Shloka 17
Honoring the Mother (Mātṛpūjanam): Consent, Equity, and Dana to Restore Household Dharma
मातर ऊचुः । कोऽनुमोदयते पुत्र सर्पभक्षणमात्मनः । को हि दीपयते वह्निं स्वदेहे देहिनां वर ॥ १७ ॥
mātara ūcuḥ | ko'numodayate putra sarpabhakṣaṇamātmanaḥ | ko hi dīpayate vahniṃ svadehe dehināṃ vara || 17 ||
മാതാക്കൾ പറഞ്ഞു— “മകനേ! സ്വയം സർപ്പഭക്ഷണമാകുന്നതിനെ ആര് അംഗീകരിക്കും? ദേഹികളിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠനേ, സ്വന്തം ദേഹത്തിൽ ആര് അഗ്നി കൊളുത്തും?”
The mothers (mātaraḥ)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It condemns voluntary self-destruction by using vivid analogies (snake-devouring, self-ignited fire), reinforcing that dharma preserves life and discourages reckless acts even in emotionally charged situations.
Bhakti is not expressed through self-harm; it is aligned with dharmic restraint and right discernment. The verse implies that true devotion protects the body as an instrument for sādhana—japa, pūjā, and service.
No specific Vedanga (Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, etc.) is directly taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical discernment (dharma-viveka) applied to conduct.