Shloka 44
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
वेदशास्त्रयुतं हत्वा श्रोत्रियं विजितेंद्रियम् । विप्रं च वैष्णवं हत्वा तस्माद्दशगुणोत्तरम्
vedaśāstrayutaṃ hatvā śrotriyaṃ vijiteṃdriyam | vipraṃ ca vaiṣṇavaṃ hatvā tasmāddaśaguṇottaram
Wer einen Śrotriya tötet—einen, der mit Veda und Śāstra ausgestattet und die Sinne bezwungen hat—und wer einen vaiṣṇavischen Brāhmaṇa tötet, dessen Sünde gilt als zehnfach größer als jene.
Unspecified (narrative voice not indicated in the provided excerpt)
Concept: Violence against the learned and self-controlled śrotriya is grievous; violence against a Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇa is declared even more catastrophic, multiplying the sin.
Application: Honor spiritual practitioners, avoid sectarian contempt, and treat devotees with humility; protect religious teachers and communities; practice speech-restraint to avoid ‘killing’ through slander.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A symbolic moral hierarchy: two radiant figures stand—one a śrotriya with Veda manuscripts and calm gaze, the other a Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇa with ūrdhva-puṇḍra and tulasī-mālā—while a dark storm of sin swells tenfold behind the aggressor’s shadow. The scene communicates ‘daśaguṇottaram’ through multiplying waves or concentric rings of darkness recoiling from their sanctity.","primary_figures":["śrotriya brāhmaṇa (Veda-bearing)","Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇa (ūrdhva-puṇḍra, tulasī-mālā)","personified Pāpa as a dark cloud","Viṣṇu as unseen protector (chakra aura)"],"setting":"Hermitage courtyard with a small Viṣṇu shrine and a Vedic study pavilion (pāṭhaśālā).","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["sapphire blue","ivory white","saffron","emerald green","storm gray"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: two central brāhmaṇas—one śrotriya holding palm-leaf Veda, one Vaiṣṇava with ūrdhva-puṇḍra and tulasī-mālā—standing before a small Viṣṇu shrine; a tenfold layered dark aura behind the would-be killer; lavish gold leaf halos, ruby-maroon background, ornate temple arch framing the moral hierarchy.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a serene āśrama with a pāṭhaśālā, the śrotriya seated teaching, the Vaiṣṇava offering flowers at a tiny Viṣṇu altar; behind a distant figure, soft-edged storm bands multiply in ten rings; cool palette, delicate facial expressions, lyrical trees and hills.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: frontal iconic Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇa with tulasī-mālā and ūrdhva-puṇḍra, beside a śrotriya with manuscript; bold outlines, flat fields of red/yellow/green, a stylized ten-layer pāpa-cloud motif, Viṣṇu’s chakra emblem above as protector.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central Viṣṇu emblem with garlanded tulasī, flanked by a Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇa and a śrotriya; lotus and vine borders, deep indigo ground, gold highlights; ten concentric floral-dark rings subtly indicating ‘tenfold’ consequence."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell (soft)","temple bells","rustling palm leaves","hushed assembly murmur"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विजितेंद्रियम् = विजित + इन्द्रियम्; तस्माद्दशगुणोत्तरम् = तस्मात् + दशगुणोत्तरम् (द्-आगम/व्यञ्जन-सन्धि)
FAQs
It teaches a graded ethic of non-violence: harming spiritually disciplined and learned persons—especially a Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇa—is treated as a far heavier wrongdoing.
A śrotriya is a properly trained Vedic scholar—one grounded in Veda and śāstra—here additionally described as self-controlled (vijitendriya).
Within Purāṇic dharma discourse, violence against one who embodies learning, restraint, and devotion is considered especially destructive, so the text marks it as a dramatically aggravated offense.