Shloka 12
The Glory of Truthful Oaths and Keeping One’s Promise
Satya & Pratijñā
करं दत्त्वा तु यो मर्त्यो वचनस्य च पालनम् । तावन्न कुर्यात्पितरः प्राप्नुवंति च यातनाम्
karaṃ dattvā tu yo martyo vacanasya ca pālanam | tāvanna kuryātpitaraḥ prāpnuvaṃti ca yātanām
കൈ പണമായി നൽകി വാക്ക് പാലിക്കാത്ത മർത്ത്യൻ, അത് നിറവേറ്റാത്ത കാലം മുഴുവൻ അവന്റെ പിതൃക്കളും യാതന അനുഭവിക്കും।
Not specified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses)
Concept: Breaking a pledged word harms not only oneself but also burdens one’s ancestors with suffering until restitution is made.
Application: Do not make vows lightly; if you fail, repair quickly—apologize, compensate, and complete the promised act; remember that personal integrity affects family wellbeing and social trust.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A man clasps another’s hand in pledge, but the clasp dissolves into broken threads; behind him, translucent pitṛs appear in a dim ancestral realm, their faces strained as if weighed down by the unkept promise. In the foreground, a scroll of ‘vācā’ (word) lies torn, while a lamp flickers, urging restitution.","primary_figures":["a pledge-breaker (householder)","pitṛs (ancestors) in subtle ethereal forms","a witness-sage or Dharma personified"],"setting":"Split-scene: earthly courtyard with handshake/pledge, and a shadowed pitṛ-loka vignette behind a veil of smoke.","lighting_mood":"lamp-lit with ominous shadows","color_palette":["smoky umber","lamp gold","deep maroon","slate blue","bone white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: dramatic split-panel composition—earthly pledge scene below, pitṛ-loka above; gold leaf on the lamp flame and sacred thread motifs, ornate borders, rich reds and greens; pitṛs rendered with subdued halos, emphasizing karmic linkage.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: nuanced emotional expressions, delicate architecture of a courtyard, thin veil separating worlds; pitṛs painted in pale washes like mist; restrained palette with fine linework and poignant storytelling.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized pitṛ figures with expressive eyes in a darkened upper register; central broken handshake motif; warm ochres and reds contrasted with deep blues, temple-wall narrative clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic broken garland and severed sacred thread motifs around a central vignette; narrative medallions showing pledge, neglect, and eventual restitution; floral borders, deep blue ground, gold detailing, devotional didactic tone."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["low drum pulse (mridang-like)","faint wind","single bell strike","silence after warning"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tāvanna → tāvat + na; kuryātpitaraḥ → kuryāt + pitaraḥ; prāpnuvaṃti → prāpnuvanti (spelling normalization).
FAQs
It indicates a solemn pledge—like giving one’s hand as a sign of agreement—emphasizing the seriousness of a promise.
It teaches that breaking one’s pledged word is not only a personal fault; it is portrayed as causing spiritual distress that affects one’s ancestral line as well.
Keep your word once given; failing to honor a promise is a grave breach of dharma with consequences extending beyond oneself.