Shloka 4
Rules of Edible and Inedible Foods
राजान्नं वर्तकान्नं च षंढान्नं चर्म्मकारिणाम् । गणान्नं गणिकान्नं च षडन्नं च विवर्जयेत्
rājānnaṃ vartakānnaṃ ca ṣaṃḍhānnaṃ carmmakāriṇām | gaṇānnaṃ gaṇikānnaṃ ca ṣaḍannaṃ ca vivarjayet
Debe evitarse el alimento recibido de un rey, de un mensajero o sirviente profesional, de un impotente, de un curtidor, de un gaṇa (séquito), de una cortesana, y también los llamados seis tipos de alimento (ṣaḍ-anna).
Not specified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses of Svarga-khaṇḍa 56).
Concept: Āhāra-śuddhi (purity of food-source) is treated as a prerequisite for inner purity and successful religious observance.
Application: When undertaking worship/fasts, prefer food from trusted, ethically steady sources; avoid offerings/handouts that create moral compromise or agitation; cultivate mindful eating as part of daily sādhana.
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A quiet āśrama dining space at dawn: a seated brāhmaṇa-vrata practitioner receives bowls offered by various figures—kingly envoy, courtesan, leather-worker—yet gently turns them away, choosing a simple leaf-plate of pure grains. The scene emphasizes restraint and discernment rather than hostility, with a subtle aura of sattva around the ascetic.","primary_figures":["Pulastya (as teaching sage, optional)","Bhīṣma (as listener, optional)","vrata-observant householder/brāhmaṇa","figures symbolizing listed donors (king’s attendant, gaṇa-retainer, courtesan, leather-worker)"],"setting":"Forest hermitage edge with a small yajña-śālā, tulasī planter near the doorway, and a low wooden seat with kuśa grass.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["sandalwood beige","leaf green","ochre","vermillion","soft gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a serene sage instructing a disciplined devotee beside a tulasī planter; in the foreground, symbolic donor-figures offer covered bowls that are respectfully declined; gold leaf halos, rich vermillion and emerald textiles, gem-studded ornaments on the royal attendant, ornate arch framing the āśrama doorway, traditional South Indian iconographic clarity.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate hermitage scene at sunrise with slender trees and distant blue hills; the devotee sits on a woven mat with a leaf-plate, while stylized donor-figures approach from the side; refined faces, soft washes, lyrical naturalism, subtle gestures of refusal and humility.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and flat natural pigments; central seated teacher with calm eyes, tulasī pot and lamp nearby; donor-figures arranged in a frieze-like row holding vessels; dominant reds, yellows, and greens with temple-wall aesthetic.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: a devotional courtyard with floral borders and lotus motifs; the central devotee before a small Viṣṇu shrine chooses pure naivedya while other offerings are set aside; peacocks and cows at the margins, deep indigo background with gold detailing and intricate vine patterns."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"authoritative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["temple bells","soft conch shell","morning birds","leaf rustle","ritual silence between lines"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: राजान्नम्=राज-अन्नम्; वर्तकान्नम्=वर्तक-अन्नम्; षंढान्नम्=षंढ-अन्नम्; गणान्नम्=गण-अन्नम्; गणिकान्नम्=गणिका-अन्नम्; षडन्नम्=षड्-अन्नम् (ड् + अ → डन्न).
FAQs
It gives a dharma-based guideline on āhāra (food ethics): certain sources of food are to be avoided, emphasizing purity, restraint, and careful acceptance of gifts.
Such injunctions often reflect concerns about moral influence, social obligations created by accepting gifts, and ritual/ethical notions of purity tied to livelihood and conduct.
Literally “six foods” or a “sixfold food category.” Its exact referent varies by tradition and context; a precise identification usually requires the surrounding commentary or adjacent verses in this chapter.