Shloka 109
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
पुण्यकर्मरतो विप्रः कृषिं हि परिकारयेत् । वाहयेद्दिवसस्यार्धं बलीवर्दचतुष्टयम्
puṇyakarmarato vipraḥ kṛṣiṃ hi parikārayet | vāhayeddivasasyārdhaṃ balīvardacatuṣṭayam
Ein Brahmane, der sich verdienstvollen Taten hingibt, soll den Ackerbau ausführen lassen; und er lasse ein Gespann von vier Ochsen die Hälfte des Tages arbeiten.
Unspecified (narrative instruction within the chapter; speaker not provided in the input excerpt)
Concept: Merit arises from righteous livelihood when work is measured, non-exploitative, and aligned with one’s varṇa-duties.
Application: Work within humane limits; treat dependent beings (animals, workers, family) as entrusted lives; set clear boundaries on labor time and intensity.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dawn-lit agrarian scene where a learned brāhmaṇa-householder supervises ploughing with calm restraint. Four strong oxen pull a wooden plough through moist earth, while the man holds a staff and water-pot, his gaze gentle—signaling that labor is dharma, not exploitation.","primary_figures":["brāhmaṇa gr̥hastha","four oxen (bali-varda)"],"setting":"village fields at the edge of a sacred grove; distant thatched homes; a small shrine-stone under a neem tree","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["earth umber","harvest gold","leaf green","cotton white","vermillion"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a serene brāhmaṇa gr̥hastha in white dhotī with sacred thread stands beside a wooden plough; four oxen adorned with simple bells pull in unison; include a small Viṣṇu shrine under a tree in the background; gold leaf highlights on ornaments, bells, and halo-like radiance around the dharmic householder; rich reds and greens, gem-studded accents, South Indian iconographic symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical rural valley with soft hills; delicate linework shows four oxen ploughing; the brāhmaṇa’s calm face and modest posture convey restraint; cool sky gradients, detailed grasses, and a tiny shrine-stone near a neem; refined facial features and gentle naturalism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines; the brāhmaṇa with stylized eyes and sacred thread; four oxen in rhythmic formation; flat yet vibrant fields; natural pigment palette with red/yellow/green dominance; temple-wall aesthetic with ornamental borders of lotus and creepers.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional rural tableau framed by intricate floral borders; lotus motifs and peacocks at corners; the oxen and plough centered like a sacred procession; deep blues and gold accents; subtle inclusion of a small Viṣṇu emblem (śaṅkha-cakra) above the field as blessing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft temple bell","ox-bells","morning birds","distant conch","rustle of crops"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vāhayeddivasasya → vāhayet divasasya; balīvardacatuṣṭayam → balīvarda-catuṣṭayam.
FAQs
It recommends arranging agricultural work and specifies a measured workload: using a team of four oxen for half a day.
Yes—framed as an act aligned with puṇya (merit), it presents agriculture (performed/arranged properly) as a permissible, orderly activity connected with righteous conduct.
It suggests moderation and restraint—setting humane, regulated limits on labor rather than maximizing extraction or overburdening animals.