Shloka 117
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
विषमं वाहयेद्यस्तु दुर्बलं सबलं तथा । स गोहत्यासमं पापं प्राप्नोतीह न संशयः
viṣamaṃ vāhayedyastu durbalaṃ sabalaṃ tathā | sa gohatyāsamaṃ pāpaṃ prāpnotīha na saṃśayaḥ
ദുർബല (മൃഗ)ത്തെ സബലമെന്നു കരുതി അസമമോ അതിഭാരമോ ചുമപ്പിക്കുന്നവൻ ഗോഹത്യാസമമായ പാപം പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു—സംശയമില്ല।
Unspecified (narratorial/teachings context within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa; exact speaker not provided in the input)
Concept: Forcing the weak to bear uneven/excessive loads is a grave offense equal to cow-slaughter; strength must be assessed truthfully and compassionately.
Application: In any leadership role, calibrate burdens to capacity: humane load limits for animals, fair workloads for employees, accommodations for illness/age; avoid ‘treating weak as strong.’
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cart tilts under a lopsided heap; a thin ox strains, knees buckling, while a compassionate figure rushes to redistribute the load, placing stones down and offering water. The composition contrasts imbalance and restored harmony, making ‘viṣama’ versus ‘sama’ visually unmistakable.","primary_figures":["weak ox (or cow used as draught)","cart driver","compassionate helper/protector","bystanders (optional)"],"setting":"country road beside fields, cart with uneven load, water pot and fodder bundle, distant village gate","lighting_mood":"harsh midday softened by moral intervention","color_palette":["sun-bleached sand","rust brown","olive green","chalk white","saffron cloth"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: moral lesson scene—tilted cart and straining ox, a dharmic protector redistributing the load, gold leaf highlighting the moment of correction and a small Viṣṇu symbol above, rich reds/greens, ornate borders with conch/discus motifs, didactic clarity with devotional undertone.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: finely detailed cart and road, expressive animal anatomy showing strain without gore, gentle helper figure, balanced composition shifting from lopsided to harmonious, cool shadows under bright sky, lyrical realism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized tilted cart as strong graphic element, bold outlines, protector figure central, red-yellow-green palette with earthy base, large eyes conveying urgency and restraint, temple-mural didactic tone.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic ‘balance’ theme—central ox and cart framed by lotus borders, decorative weights and floral motifs, deep blue with gold highlights, a small Viṣṇu emblem presiding, emphasis on restoring harmony and compassion."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["cart wheel creak","dry wind","brief bell chime","water poured into trough"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वाहयेद्यस्तु = वाहयेत् + यः + तु; गोहत्यासमं = गोहत्यासमम्; प्राप्नोतीह = प्राप्नोति + इह.
FAQs
It teaches non-cruelty (ahiṃsā) and condemns exploiting the weak—especially by forcing an unfit animal to carry an improper or excessive burden.
Cow-slaughter is treated as a grave transgression in many Dharma texts; the verse uses it as a benchmark to stress the seriousness of cruelty and harmful exploitation.
Do not overload or improperly load animals (or any weak dependents); assess capacity, distribute weight evenly, and avoid treating the weak as though they were strong.