Shloka 5
The Glory of Truthful Oaths and Keeping One’s Promise
Satya & Pratijñā
प्रतिज्ञाखंडनान्मूढो निरयं याति दारुणम् । शतमन्वंतरं यावत्पच्यते नात्र संशयः
pratijñākhaṃḍanānmūḍho nirayaṃ yāti dāruṇam | śatamanvaṃtaraṃ yāvatpacyate nātra saṃśayaḥ
Durch das Brechen eines feierlichen Gelübdes geht der Verblendete in eine schreckliche Hölle, wo er hundert Manvantaras lang gepeinigt wird—daran besteht kein Zweifel.
Unspecified (narratorial/teaching voice within the Adhyaya context)
Concept: Saṅkalpa (solemn vow) is a dharmic bond; breaking it produces severe naraka-phala over vast cosmic durations.
Application: Make only sustainable vows; write them down, keep witnesses (guru/agni/devatā), and if a lapse occurs, immediately perform prāyaścitta and renew the resolve with humility.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A solemn ascetic stands before a blazing sacrificial fire, a broken vow-scroll at his feet. Behind him yawns a shadowy naraka chasm marked by the wheel of time—manvantara cycles—while unseen divine witnesses loom like constellations, emphasizing cosmic accountability.","primary_figures":["a remorseful vow-breaker (human)","Agni (sacrificial fire personified)","witnessing devas as luminous silhouettes","Yama’s distant presence as a shadow-judge"],"setting":"Vedic yajña-śālā transitioning into a metaphysical vista of naraka and cosmic time-wheels","lighting_mood":"dramatic, fire-lit with ominous penumbra","color_palette":["ember orange","smoke black","ash gray","blood red","dull gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a yajña-śālā with Agni rising in stylized flames, the vow-breaker kneeling in fear, a distant Yama-like silhouette framed by a circular manvantara time-wheel; heavy gold leaf halos for the witnessing devas, rich maroon and emerald borders, gem-studded ornaments on divine figures, South Indian iconographic symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate linework showing a small fire-altar scene opening into a dark ravine of naraka; soft gradients for smoke, refined facial expressions of dread and remorse, cool slate hills contrasting with warm flame, lyrical clouds shaped like time-cycles.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, Agni in stylized red-yellow tongues, the human figure with expressive wide eyes, a looming Yama-form in dark green/black, circular manvantara motifs as patterned bands; temple-wall aesthetic with natural pigment palette.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic composition—central fire-altar and vow-scroll, surrounding border of repeated time-wheel motifs and lotus medallions; deep indigo background with gold detailing, narrative panels showing consequence and repentance, intricate floral borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["crackling sacrificial fire","low temple bell","distant conch","heavy silence between lines"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रतिज्ञाखंडनान्मूढो → प्रतिज्ञा-खण्डनात् मूढः; शतमन्वंतरं → शतम् अन्वन्तरम्; यावत्पच्यते → यावत् पच्यते; नात्र → न अत्र
FAQs
It emphasizes the sanctity of a solemn vow (pratijñā) and teaches that violating one’s pledged word is a grave adharma with severe karmic consequences.
It is a hyperbolic measure of immense duration, stressing that the परिणाम (result) of vow-breaking is not minor or short-lived but extraordinarily long and severe.
As a conventional Purāṇic expression for intense suffering/torment in hell (niraya/naraka), not necessarily literal cooking, but extreme punitive experience.