Shloka 13
Exposition of the Duties of Ascetics
Saṃnyāsa-Dharma
कालमेव प्रतीक्षेत निर्देशं भृतको यथा । नाध्येतव्यं न वर्तव्यं श्रोतव्यं न कदाचन
kālameva pratīkṣeta nirdeśaṃ bhṛtako yathā | nādhyetavyaṃ na vartavyaṃ śrotavyaṃ na kadācana
Debe aguardarse sólo el tiempo oportuno, como un criado asalariado que espera la orden; jamás debe estudiarse, ni actuarse, ni siquiera escucharse (cuando no corresponde ocuparse de ello).
Unspecified (context needed to confirm the dialogue pair in Svargakhaṇḍa 59)
Concept: Wait for the proper time and instruction; do not engage in study, action, or even listening when the context is improper—discipline includes restraint from ‘good’ acts done wrongly or prematurely.
Application: Choose the right time and setting for learning and practice; avoid impulsive debates, gossip disguised as ‘listening,’ and actions done for display; follow a steady schedule for sādhana.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A quiet hermitage courtyard: a disciplined seeker stands with folded hands, waiting outside a hut while an elder teacher meditates within, suggesting ‘kālam eva pratīkṣet’. In the foreground, a closed palm-leaf manuscript and a silent drum symbolize withheld study and action until the proper cue arrives.","primary_figures":["seeker/novice","elder guru (silhouetted or partially seen)"],"setting":"forest āśrama with thatched hut, sacred fire pit, and a simple wooden staff leaning against a tree","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["forest green","bark brown","muted saffron","parchment beige","shadow black"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: hermitage scene with the waiting disciple at the threshold, gold leaf highlighting the sacred fire and a subtle aura around the guru, rich vermilion and green borders, ornate yet calm composition emphasizing patience and obedience.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate forest textures, a small hut with fine linework, the disciple poised in stillness, cool greens and browns, lyrical negative space to convey restraint from study/action/listening.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized trees and hut, the disciple in ochre, the guru in meditative posture, rhythmic bands of color and a small glowing homa-kunda, emphasizing niyama and kāla.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central waiting figure framed by floral borders and small manuscript motifs, deep blue-green ground with gold accents, peacocks perched quietly to symbolize watchful patience, minimal narrative clutter."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["forest birds","crackling sacred fire","soft staff tap","measured pauses"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kālameva = kālam + eva; nādhyetavyaṃ = na + adhyetavyaṃ (a+a→ā).
FAQs
It teaches restraint and timing: one should act only when appropriate—like a servant awaiting an order—and avoid engaging (studying, doing, or even hearing) what is improper for the moment or context.
The analogy highlights disciplined obedience and readiness: just as a hired servant waits for direction, a seeker should wait for the right occasion and authorization before undertaking certain actions or teachings.
It emphasizes self-control—knowing when to refrain. Not everything should be pursued immediately; discernment about time, context, and suitability is itself a form of dharma.