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
Hendaklah berperang hanya dalam peperangan yang adil, serta menunaikan nazar suci seorang wira yang membawa berkat. Dan apa jua harta yang diperoleh seorang dwija daripada raja melalui pekerjaan dan laku demikian—itulah yang dianggap wajar.
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.