Shloka 190
Merit of Causeways and Crossings, Temple Construction Rewards, and the Rudrākṣa Mahātmya
हस्त्यश्वनरमार्जार मूषकाञ्छशकांस्तथा । व्यालदंष्ट्रि सृगालादीन्हत्वा व्याघातयत्यपि
hastyaśvanaramārjāra mūṣakāñchaśakāṃstathā | vyāladaṃṣṭri sṛgālādīnhatvā vyāghātayatyapi
Selbst wenn er Elefanten, Pferde, Menschen, Katzen, Mäuse und auch Vögel getötet hat, ebenso Schlangen mit Giftzähnen, Schakale und andere—so erleidet er dennoch Heimsuchung (als Folge).
Unspecified (verse excerpt; speaker not identifiable from the single verse alone)
Concept: Violence and wrongdoing generate affliction; ritual objects are not licenses for adharmic action—karmic consequence persists.
Application: Treat spiritual practices as supports for self-restraint: avoid cruelty, cultivate compassion toward animals and humans, and seek atonement (prāyaścitta) when harm is done.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A shadowed forest-edge tableau shows the aftermath of violence: fallen creatures and a hunter-like figure whose body is ringed by thorny, dark karmic vines. Above, a faint, compassionate divine light suggests the possibility of repentance, while the figure’s face shows dawning remorse rather than triumph.","primary_figures":["wrongdoer (symbolic)","animals (elephant, horse, cat, mouse, birds)","serpent and jackal (symbolic)","karmic affliction aura"],"setting":"Dusky woodland with scattered leaves, a distant shrine barely visible through mist; the scene emphasizes consequence rather than gore.","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["charcoal black","mud brown","dull crimson","ashen white","pale gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: moral allegory—central figure entangled in dark vine-like motifs representing pāpa, with a small gold-leaf divine radiance above indicating repentance; ornate border, rich earthy reds and greens subdued by shadow, symbolic animals rendered stylized and respectful (non-gory).","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: twilight forest with delicate trees and mist; the figure’s remorseful expression finely detailed; animals depicted symbolically; cool grays and browns with a thin ribbon of golden light in the sky.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, allegorical composition with serpentine karmic coils around the figure; limited palette of red/yellow/green darkened; expressive eyes conveying regret; temple mural border patterns.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: narrative-moral panel with patterned foliage and border florals; karmic vines as repeating motifs; animals stylized; a small central lotus of pale gold signifying dharma amid darkness."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["low drum (mridangam)","wind","distant jackal call","brief silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: mūṣakāñchaśakān = mūṣakān + ca + śakān. sṛgālādīn-hatvā = sṛgālādīn + hatvā. First pāda is a list; several items appear as stem-compounds without explicit case endings in the transmitted text; interpreted as accusative plurals governed by hatvā/vyāghātayati.
FAQs
It underscores that violent actions—killing living beings—lead to affliction and negative consequences, reflecting the Purāṇic emphasis on karma and ethical restraint.
Not explicitly in this single verse; it functions more as an ethical-karmic warning. In broader Purāṇic contexts, such ethical conduct is often presented as supportive of spiritual progress, including bhakti.
The enumeration amplifies the gravity and breadth of harm: violence across species and contexts is portrayed as cumulatively destructive and karmically consequential.