Shloka 48
The Five Great Sacrifices: Supremacy of Honoring Parents, Pativrata Dharma, Truthfulness, and Śrāddha
विप्र उवाच । पतिव्रता च का तात किं वा तस्याश्श्रुतं महत् । येनाहं तत्र गच्छामि कारणं वद मे द्विज
vipra uvāca | pativratā ca kā tāta kiṃ vā tasyāśśrutaṃ mahat | yenāhaṃ tatra gacchāmi kāraṇaṃ vada me dvija
വിപ്രൻ പറഞ്ഞു—താത, ആ പതിവ്രത ആരാണ്? അവളെക്കുറിച്ച് നീ കേട്ട മഹത്തായ വൃത്താന്തം എന്ത്? ഞാൻ അവിടെ പോകേണ്ട കാരണമെനിക്ക് പറയുക, ഹേ ദ്വിജാ.
Vipra (a brāhmaṇa)
Concept: Sincere questioning about virtue (pativratā) is itself a step toward purification; dharma is learned through hearing (śravaṇa) and purposeful action (going there).
Application: When corrected, respond with curiosity rather than defensiveness; ask for the ‘why’ that leads to constructive action.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The brāhmaṇa, now softened, leans forward with palms joined, asking about the famed pativratā whose virtue can redirect his steps. Hari stands poised, compassionate yet instructive, as if about to unfold a sacred story that will change the brāhmaṇa’s inner landscape.","primary_figures":["Brāhmaṇa (vipra)","Hari (Viṣṇu)"],"setting":"A quiet pause near a village path; a faint suggestion of the destination house in the distance, drawing the eye forward.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["lamp-flame amber","midnight blue","cream white","copper","moss green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: brāhmaṇa in añjali-mudrā asking with devotion; Hari in calm teaching posture; gold leaf highlights on halos and ornaments; warm lamp-lit ambience, ornate borders, traditional iconographic cues subtly present.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: conversational intimacy with delicate brushwork; brāhmaṇa’s earnest face and Hari’s serene gaze; minimalistic background with a winding path leading toward a small house; cool tones balanced with warm highlights.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: strong outlines, expressive eyes; brāhmaṇa’s folded hands, Hari’s instructive gesture; stylized foliage and architectural hints; earthy reds and yellows with green accents.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: narrative panel framed by lotus and floral borders; central figures in devotional dialogue; deep blues and gold; peacocks and vines guiding the viewer’s gaze toward the implied destination."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft tanpura drone","gentle bell","rustle of leaves","quiet attentive silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vipraḥ+uvāca → vipra uvāca (visarga before vowel often written separated); tasyāḥ+śrutam → tasyāśśrutam (ḥ+ś → śś); yena+aham → yenāham.
FAQs
A brāhmaṇa (vipra) is speaking, asking who the famed pativratā is, what great tradition has been heard about her, and the reason he should go to that place.
“Pativratā” denotes steadfast marital fidelity and religious commitment expressed through devotion to one’s husband, presented as a form of dharma and moral ideal in Purāṇic discourse.
It highlights inquiry guided by reverence: before acting (going somewhere), one should understand the cause, the tradition behind it, and the exemplary virtue being honored.