Shloka 124
The Marks of Merit and the Destinies of Beings
Divine vs Demonic Traits
तेषां च कुलटा दासी नित्यकष्टा यवीयसी । नित्यं द्वंद्वेषु संप्रीत्या तेषामाचारभाषिणी
teṣāṃ ca kulaṭā dāsī nityakaṣṭā yavīyasī | nityaṃ dvaṃdveṣu saṃprītyā teṣāmācārabhāṣiṇī
Dan di antara mereka terdapat seorang pelayan wanita yang liar—sentiasa menderita, muda usianya—yang sentiasa gembira dalam konflik dan bercakap mengikut kelakuan buruk mereka.
Unspecified narrator (context-dependent within Adhyaya 76’s dialogue)
Concept: Kali’s corruption expresses itself through divisive speech and delight in conflict; such tendencies enslave the mind and spread suffering.
Application: Practice speech-discipline: avoid gossip, slander, and conflict-seeking; choose uplifting company; when agitation arises, redirect to japa, kīrtana, or service.
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An allegorical figure of Kali’s vice appears as a young maidservant with restless eyes, standing amid a circle of arguing people; her words manifest as sharp, dark ribbons that tangle around listeners, inciting further dispute. Yet a small corner shows a calm devotee near a lamp and prayer beads, untouched by the chaos, suggesting the possibility of inner refuge.","primary_figures":["allegorical maidservant of Kali (personification of quarrel)","arguing townspeople","a quiet Vaishnava devotee"],"setting":"A cramped courtyard or market lane where gossip spreads quickly; walls close in, symbolizing constriction of mind","lighting_mood":"lamp-lit with harsh shadows","color_palette":["mud brown","charcoal black","saffron lamp-gold","dull red","pale beige"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: moral allegory—central quarrel-personification as a maidservant with ornate yet unsettling adornment; surrounding figures in heated gestures; speech-ribbons rendered with embossed gold edges turning dark; a small Viṣṇu lamp-shrine in one corner with bright gold-leaf aura, contrasting vice and refuge; rich borderwork and traditional iconographic symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate street scene with delicate expressions—subtle satire without caricature; the maidservant’s presence suggested through posture and sly glance; fine linework shows speech as thin curling lines; a serene devotee with japa-mālā in a quiet niche, cool-to-warm contrast.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines and symbolic gestures; quarrel-personification centered with angular stance; surrounding figures in mirrored arguing poses; dark speech motifs as curling bands; lamp and devotee as bright focal counterpoint; temple-wall didactic clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: narrative border vignettes of quarrel scenes around a central devotional medallion (lamp, tulasī pot implied though not explicit); intricate floral borders; deep earthy ground with gold highlights; emphasis on devotional center holding chaos at bay."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["murmuring crowd","sharp claps (argument)","single bell to punctuate","brief silence after admonitory phrases"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तेषामाचारभाषिणी = तेषाम् + आचारभाषिणी (m-sandhi).
FAQs
It depicts a morally degraded attendant who thrives on discord and mirrors the corrupt behavior of the group she serves, highlighting how harmful conduct spreads through association.
Yes. It cautions that delighting in conflict and adopting the manners of unethical company leads to ongoing distress and reinforces adharma in one’s environment.
The verse reads like narrative description; without additional surrounding verses from Adhyaya 76, the specific speaker (e.g., Pulastya to Bhīṣma or another dialogue frame) cannot be identified with certainty.