Shloka 42
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
विषमं वा कुतस्तिष्ठेत्तत्त्वतो वक्तुमर्हसि । ब्रह्मोवाच । हत्वा विप्रं ध्रुवं पुत्र पातकं यदुदाहृतम्
viṣamaṃ vā kutastiṣṭhettattvato vaktumarhasi | brahmovāca | hatvā vipraṃ dhruvaṃ putra pātakaṃ yadudāhṛtam
„Wo liegt dann in Wahrheit die Ungleichheit der karmischen Folge? Du sollst es der Wirklichkeit gemäß erklären.“ Brahmā sprach: „Mein Sohn, gewiss ist verkündet: Einen Brahmanen zu töten ist eine sichere Sünde.“
Brahmā (brahmovāca)
Concept: Dharma requires tattvataḥ-vicāra (truth-based analysis) when apparent inequalities arise; Brahmā affirms the certainty of brahma-hatyā as pāpa, setting a baseline before discussing gradations or contexts.
Application: When moral confusion arises, seek clarity from reliable sources and reasoned inquiry; avoid rationalizing harm; establish non-negotiable ethical baselines (e.g., non-violence, respect for teachers).
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A serene cosmic assembly: Brahmā seated on a lotus-throne, four faces calm and luminous, raises a hand in teaching mudrā while addressing a questioning sage-son. Between them floats a subtle scale-symbol of dharma, indicating the inquiry into ‘inequality’ and the settling of doctrine with measured certainty.","primary_figures":["Brahmā","Questioning interlocutor (son/sage, unspecified)","Nārada (optional, as nearby witness)"],"setting":"Celestial court above a lotus lake; manuscripts and rosaries placed on a low pedestal; swans glide in the background to symbolize discernment.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["lotus pink","saffron gold","pearl white","sky blue","emerald green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Brahmā on a gem-studded lotus throne with heavy gold leaf halo and ornate prabhāmaṇḍala; the questioning sage kneels with folded hands; gold leaf embellishment on lotus petals and crown; rich reds and greens, symmetrical temple-arch framing, traditional South Indian iconography.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate dialogue scene on a lotus terrace; delicate brushwork, refined faces, soft sky wash; Himalayan-like distant hills stylized as celestial ridges; cool blues and gentle pinks with lyrical naturalism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Brahmā with bold outlines and characteristic large eyes, seated on a stylized lotus; teaching gesture emphasized; flat saffron/yellow/green palette with red accents; mural cartouche for ‘brahmovāca’.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: lotus-centric composition—Brahmā enthroned at the center of a large lotus mandala; intricate floral borders, swans and lotuses repeating; deep blue background with gold detailing; devotional textile aesthetic adapted to Brahmā’s courtly serenity."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["gentle temple bells","soft vīṇā drone","swans and water ripples","conch in the distance","measured silence between question and answer"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुतस्तिष्ठेत् = कुतः + तिष्ठेत्; तत्त्वतो = तत्त्वतः (पद-रूप); वक्तुमर्हसि = वक्तुम् + अर्हसि; ब्रह्मोवाच = ब्रह्मा + उवाच; यदुदाहृतम् = यत् + उदाहृतम्
FAQs
It affirms the dharma-śāstric principle that killing a brāhmaṇa (vipra) is a grave and definite sin (pātaka), often discussed under the category of brahmahatyā.
Brahmā is the speaker, explicitly marked by the phrase “brahmovāca” (“Brahmā said”).
By asking where “inequality” in consequences truly lies and then stating a clear moral rule, the passage frames karma and social-religious ethics as governed by an objective dharmic order rather than arbitrary outcomes.