Shloka 31
Prohibitions and Rules of Right Conduct (Ācāra): Theft, Speech, Purity, Residence, and Social Boundaries
परक्षेत्रे गां चरंतीं न चाचक्षीत कर्हिचित् । न संवसेत्सूचकेन न कं वै मर्मणि स्पृशेत्
parakṣetre gāṃ caraṃtīṃ na cācakṣīta karhicit | na saṃvasetsūcakena na kaṃ vai marmaṇi spṛśet
Man soll niemals eine Kuh ansehen, wenn sie auf fremdem Feld weidet. Man soll nicht mit einem Denunzianten zusammenleben und niemanden an einer lebenswichtigen Stelle berühren.
Unspecified (gnomic instruction within the Svarga-khaṇḍa narrative context)
Concept: Do not covet or intrude upon what belongs to others; avoid the company of informers; do not strike at another’s vulnerable points—ethics of non-harm and social trust.
Application: Practice non-intrusive attention (don’t ‘stare’ at others’ resources), choose trustworthy companions, and never exploit someone’s vulnerabilities in argument or power dynamics.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: forest
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At the edge of a cultivated field, a cow grazes peacefully while a disciplined householder turns his gaze away, honoring another’s boundary. Nearby, a shadowy figure whispers like an informer, but the householder steps back, choosing distance; the scene conveys restraint and the refusal to exploit weakness.","primary_figures":["a householder (gṛhastha)","a grazing cow","a suspicious informer figure (sūcaka)","a calm elder advising restraint"],"setting":"Rural boundary between field and path, with a small shrine-stone under a tree and distant village huts.","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["earth brown","leaf green","milk white","dusty ochre","slate gray"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a rural dharma tableau—cow grazing near a field boundary, a gṛhastha with folded hands averting his gaze, rejecting a whispering informer; gold leaf highlights on a small Viṣṇu emblem at a roadside shrine, rich textile reds and greens, ornate borders framing the moral scene.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: pastoral landscape with delicate grasses and a white cow; a refined figure turns away in restraint; a faint, darker figure suggests the informer; cool, lyrical palette with gentle hills and a quiet moral mood.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized cow and human figures with bold outlines; a clear boundary line across the ground; expressive eyes showing caution; warm reds/yellows/greens with a symbolic lotus/śaṅkha motif indicating Vaiṣṇava ethics.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: decorative pastoral composition with cows and lotus borders; central figure embodies restraint, stepping away from a gossiping silhouette; deep blue background with gold floral filigree, peacocks watching silently from a tree branch."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["cow bells (distant)","rustling leaves","soft birdsong","quiet footfall","silence between lines"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चाचक्षीत → च + आचक्षीत; संवसेत्सूचकेन → संवसेत् + सूचकेन.
FAQs
It cautions against covetous or intrusive attention toward another’s property and livelihood; the cow symbolizes valuable wealth and sustenance, so the rule discourages greed and improper intent.
A sūcaka is an informer or malicious accuser; living with such a person invites distrust, conflict, and ethical compromise, undermining social harmony and personal integrity.
It reinforces non-violence and restraint: one should not exploit another’s vulnerabilities or cause grievous injury, whether physically (vital points) or metaphorically (weaknesses).