Shloka 6
The Glory of the Brāhmaṇa
Brāhmaṇa-Mahimā and Pādodaka Merit
यः कर्तुं प्रार्थनां विप्रं पश्येत्क्रोधेन चागतम् । कृतांतश्चक्षुषोस्तस्य तप्तसूचीं ददाति वै
yaḥ kartuṃ prārthanāṃ vipraṃ paśyetkrodhena cāgatam | kṛtāṃtaścakṣuṣostasya taptasūcīṃ dadāti vai
Wer einen Brāhmaṇa kommen sieht, um eine Bitte vorzutragen, ihn aber zornig anblickt, dem gibt Kṛtānta, der Tod, wahrlich eine glühend heiße Nadel für die Augen.
Unspecified (narratorial/dharmic instruction within the chapter context)
Concept: Angry, hostile perception toward a requesting brāhmaṇa invites a fitting retribution: the very eyes that burned with anger are punished.
Application: When approached for help, pause before reacting; practice soft speech, offer what you can, or decline respectfully—do not weaponize anger or contempt.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A brāhmaṇa, travel-worn yet luminous, approaches with folded hands to ask for aid; the householder’s eyes flare with anger, rendered as a harsh red glow. In the shadowed background stands Kṛtānta (Death) holding a red-hot needle, symbolizing karmic inevitability poised at the edge of the scene.","primary_figures":["Brāhmaṇa supplicant","Angry householder","Kṛtānta (Yama/Death personified)"],"setting":"A doorway with threshold rangoli, a small charity pot, and a distant cremation-ground silhouette to hint at Death’s domain without dominating the domestic scene.","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["smoldering red","charcoal black","saffron","pale ochre","steel gray"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: dramatic doorway scene with gold leaf highlights on the brāhmaṇa’s halo and the threshold lamps; the angry man’s eyes emphasized with crimson, while Kṛtānta appears in the background with ornate yet fearsome regalia, needle glowing like molten gold, rich reds/greens and heavy ornamentation.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate domestic threshold with delicate lines; the brāhmaṇa’s humility contrasted with the householder’s sharp gaze; Kṛtānta rendered as a subtle, looming figure in muted tones, emphasizing psychological dread over gore.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized Kṛtānta with bold outlines and intense eyes; the needle as a bright focal point; the brāhmaṇa’s calm face and the angry man’s exaggerated expression create a moral contrast in temple-wall composition.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic approach—eyes motif repeated in the border, lotus patterns around the brāhmaṇa, and a dark corner vignette of Kṛtānta; deep blue ground with red-gold accents, narrative panels like a moral katha textile."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["sudden silence","low drum","wind hush","distant conch"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पश्येत्क्रोधेन = पश्येत् क्रोधेन; चागतम् = च आगतम्; कृतांतश्चक्षुषोस्तस्य = कृतान्तः चक्षुषोः तस्य.
FAQs
It warns that responding with anger to a brāhmaṇa who comes seeking help is a grave fault that leads to severe karmic consequence.
Kṛtānta (Death/Yama) symbolizes inevitable moral retribution—here, the verse frames punishment as a direct outcome of one’s hostile attitude toward a supplicant.
Treat those who come seeking assistance—especially respected religious petitioners—with restraint, respect, and compassion rather than irritation or anger.