Shloka 90
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
वैश्यैः शूद्रैस्तथान्यैश्च अंत्यजैर्म्लेच्छजातिभिः । ये च योधाः प्रयुध्यंते न्याययुद्धेन सर्वदा
vaiśyaiḥ śūdraistathānyaiśca aṃtyajairmlecchajātibhiḥ | ye ca yodhāḥ prayudhyaṃte nyāyayuddhena sarvadā
Juga oleh Vaiśya, Śūdra dan yang lain-lain—oleh golongan terbuang serta mereka yang lahir dalam kaum Mleccha—yakni para pejuang yang sentiasa bertempur menurut aturan dharma-yuddha (perang yang benar).
Unspecified (context not provided for dialogue attribution)
Concept: Righteous rules of combat (nyāya-yuddha) define true warriorhood, even when fighters arise from varied social origins.
Application: Judge yourself and others by ethical behavior under pressure; in conflict, follow fair rules, protect the vulnerable, and avoid dehumanizing opponents.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A panoramic battlefield where fighters of many communities stand in disciplined ranks, weapons held upright but restrained, as a banner of Dharma flutters above. A central figure gestures to a code of conduct inscribed on a cloth scroll—no striking the unarmed, protect civilians—while the sky clears, suggesting righteousness itself as a protective canopy.","primary_figures":["warriors of varied communities (Vaiśya, Śūdra, others)","a dharma-instructor/ācārya figure","standard-bearer with Dharma banner"],"setting":"Open plain with orderly formations, chariots and foot soldiers; a raised platform where rules are proclaimed.","lighting_mood":"clear daylight with solemn clarity","color_palette":["steel blue","sunlit gold","earth brown","white linen","banner crimson"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: multi-figure composition of disciplined warriors from diverse groups standing in orderly rows, a central ācārya holding a scroll of yuddha-nīti, Dharma banner above; gold leaf on armor edges and banner motifs, rich reds/greens, ornate border, iconic symmetry despite the crowd.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical wide battlefield with delicate hills in the distance, varied warriors rendered with refined faces and subtle costume differences; an instructor points to a small written code; cool palette, fine brushwork, narrative clarity without chaos.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, rhythmic repetition of warrior figures, stylized weapons, a prominent red banner with dharma symbols; flat pigments and temple-wall compositional balance.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic battlefield framed by lotus borders; Dharma banner as a central motif, peacocks perched on standards, intricate floral patterns; deep blue ground with gold and crimson accents, emphasizing righteousness over violence."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["measured drumbeat","conch shell ceremonial","wind over plain","banner flapping","crowd hush"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śūdraih + tathā = śūdraistathā (Visarga to s); tathā + anyaiḥ = tathānyaiḥ (Savarna Dirgha); anyaiḥ + ca = anyaiśca (Visarga to ś); antyajaiḥ + mleccha = antyajairmleccha (Visarga to r)
FAQs
Nyāya-yuddha means fighting according to righteous, lawful rules—war governed by dharma rather than cruelty, deceit, or indiscriminate violence.
The verse groups together various communities to emphasize that adherence to dharma in warfare is a moral standard that can be upheld by warriors across different backgrounds.
The ethical teaching is that the legitimacy of battle depends on conduct: true warriorhood is defined by consistent commitment to just means (nyāya), not merely by identity or birth.