Shloka 88
Teaching of Karma-yoga
Student Conduct, Vedic Study, and Gāyatrī Supremacy
युक्तः परिचरेदेनमाशरीरविमोक्षणम् । गत्वा वनं च विधिवज्जुहुयाज्जातवेदसम्
yuktaḥ paricaredenamāśarīravimokṣaṇam | gatvā vanaṃ ca vidhivajjuhuyājjātavedasam
നിയമയുക്തനായി ശരീരവിമോക്ഷണം വരെയും ഗുരുവിനെ പരിചരിക്കണം; പിന്നെ വനത്തിലേക്ക് പോയി വിധിപൂർവ്വം ജാതവേദസ് (അഗ്നി)യിൽ ആഹുതികൾ അർപ്പിക്കണം.
Unspecified (narratorial injunction within Svargakhaṇḍa context)
Concept: Reform is achieved through disciplined service to the guru until life’s end, followed by rule-bound Vedic fire offerings—karma purified by obedience and restraint.
Application: Commit to long-term mentorship and service; keep a simple daily discipline (time, cleanliness, study) and perform offerings/charity in a regulated, non-egoic way.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: forest
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A disciplined disciple tends to an aged guru—massaging feet, fetching water, maintaining the āśrama—through changing seasons, symbolizing lifelong service. After the guru’s passing, the disciple walks into a quiet forest clearing and kindles a sacred fire, offering oblations to Jātavedas with steady hands and tear-bright composure.","primary_figures":["Aged guru","Disciple-servant","Agni (Jātavedas, personified subtly)"],"setting":"Forest hermitage transitioning to a secluded forest fire-altar clearing with kusa grass, ladle, and ghee pot","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["fire orange","ghee gold","forest green","ash gray","twilight violet"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: two-panel narrative—left: disciple serving an aged guru in an ornate āśrama arch; right: forest homa with Agni rising in stylized flames labeled Jātavedas, gold leaf on flames and ritual vessels, rich reds/greens, traditional iconography and gem-like highlights on utensils.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: seasonal montage feel—disciple serving guru under trees, then a quiet forest clearing with a small fire altar; delicate brushwork, cool natural palette, lyrical smoke curls, distant hills and a pale sky.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines—disciple in service posture, guru serene; second scene with stylized Agni face emerging from flames, red/yellow/green palette, temple-wall aesthetic with patterned borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central homa scene framed by lotus and vine borders; disciple offering ghee with a long ladle, flames rendered as decorative motifs; deep blues and gold, peacocks at the edge, devotional symbolism of service culminating in yajña."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["crackling fire","ghee sizzle","forest wind","soft mantra undertone","silence between offerings"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: paricaredenam = paricaret enam; enamāśarīravimokṣaṇam = enam ā-śarīra-vimokṣaṇam; vidhivajjuhuyāt = vidhivat juhuyāt; juhuyājjātavedasam = juhuyāt jāta-vedasam.
FAQs
Jātavedas is a Vedic epithet of Agni, the sacred fire. He is invoked because offerings into fire are the classical medium for rite-based oblations, including those connected with end-of-life and post-death observances.
It prescribes disciplined attendance/service to a person until their death, followed by going to a forest setting and performing a rule-based fire offering (homa) to Agni.
The verse highlights steadfast duty and care—serving faithfully until the end—combined with adherence to prescribed ritual conduct afterward.