Shloka 117
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
विषमं वाहयेद्यस्तु दुर्बलं सबलं तथा । स गोहत्यासमं पापं प्राप्नोतीह न संशयः
viṣamaṃ vāhayedyastu durbalaṃ sabalaṃ tathā | sa gohatyāsamaṃ pāpaṃ prāpnotīha na saṃśayaḥ
Wer ein schwaches Tier eine ungleiche oder übermäßige Last tragen lässt und den Schwachen wie den Starken behandelt, erlangt ohne Zweifel eine Sünde, die dem Kuhmord gleichkommt.
Unspecified (narratorial/teachings context within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa; exact speaker not provided in the input)
Concept: Forcing the weak to bear uneven/excessive loads is a grave offense equal to cow-slaughter; strength must be assessed truthfully and compassionately.
Application: In any leadership role, calibrate burdens to capacity: humane load limits for animals, fair workloads for employees, accommodations for illness/age; avoid ‘treating weak as strong.’
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cart tilts under a lopsided heap; a thin ox strains, knees buckling, while a compassionate figure rushes to redistribute the load, placing stones down and offering water. The composition contrasts imbalance and restored harmony, making ‘viṣama’ versus ‘sama’ visually unmistakable.","primary_figures":["weak ox (or cow used as draught)","cart driver","compassionate helper/protector","bystanders (optional)"],"setting":"country road beside fields, cart with uneven load, water pot and fodder bundle, distant village gate","lighting_mood":"harsh midday softened by moral intervention","color_palette":["sun-bleached sand","rust brown","olive green","chalk white","saffron cloth"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: moral lesson scene—tilted cart and straining ox, a dharmic protector redistributing the load, gold leaf highlighting the moment of correction and a small Viṣṇu symbol above, rich reds/greens, ornate borders with conch/discus motifs, didactic clarity with devotional undertone.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: finely detailed cart and road, expressive animal anatomy showing strain without gore, gentle helper figure, balanced composition shifting from lopsided to harmonious, cool shadows under bright sky, lyrical realism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized tilted cart as strong graphic element, bold outlines, protector figure central, red-yellow-green palette with earthy base, large eyes conveying urgency and restraint, temple-mural didactic tone.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic ‘balance’ theme—central ox and cart framed by lotus borders, decorative weights and floral motifs, deep blue with gold highlights, a small Viṣṇu emblem presiding, emphasis on restoring harmony and compassion."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["cart wheel creak","dry wind","brief bell chime","water poured into trough"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वाहयेद्यस्तु = वाहयेत् + यः + तु; गोहत्यासमं = गोहत्यासमम्; प्राप्नोतीह = प्राप्नोति + इह.
FAQs
It teaches non-cruelty (ahiṃsā) and condemns exploiting the weak—especially by forcing an unfit animal to carry an improper or excessive burden.
Cow-slaughter is treated as a grave transgression in many Dharma texts; the verse uses it as a benchmark to stress the seriousness of cruelty and harmful exploitation.
Do not overload or improperly load animals (or any weak dependents); assess capacity, distribute weight evenly, and avoid treating the weak as though they were strong.