Shloka 40
The Five Great Sacrifices: Supremacy of Honoring Parents, Pativrata Dharma, Truthfulness, and Śrāddha
इत्युक्ते चैव चांडाले चुकोप ब्राह्मणस्तदा । ब्राह्मणं मां परित्यज्य किं कार्यमधिकं तव
ityukte caiva cāṃḍāle cukopa brāhmaṇastadā | brāhmaṇaṃ māṃ parityajya kiṃ kāryamadhikaṃ tava
Als der Caṇḍāla so gesprochen hatte, geriet der Brāhmaṇa in Zorn: „Mich, einen Brāhmaṇa, verlässt du — welches höhere Anliegen hast du denn?“
Brāhmaṇa (speaking to the Caṇḍāla)
Concept: Anger born of ego and status-consciousness blinds discernment; true dharma is not secured by birth-identity but by conduct and humility.
Application: When feeling disrespected, pause before reacting; examine whether the hurt is to the ego or to genuine principle, and respond with restraint.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A tense roadside encounter: a brāhmaṇa, face flushed with anger, confronts a Caṇḍāla who stands calm yet firm. The air feels charged, as if dharma itself is weighing the words; unseen, Viṣṇu’s test hovers over the scene.","primary_figures":["Brāhmaṇa (angered)","Caṇḍāla (composed)","Subtle presence of Viṣṇu as unseen witness"],"setting":"Village edge or forest-path crossroads with a small waterpot, staff, and travel bundle; onlookers at a distance.","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["burnt umber","saffron ochre","ash grey","deep indigo","leaf green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a dramatic moral tableau on a village path—an enraged brāhmaṇa with sacred thread and staff confronting a calm Caṇḍāla; ornate gold leaf halo subtly behind an unseen Viṣṇu-presence suggested by a faint conch-and-disc motif in the sky; rich reds and greens, gem-studded ornaments on the brāhmaṇa’s accessories, crisp South Indian iconographic detailing, embossed gold borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate brushwork capturing the brāhmaṇa’s sharp gesture and the Caṇḍāla’s steady gaze; cool earthy palette, lyrical trees and a winding path, refined facial features, a faint divine aura implied in the background clouds; intimate moral drama in a naturalistic landscape.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and expressive eyes—brāhmaṇa in saffron tones with intense brows, Caṇḍāla in muted earth pigments; temple-wall aesthetic with stylized foliage; a subtle Viṣṇu-symbol (śaṅkha-cakra) pattern in the upper register; red/yellow/green dominant pigments.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: narrative border of lotus and creepers framing a moral encounter; central figures on a path with stylized trees; symbolic śaṅkha-cakra motifs woven into floral borders to hint Viṣṇu’s hidden test; deep blues and gold accents, intricate textile-like detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["dry wind through trees","distant village murmurs","footsteps on dust","brief silence after accusation"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्युक्ते = इति + उक्ते; चैव = च + एव; ब्राह्मणस्तदा = ब्राह्मणः + तदा; कार्यमधिकम् = कार्यम् + अधिकम्
FAQs
A brāhmaṇa reacts angrily to the Caṇḍāla’s statement and challenges him for leaving/abandoning the brāhmaṇa, asking what higher goal he could have.
It highlights conflict between social status/identity (being a brāhmaṇa) and the other person’s chosen action or allegiance, setting up a dharma discussion about what truly constitutes “higher purpose.”
Not directly; it is part of a dialogue where the brāhmaṇa asserts status-based authority. In broader Purāṇic contexts, such exchanges often lead to clarifying that spiritual merit can transcend birth-status, but that conclusion is not stated in this single verse.