Welche Sünde liegt hierin?“—höre mich recht an, o Vorzüglicher. Unwahrheit darf niemals gesprochen werden, selbst wenn der Lebenshauch schon bis an die Kehle steigt (im Angesicht des Todes).
Narada (teaching/admonishing the interlocutor in a dharma context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It establishes satya (truthfulness) as a non-negotiable pillar of dharma: spiritual integrity is tested most when life is threatened, and the verse insists truth must not be abandoned even then.
Bhakti is not merely ritual emotion; it is sustained by purity of conduct. Speaking truth and refusing falsehood preserves inner sattva, making the mind fit for sincere remembrance and worship.
It highlights dharmic discipline rather than a technical Vedanga: the practical takeaway is ethical restraint of speech (vāṅ-niyama), a core sadācāra principle supporting mantra-japa, vrata observance, and tīrtha conduct.