Shloka 41
The Glory of Truthful Oaths and Keeping One’s Promise
Satya & Pratijñā
वचनं लंघयेद्यस्तु धर्मस्तस्य विलंघति । नृपाग्नितस्करैर्विप्र सत्यं सत्यं सुनिश्चितम्
vacanaṃ laṃghayedyastu dharmastasya vilaṃghati | nṛpāgnitaskarairvipra satyaṃ satyaṃ suniścitam
Wer sein gegebenes Wort bricht, den verlässt das Dharma selbst. O Brāhmane, dies ist eine fest begründete Wahrheit: durch den König, durch das Feuer und durch Diebe.
Unspecified (context-dependent within Brahma-khaṇḍa narration)
Concept: Breaking one’s word is a direct transgression against Dharma; consequences manifest through worldly authority, elemental forces, and social disorder.
Application: Keep commitments; if circumstances change, renegotiate transparently rather than defaulting; treat promises as sacred offerings.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A solemn figure stands with a hand raised in oath before three looming forces: a crowned king on a tribunal seat, a towering sacrificial fire with eyes of witness, and shadowy thieves at the edge of the frame. Above, a faint figure of Dharma holds a balance; as the oath is broken, the balance tilts and the protective aura around the speaker fractures.","primary_figures":["Oath-giver (householder or ruler)","Personified Dharma with scales","King (rājā) as judge","Agni (sacrificial fire personified)","Thieves (taskara silhouettes)"],"setting":"A liminal court-and-ritual space: half royal hall, half yajña-śālā, merging social and cosmic judgment.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["flame orange","royal crimson","antique gold","midnight blue","smoke gray"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central oath-giver before a regal king on a throne, Agni rising as a personified flame-deity, and thieves in shadow; Dharma above with gold-leaf scales, heavy gold embellishment on throne and fire aureole, rich reds/greens, ornate arch frame, traditional South Indian iconography.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: refined courtroom-yajña hybrid—king seated under a canopy, small homa-kunda with stylized flames, thieves as subtle dark figures; delicate facial expressions showing moral tension, cool blues with warm fire accents, lyrical composition.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines—king, Agni with anthropomorphic face in flames, thieves at margins; Dharma with scales overhead; saturated reds/yellows/greens, temple-wall symmetry, patterned borders and floor designs.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: allegorical triad—king, fire, thieves arranged like mandala guardians around the oath-giver; floral borders, lotus medallions, deep blue ground with gold highlights, symbolic rather than realistic thieves, intricate ornamentation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell","crackling sacred fire","metallic court bell","footsteps in a hall","tense silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: laṃghayet + yaḥ = laṃghayedyas (Jhalam Jasho Ante); yaḥ + tu = yastu (Visarga-Satva); dharmaḥ + tasya = dharmastasya (Visarga-Satva); nṛpāgnitaskaraiḥ + vipra = nṛpāgnitaskarairvipra (Visarga-Rutva)
FAQs
It teaches that breaking one’s pledged word undermines one’s relationship with Dharma; integrity is presented as the foundation of righteous life.
They represent unavoidable worldly forces—punishment by authority (king), destruction by nature (fire), and loss through social disorder (thieves)—through which the consequences of adharma can manifest.
It equates fidelity to one’s word with alignment to Dharma, asserting that Satya is not merely speech-truth but reliability in commitment.