Shloka 37
इत्युक्तमाकर्ण्य मुनेः स भाग्यवान् रघूत्तमो ब्राह्मणघातभीतः । पप्रच्छ यागे सुमतिं चिकीर्षन्विधिं पुरावित्परिगीयमानः
ityuktamākarṇya muneḥ sa bhāgyavān raghūttamo brāhmaṇaghātabhītaḥ | papraccha yāge sumatiṃ cikīrṣanvidhiṃ purāvitparigīyamānaḥ
Mendengar kata-kata sang muni, insan bertuah itu—yang terbaik dalam keturunan Raghu—takut akan dosa pembunuhan brāhmaṇa; dengan hasrat menunaikan yajña, dia pun bertanya kepada Sumati tentang tatacara yang benar, sebagaimana dilagukan para ṛṣi zaman silam.
Narrator (contextual voice of the Purāṇa; verse reports Raghūttama’s action after hearing the sage).
Concept: Even a powerful ruler must fear adharma and seek correct vidhi from qualified teachers before performing great rites.
Application: Before major decisions, consult trustworthy, learned guides; let conscience about harm and wrongdoing lead to corrective action rather than denial.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Raghūttama, regal yet visibly burdened, bows slightly before the sage Sumati, palms joined, asking for the anciently sung procedure of sacrifice. The scene balances royal power with moral vulnerability: a shadow of fear behind the eyes, and the calm authority of the muni who holds the tradition.","primary_figures":["Raghūttama (Rāma/Raghu-line king)","Sage Sumati","Attendant disciples (optional)"],"setting":"Hermitage-court threshold: a quiet āśrama with kusa grass seats, palm-leaf manuscripts, and a small sacrificial fire-pit prepared but unlit","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["earth brown","leaf green","ochre","smoke white","lapis blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Raghūttama in royal attire kneeling respectfully before Sage Sumati seated on a kusa āsana, gold-leaf halos, richly ornamented crown contrasted with the sage’s austere garments, palm-leaf manuscripts and ritual implements in foreground, embossed gold detailing on jewelry and aureoles, warm reds/greens with sacred fire motif subtly present.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: serene āśrama under trees with dappled light, the king’s refined posture of humility, Sumati calm and instructive, delicate manuscript bundle and ritual vessels painted with fine detail, soft natural palette and lyrical composition emphasizing ethical tension and guidance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, expressive eyes showing the king’s fear of sin, Sumati as steady teacher, stylized trees and hermitage elements, strong earthy reds/yellows/greens, iconic gestures (añjali and upadeśa-mudrā), temple-wall gravitas.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional framing with floral borders and lotus motifs, central vignette of king seeking vidhi from sage, deep blue background with gold highlights, intricate textile patterns, small sacred fire-pit and manuscript motifs repeated as decorative elements."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["forest birds","gentle wind","soft fire crackle (faint)","silence between phrases"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity-uktam-ākarṇya = iti + uktam + ākarṇya; raghūttamaḥ = raghu + uttamaḥ; brāhmaṇaghātabhītaḥ = brāhmaṇa-ghāta-bhītaḥ; cikīrṣanvidhim = cikīrṣan + vidhim; purāvitparigīyamānaḥ = purā-vit + parigīyamānaḥ.
FAQs
The verse frames brāhmaṇa-slaughter as a grave transgression with heavy karmic consequences; Raghūttama’s fear signals moral awareness and motivates him to seek a dharmic remedy.
Sumati is approached as an authority on yajña-vidhi (sacrificial procedure), representing the transmission of correct ritual knowledge preserved in ancient tradition.
When confronted with potential wrongdoing or its consequences, a righteous person seeks guidance from qualified sages and follows established dharma rather than acting impulsively.