Shloka 158
Rudra’s Removal of Brahmahatyā; Kapālamocana and Avimukta Māhātmya; Origins of Nara and Karṇa
link to Arjuna/Karna query
मनसापि न कुर्वीत पापस्यास्य तु भावनाम् । भवता देववाक्येन निष्ठा चैषा निबोधिता
manasāpi na kurvīta pāpasyāsya tu bhāvanām | bhavatā devavākyena niṣṭhā caiṣā nibodhitā
Nicht einmal im Geist soll man an diese Sünde denken. Durch dein göttliches Wort ist auch dieser feste Entschluss kundgetan und begründet worden.
Unspecified (context-dependent within Adhyaya 14; speaker not identifiable from the single verse alone)
Concept: Do not even mentally entertain the impulse toward this sin; divine instruction establishes firm inner resolve as the first safeguard.
Application: Practice mental hygiene: notice harmful fantasies early, replace them with prayer/mantra, and reaffirm vows; build habits that prevent ethical collapse before it becomes action.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A calm teacher-figure’s words appear as luminous script in the air while a devotee sits in meditation, hands resting on knees, watching thoughts arise and dissolve like clouds. In the background, a faint shadow-form of ‘sin’ approaches but is halted at the threshold of the mind by a bright ring of resolve.","primary_figures":["Meditating devotee (generic)","Divine/teacher presence implied (voice of instruction)"],"setting":"Quiet hermitage interior or temple side-chamber with a single oil lamp, palm-leaf manuscripts, and a small Viṣṇu emblem (chakra) or liṅga depending on context; emphasis on inner space.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["warm amber","sandalwood beige","soft teal","smoke gray","gold leaf"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Meditating devotee centered, surrounded by a gold-leaf aura shaped like a protective mandala; stylized Sanskrit letters of the teaching arc above. Ornate border, rich reds and greens, lamp-lit interior, subtle depiction of a shadowy pāpa-form outside the aura.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: A serene meditation scene in a small āśrama room, delicate brushwork showing gentle dawn light; translucent thought-clouds drift upward and fade; refined facial features convey restraint and clarity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Bold outlines, flat warm pigments; the mind’s ‘resolve’ shown as a circular band of light around the seated figure; stylized manuscript stand and lamp; minimal background to emphasize inner discipline.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Symbolic devotional composition with lotus borders; central seated devotee framed by repeating chakra/lotus motifs representing mental restraint; deep blue-to-amber gradient background with gold highlights and intricate floral filigree."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["tanpura drone","soft bell at intervals","morning birds","long pauses"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मनसापि = मनसा + अपि; पापस्यास्य = पापस्य + अस्य; चैषा = च + एषा
FAQs
It teaches that wrongdoing begins in the mind; therefore one should avoid even mentally entertaining sinful intentions, not merely the outward act.
It emphasizes inner restraint (control of thought and intention) as a core component of dharma, suggesting that purity of mind is as important as purity of action.
The phrase addresses a revered interlocutor whose words are treated as “divine.” The exact identity depends on the surrounding dialogue of Adhyaya 14, which is not included in the single-verse input.