Shloka 40
Narrative of Sumanā: The Quest for a Worthy Son and the Karmic Roots of Poverty
श्वशुरस्य श्राद्धकालः श्वश्र्वाश्चैव महामते । त्वं श्रुत्वा तद्वचस्तस्या गृहं त्यक्त्वा पलायसे
śvaśurasya śrāddhakālaḥ śvaśrvāścaiva mahāmate | tvaṃ śrutvā tadvacastasyā gṛhaṃ tyaktvā palāyase
“ໂອ ຜູ້ມີປັນຍາ, ນີ້ແມ່ນເວລາສຣາດທະ (śrāddha) ຂອງພໍ່ເມຍ ແລະຂອງແມ່ເມຍດ້ວຍ; ແຕ່ເຈົ້າຟັງຄຳນາງແລ້ວ ກໍລະທິ້ງເຮືອນ ແລະຫນີໄປ”
Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context needed to identify the dialogue pair)
Concept: Neglect of śrāddha and household duty—especially under the influence of harsh speech or impulse—signals a fall from gṛhastha-dharma.
Application: Keep commitments to family rites even when emotionally provoked; pause before abandoning responsibilities, and respond to conflict with steadiness rather than flight.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inside a modest gṛhastha home, an elder woman points toward a prepared śrāddha space—kusha grass, a water pot, and offerings—while a conflicted man turns away at the threshold, mid-step, as if fleeing. The air feels heavy with unperformed duty, the ritual lamp flickering as the household’s dharma wavers.","primary_figures":["gṛhastha householder","mother-in-law (śvaśrū)","unseen pitṛs suggested symbolically"],"setting":"Domestic courtyard with a small ritual platform, śrāddha vessels (kalaśa, pātra), sesame and water, and a doorway opening to a dusty lane.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["smoke gray","oil-lamp amber","earth brown","saffron ochre","deep maroon"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a South Indian household śrāddha scene with a small altar, brass vessels, and a flickering deepam; the elder woman admonishes as the man turns away; gold leaf highlights on vessels and lamp flame, rich maroon and emerald textiles, gem-studded ornament accents, traditional iconographic clarity, ornate border motifs of lotus and conch.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate courtyard scene with delicate linework; the ritual platform with kusa and water pot rendered finely; the man’s hesitant retreat captured in lyrical gesture; cool muted palette with warm lamp glow, refined faces, patterned textiles, and a quiet background of trees and distant hills.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and flat natural pigments; expressive wide eyes on the admonishing elder; stylized ritual objects (kalaśa, deepam) with strong reds, yellows, and greens; temple-wall aesthetic with floral borders and a sense of moral drama.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: domestic dharma scene framed by lotus and tulasi borders; subtle Vaiṣṇava symbols (conch, chakra) in the margins; intricate floral patterns around the śrāddha offerings; deep indigo background with gold detailing, peacocks perched near the courtyard edge, devotional ambience despite the moral tension."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","oil lamp crackle","distant household murmurs","brief silence after reproach"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: श्वश्र्वाश्चैव → श्वश्र्वाः च एव; तद्वचस्तस्या → तत् वचः तस्याः.
FAQs
It rebukes someone for fleeing the household after hearing a woman’s words, despite it being the proper time to perform śrāddha rites for in-laws—highlighting duty and responsibility.
It indicates the appropriate time to perform śrāddha (ancestral rites), stressing that ritual and familial obligations are due and should not be neglected.
The verse emphasizes steadiness in dharma—especially gṛhastha responsibilities—and warns against impulsively abandoning one’s duties due to emotional disturbance or domestic conflict.