Shloka 10
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
ततः कंठगतैः प्राणैराचारं कुरुते द्विजः । कर्मणा मनसांगेन सदाचारं सदा कुरु
tataḥ kaṃṭhagataiḥ prāṇairācāraṃ kurute dvijaḥ | karmaṇā manasāṃgena sadācāraṃ sadā kuru
Dann, selbst wenn der Lebenshauch ihm bis zur Kehle steigt, bemüht sich der Dvija, rechte Lebensführung zu bewahren. Durch Tat, durch Geist und durch die Glieder des Körpers: übe stets gute Lebensführung.
Uncertain (context not provided; likely a narrator/teacher voice within the Adhyaya)
Concept: Maintain sadācāra even at life’s last moment; practice goodness through body, mind, and action continually.
Application: Daily tri-fold audit: (1) one bodily restraint, (2) one mental purification (no envy), (3) one right action (service). Build habits that remain intact under stress or illness.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An aged dvija lies calmly, breath gathered at the throat, yet his gaze is steady and luminous—his hands in a gesture of resolve rather than fear. Around him, three subtle streams—mind, body, and action—are depicted as purified currents converging into a single clear flame of conduct.","primary_figures":["elderly dvija (brāhmaṇa)","personified Mind (Manas) as a clear stream","personified Action (Karma) as a steady lamp","personified Body (Aṅga) as a disciplined posture"],"setting":"quiet hermitage interior with a low cot, sacred fire, and scriptures; minimal objects to emphasize final clarity","lighting_mood":"lamp-lit","color_palette":["warm amber","sandalwood beige","deep maroon","smokeless gold","midnight blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: an elderly brāhmaṇa on a simple cot, sacred thread visible, right hand raised in dharma-mudrā; a small homa fire and palm-leaf manuscripts nearby; three gold-embellished motifs (mind, deed, body) encircle him as lotus medallions; rich reds/greens with heavy gold leaf on halos, fire, and borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate indoor scene with soft shadows, the elder’s face serene; delicate rendering of breath as a thin silver line near the throat; a small lamp and scripture stand; cool blues and warm ochres balanced, refined expressions, lyrical stillness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: frontal elder figure with stylized eyes, bold outlines; lamp-lit aura in yellow and red; symbolic triad motifs around him; temple-wall aesthetic with natural pigments and rhythmic ornamentation.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central elder figure framed by lotus borders; three lotus garlands labeled by motifs (mind, body, action) converging into a single flame; deep indigo background with gold highlights and floral intricacy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["steady tanpura drone","soft lamp crackle","night insects","long pauses","distant bell"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kaṃṭhagataiḥ = kaṇṭha + gataiḥ (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष); manasāṃgena is resolved as manasā + aṅgena; sadācāram = sat + ācāram (कर्मधारय).
FAQs
It teaches unwavering commitment to sadācāra (good conduct), insisting that virtue must be maintained through body, mind, and actions—even at the final moments of life.
It is a traditional image for the time of death, stressing that dharma should not be abandoned under fear, weakness, or urgency; integrity is tested most at life’s end.
Indirectly: while it is primarily an ethics-and-dharma instruction, sustained purity of conduct (ācāra) is presented as foundational for any spiritual path, including devotion (bhakti) and ritual discipline.