Shloka 31
Description of Continents, Oceans, Regions, and the Measure of the World
गोपायति द्विजश्रेष्ठाः प्रजाः स द्विजपंडिताः । भोजनं चात्र विप्रेंद्राः प्रजाः स्वयमुपस्थितम्
gopāyati dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ prajāḥ sa dvijapaṃḍitāḥ | bhojanaṃ cātra vipreṃdrāḥ prajāḥ svayamupasthitam
ഹേ ദ്വിജശ്രേഷ്ഠന്മാരേ, അവൻ പ്രജകളെ കാത്തുസൂക്ഷിക്കുന്നു; അവൻ ദ്വിജ-പണ്ഡിതനുമാണ്. ഇവിടെ, ഹേ വിപ്രേന്ദ്രന്മാരേ, പ്രജകൾ തന്നെ സന്നിഹിതരായി ഭോജനം സമർപ്പിക്കുന്നു.
Unspecified (contextual narrator addressing brāhmaṇas)
Concept: Protection and provision form a dharmic cycle: the ruler/guardian protects, and the people respond with willing support—food offered as a sacred duty rather than coerced tax.
Application: Practice reciprocity: support teachers/guardians/elders, offer food charitably, and treat daily meals as opportunities for gratitude and offering.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a serene dvīpa city, citizens approach the guardian with trays of rice, fruits, and clarified butter, offering with folded hands; the guardian appears both regal and scholarly, holding a palm-leaf manuscript while blessing them. The scene feels like a living yajña—social harmony expressed through hospitality.","primary_figures":["divine guardian/king (dvija-paṇḍita aspect)","dvīpa citizens","brahmin sages (optional)"],"setting":"Orderly celestial city courtyard with a small altar-fire, granaries, flowering trees, and clean stone pathways.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["warm amber","sandalwood beige","ruby red","leaf green","bronze"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a regal-scholarly guardian seated on a throne with gold leaf halo, citizens offering ornate plates of anna and fruits, rich textiles in red/green, embossed gold borders, detailed jewelry and temple pillars, a small agni-kunda indicating yajña-like reciprocity.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate courtyard scene with delicate figures bearing food offerings, refined gestures of namaskāra, soft natural colors, flowering trees and a small fire altar, gentle expressions emphasizing hospitality and dharma.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined guardian with manuscript and blessing hand, rows of devotees with offering trays, stylized temple architecture, saturated warm palette with ritual clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symmetrical offering procession with ornate floral borders, central seated guardian, abundant lotus and vine motifs, deep blue or maroon ground with gold highlights, emphasis on anna-offering as devotional act."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft bells","murmured mantra","clinking of offering vessels","gentle drum (mridangam)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ = dvija + śreṣṭhāḥ; dvijapaṃḍitāḥ = dvija + paṇḍitāḥ; cātra = ca + atra; vipreṃdrāḥ = vipra + indrāḥ; svayamupasthitam = svayam + upasthitam.
FAQs
It presents reciprocity: one who protects and upholds dharma for the people is naturally supported by the people, here symbolized by their voluntary offering of food.
It points to social duty and rightful support—offerings arise as a response to protection and learned, dharmic conduct rather than mere solicitation.
The vocatives (“dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ”, “viprendrāḥ”) mark the audience as brāhmaṇas and frame the statement as instruction or praise directed to them.