Shloka 16
Account of the Ripening of Karma
Childlessness, Offspring, and Remedial Dharma
पूर्वजन्मनि यो मर्त्यो निराशं चातिथिं द्विज । कुर्यात्क्रोधेन दंडं च पुत्रहीनो भवेद्ध्रुवम्
pūrvajanmani yo martyo nirāśaṃ cātithiṃ dvija | kuryātkrodhena daṃḍaṃ ca putrahīno bhaveddhruvam
ブラーフマナよ、前世において客人を失望させて追い返し、怒りにまかせて罰を加えた者は、必ずや子に恵まれぬ。
Unspecified (didactic narration within Brahma-khaṇḍa context)
Concept: Atithi-sevā (hospitality) is a grave dharma; cruelty and anger toward a guest ripen as loss of progeny.
Application: Receive guests with calm speech, water, and a seat; never dismiss someone in need with harshness—pause before reacting in anger, especially in the home.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A humble courtyard at dusk: a weary traveler-guest stands at the threshold with a water-pot, eyes lowered in disappointment. Inside, a householder’s face is twisted by anger as he gestures dismissively, while unseen karmic shadows coil behind him, hinting at future sorrow in the lineage.","primary_figures":["householder (gṛhastha)","atithi (guest)","witnessing deity presence as subtle aura of Viṣṇu/antaryāmin"],"setting":"village brāhmaṇa home courtyard with tulasī platform in the background, threshold lamp unlit, simple wooden seat unused","lighting_mood":"lamp-lit twilight with ominous undertone","color_palette":["smoky indigo","earth brown","lamp-amber","ash gray","muted maroon"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a domestic dharma tableau—angry householder turning away a disappointed atithi at the doorway, with a faint golden haloed Viṣṇu-antaryāmin motif in the background; gold leaf highlights on doorway arch and subtle divine aura, rich reds/greens, ornate borders, traditional South Indian detailing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a quiet Himalayan-foothill courtyard scene, delicate brushwork showing the guest’s downcast expression and the householder’s harsh gesture; cool dusk sky, lyrical trees, refined faces, minimal architecture, moral tension conveyed through posture and spacing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines and expressive eyes—householder in krodha rasa, atithi in karuṇa; warm ochres and greens, temple-lamp motifs, a stylized Viṣṇu aura as witness behind the scene, mural-like flat perspective.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic composition—threshold with lotus borders, the atithi as a ‘moving tirtha’; deep blue background with gold floral filigree, small tulasī plant motif, moral allegory rendered with ornate patterns rather than realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["low temple bell","distant dog bark","evening wind","brief silence after the warning"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चातिथिम् = च + अतिथिम्; कुर्यात्क्रोधेन = कुर्यात् + क्रोधेन; भवेद्ध्रुवम् = भवेत् + ध्रुवम्
FAQs
It teaches atithi-dharma: a guest should not be turned away disappointed, and anger-driven punishment is condemned as adharma with karmic consequences.
It links actions in a prior life—dishonoring a guest and acting in anger—to a specific future result, illustrating moral causality across births.
In dharma literature, the atithi is to be honored and cared for; neglecting or humiliating a guest is treated as a serious breach of household duty.