Shloka 71
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
न्याययुद्धेषु योद्धव्यं चरेद्वीरव्रतं शुभम् । स तया च द्विजो वृत्या यद्धनं लभते नृपात्
nyāyayuddheṣu yoddhavyaṃ caredvīravrataṃ śubham | sa tayā ca dvijo vṛtyā yaddhanaṃ labhate nṛpāt
ന്യായയുദ്ധങ്ങളിൽ മാത്രമേ യുദ്ധം ചെയ്യാവൂ; മംഗളകരമായ വീരവ്രതം ആചരിക്കണം; അങ്ങനെ ആ വൃത്തിയിലും ആചരണത്തിലുമൂടെ ദ്വിജൻ രാജാവിൽ നിന്ന് നേടുന്ന ധനം യുക്തമായതായാണ് കണക്കാക്കുന്നത്.
Unspecified (contextual narrator within Padma Purāṇa, Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa)
Concept: Engage only in righteous warfare and uphold a ‘heroic vow’; wealth gained through such regulated conduct is considered proper.
Application: In conflict (workplace, family, civic), fight only for just causes, with rules and proportionality; avoid harm for greed; treat power and earnings as stewardship for dharmic purposes.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A battlefield poised before engagement: warriors stand with lowered weapons as elders and priests mark the boundary of righteous conduct. A central figure takes a solemn vow, hands on bow, eyes calm—valor tempered by dharma—while banners flutter and dust glows in the sun.","primary_figures":["a kṣatriya warrior taking a vow","battle-ready soldiers","a priest/ācārya advising dharma","a king as patron"],"setting":"battlefield edge with chariots, standards, and a small ritual space for vows","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["steel gray","banner crimson","sun gold","dusty beige","indigo shadow"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: heroic dharma-yuddha tableau—central warrior with ornate bow taking a solemn vow, priests indicating righteous boundaries, chariots and standards behind; gold-leaf highlights on armor and weapons, rich reds and greens, gem-studded ornaments, symmetrical composition conveying disciplined valor.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: refined battlefield scene with delicate lines, a calm warrior taking a vow under a pale dawn sky, distant hills, fluttering banners, restrained violence implied rather than shown, cool indigos and warm golds, lyrical realism and moral tension.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines of warrior and chariot, stylized weapons and banners, priestly figure gesturing dharma, strong red-yellow-green palette, temple-wall gravitas emphasizing ‘vrata’ discipline over aggression.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic dharma-yuddha scene framed by floral borders, central vow-taking warrior with lotus motifs and conch emblem subtly present, deep blue background with gold highlights, patterned banners and decorative horses, devotionalized heroism rather than gore."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["distant conch shell","war drums softened","wind through banners","brief silence before action"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: न्याययुद्धेषु = न्याय-युद्धेषु; चरेद्वीरव्रतम् = चरेत् + वीरव्रतम्; यद्धनम् = यत् + धनम्
FAQs
No. It specifically limits fighting to nyāya-yuddha—war conducted on righteous and ethical grounds—framing warfare as a duty only when it is just.
Vīra-vrata refers to the disciplined code of a hero/warrior—courage, restraint, and adherence to righteous conduct while fulfilling martial duty.
The verse implies that wealth gained through a rightful, dharmic profession—especially service to a king in a just cause—is considered legitimate when aligned with righteous conduct.