Shloka 155
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
यथा गौश्च तथा विप्रो यथाविप्रस्तथा हरिः । हरिर्यथा तथा गंगा एतेन ह्यवृषाः स्मृताः
yathā gauśca tathā vipro yathāviprastathā hariḥ | hariryathā tathā gaṃgā etena hyavṛṣāḥ smṛtāḥ
Wie die Kuh ist, so ist der Brāhmaṇa; wie der Brāhmaṇa ist, so ist Hari. Wie Hari ist, so ist auch die Gaṅgā—durch diese Lehre gelten sie als ‘avṛṣāḥ’, jene, die niemals verletzt werden dürfen.
Unknown (verse excerpt provided without surrounding dialogue context)
Concept: Cow, brāhmaṇa, Hari, and Gaṅgā are to be regarded as inviolable—never to be harmed—because they sustain dharma and purification.
Application: Practice ahiṃsā and reverence: protect cows, respect learned and ethical brāhmaṇas, avoid river pollution, and cultivate Hari-smṛti through service rather than mere sentiment.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: river
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A symbolic tableau where a radiant Hari stands above the flowing Gaṅgā, while a gentle cow and a serene brāhmaṇa stand on either side, all linked by a luminous thread of dharma. The river glows with sanctifying light, and the scene communicates ‘do not harm’ through protective gestures and calm faces.","primary_figures":["Hari (Vishnu)","Gaṅgā-devī (personified)","a brāhmaṇa","a cow"],"setting":"riverbank with steps (ghāṭa), small altar, and distant temple spire","lighting_mood":"divine radiance over cool river mist","color_palette":["sapphire blue","pearl white","river green","gold leaf","sunrise coral"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Vishnu standing in tribhaṅga with conch and discus, Gaṅgā-devī emerging from stylized waves at his feet, a sacred cow and a brāhmaṇa with kamaṇḍalu and Veda palm-leaf on either side, heavy gold leaf halos and ornate jewelry, rich red-green background, temple ghāṭa details and decorative borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate Gaṅgā ghāṭa scene with soft mist, Vishnu as a luminous central figure, brāhmaṇa and cow rendered with refined lines, gentle pastel palette, distant trees and small shrine, lyrical calm emphasizing sanctity and non-violence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, Vishnu in deep blue with large expressive eyes, Gaṅgā-devī in flowing white-blue garments, cow and brāhmaṇa symmetrically placed, stylized river patterns, warm red/yellow/green pigments, temple wall aesthetic with ornamental bands.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central Vishnu with lotus motifs, Gaṅgā as a flowing ribbon of water with lotuses, cow and brāhmaṇa in devotional posture, intricate floral borders, deep indigo ground with gold highlights, peacocks near the ghāṭa, conch and chakra motifs repeating in the frame."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["flowing river water","ghāṭa bells","conch shell","soft chanting chorus","wind through banyan leaves"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गौश्च = गौः + च; यथाविप्रस्तथा = यथा + विप्रः + तथा; हरिर्यथा = हरिः + यथा; ह्यवृषाः = हि + अवृषाः
FAQs
It places the cow, the brāhmaṇa, Hari (Viṣṇu), and the Gaṅgā in a single chain of reverence, implying they are to be treated as sacred and protected, not harmed or violated.
By equating the brāhmaṇa and the Gaṅgā with Hari, it frames devotion to Viṣṇu as expressed through honoring His devotees/agents (vipra) and His sacred presence in tīrthas (Gaṅgā).
The verse implies a dharmic prohibition against harming or disrespecting these sanctified pillars of religious life—cow protection, respect for learned spiritual guides, reverence for God, and protection of sacred waters.