Shloka 103
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
गिरिं गिरिगुहां दुर्गां म्लेच्छानां शस्त्रपातिनाम् । गृहं प्रतिभयं स्थानं धनलोभात्समंततः
giriṃ giriguhāṃ durgāṃ mlecchānāṃ śastrapātinām | gṛhaṃ pratibhayaṃ sthānaṃ dhanalobhātsamaṃtataḥ
Ein Berg, eine Bergeshöhle oder eine Festung wird—aus Gier nach Reichtum—zur gefährlichen Wohnstatt, zum furchterregenden Schlupfwinkel der Mlecchas, die von allen Seiten mit Waffen zuschlagen.
Unspecified (contextual narrator not provided in the input excerpt)
Concept: Greed transforms even strongholds into peril; association with violent, lawless forces (mleccha-weapon-bearers) becomes the consequence of wealth-lust.
Application: Avoid profit paths that require unsafe alliances or unethical networks; choose transparent means, prioritize safety and conscience over expansion; cultivate satsanga to counteract lobha-driven saṅga.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: mountain
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A rugged mountain fortress looms under a stormy sky; within its shadowed gate, armed raiders circle like wolves. A fearful traveler clutches a chest of wealth, realizing the ‘home’ he sought has become a trap—caves and battlements echo with threat, showing greed’s power to invert safety into terror.","primary_figures":["a wealth-burdened traveler","armed mleccha raiders","symbolic shadow of Lobha"],"setting":"Mountain ridge with cave-mouths and a stone fortress (durga) overlooking a narrow pass","lighting_mood":"thunderous dusk","color_palette":["storm violet","iron gray","blood crimson","dusty ochre","ashen white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: fortress architecture with gold leaf accents on battlements contrasting with dark storm clouds; raiders with stylized weapons; traveler in the foreground with a treasure chest; ornate frame, dramatic chiaroscuro uncommon but achievable with deep maroons and blacks, gold highlights emphasizing the deceptive allure of wealth.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: steep mountain pass with fine rock textures; fortress and cave openings rendered delicately; small but intense figures of raiders; muted dusk palette with sharp crimson weapon accents; refined faces showing fear and menace.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines; fortress and cave as strong geometric forms; raiders in dynamic poses; intense reds and blacks with yellow highlights; expressive eyes and patterned clouds, temple-wall narrative drama.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: border of weapon and thorn motifs interwoven with dark lotuses; central scene of mountain-fortress and cave; decorative yet cautionary, deep indigo ground with gold and crimson detailing; coins patterned like a snare around the traveler."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["distant thunder","clashing metal (subtle)","wind through caves","sudden silence at verse end"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: धनलोभात्समंततः = धनलोभात् + समन्ततः।
FAQs
It warns that greed for wealth (dhanalobha) turns even naturally protected places—mountains, caves, forts—into fearful dwellings, inviting violence and insecurity.
In Purāṇic usage, “mleccha” is a broad label for outsiders or those seen as nonconforming to the prevailing cultural-religious norms; here it functions as a marker of dangerous raiders rather than a specific ethnicity.
External defenses cannot guarantee safety when inner motives are corrupt; craving wealth can attract conflict, making even strongholds feel like places of terror.