Shloka 76
Pitṛ-tīrtha Context: Marks of Sin, Śrāddha Discipline, and Karmic Ripening
in Yayāti’s Narrative
स्वधर्मं विक्रयेद्यस्तु अधर्मं वर्णते नरः । परदोषप्रवादी च परच्छिद्रावलोककः
svadharmaṃ vikrayedyastu adharmaṃ varṇate naraḥ | paradoṣapravādī ca paracchidrāvalokakaḥ
जो अपना स्वधर्म बेच देता है, अधर्म का प्रचार करता है, दूसरों के दोष बोलता है और दूसरों की कमज़ोरियों के छिद्र खोजता रहता है—वह मनुष्य—
Unspecified (contextual narrator/teacher voice within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa; likely within a Pulastya–Bhīṣma style discourse, but not provable from this single verse alone)
Concept: Svadharma is not a commodity; adharma begins with self-betrayal and the habit of fault-finding in others.
Application: Do not compromise core duties for gain; practice self-scrutiny before criticizing; replace ‘loophole-hunting’ with honest accountability and service-minded speech.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stern rishi-teacher addresses a young prince seated on a low throne, while shadowy figures in the background whisper and point, symbolizing fault-finding and the ‘search for others’ weaknesses.’ A balance-scale and a broken yoke lie near the teacher’s feet, showing svadharma being ‘sold’ and order being disrupted.","primary_figures":["rishi-teacher (dharma-upadesha)","young prince (nṛpanandana)","symbolic whisperers (para-doṣa-pravādins)"],"setting":"Forest hermitage court with palm-leaf manuscripts, a small fire-altar, and a distant village market hinted at to symbolize ‘selling dharma.’","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["saffron ochre","smoke gray","deep maroon","leaf green","antique gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a rishi with raised teaching-hand (vyakhyana mudra) admonishing a prince, gold leaf halo around the rishi, ornate throne textiles, symbolic broken scale and scattered coins near a dharma-scroll, rich reds and greens, gem-studded ornaments, traditional South Indian iconographic detailing, crisp temple-like framing border.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate hermitage scene with delicate linework, the rishi and prince in profile, cool greens and earthy browns, subtle expressions of moral gravity, whispering silhouettes behind a tree, refined facial features, lyrical forest background with a small yajna-kunda.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, rishi and prince front-facing with large expressive eyes, warm red/yellow/green palette, stylized palm-leaf manuscripts and a small lamp, symbolic figures of gossip rendered as dark simplified forms, temple-wall aesthetic.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: moral allegory framed by lotus and creeper borders, central rishi-prince dialogue, decorative motifs of scales and scrolls, deep blues and gold accents, intricate floral patterns; subtle Vaishnava touch with a small Vishnu emblem above indicating dharma as Vishnu-priya."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["temple bells (distant)","crackling fire","rustling leaves","brief silence between clauses"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विक्रयेद्यस्तु→विक्रयेत् यः तु; परच्छिद्रावलोककः→पर-छिद्र-अवलोककः.
FAQs
It condemns abandoning or “selling” one’s svadharma, advocating adharma, speaking about others’ faults, and habitually searching for others’ weaknesses or loopholes.
It suggests treating one’s rightful duty as a commodity—giving it up for gain, convenience, or social advantage—rather than living it as a moral obligation aligned with one’s station and responsibilities.
It points to a mindset of fault-hunting that distracts from self-correction; spiritually, it fuels pride, hostility, and adharma, whereas dharmic practice emphasizes introspection and restraint in speech.