Shloka 85
The Marks of Merit and the Destinies of Beings
Divine vs Demonic Traits
ततस्सा तमुवाचेदं लोकहास्यवचस्तव । वक्तुमर्हसि नश्चाग्रे न पुरोऽन्यस्य कस्यचित्
tatassā tamuvācedaṃ lokahāsyavacastava | vaktumarhasi naścāgre na puro'nyasya kasyacit
Lalu dia berkata kepadanya: “Kata-katamu menjadi bahan ejekan orang ramai. Ucapkanlah hal itu di hadapan kami—bukan di hadapan sesiapa pun yang lain.”
Unspecified female speaker (sā) addressing an unspecified male (tam) within the narrative context of Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa 76
Concept: Speech must be timely, truthful, and context-appropriate; private counsel is preferable to public humiliation when dharma is at stake.
Application: Correct others privately; avoid performative criticism; speak only where it benefits and does not inflame ego or scandal.
Primary Rasa: hasya
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: city
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inside a modest courtyard at the edge of a bustling city, a resolute woman raises her hand in a restrained yet cutting gesture, insisting on private speech. Behind her, blurred townsfolk silhouettes and faint laughter motifs suggest ‘loka-hāsya’ without making the scene comic; the focus is the moral sting of public ridicule.","primary_figures":["a virtuous woman (sādhvī)","a brāhmaṇa man (dvija)"],"setting":"threshold of a house opening toward a crowded street; half-private, half-public space emphasizing reputational pressure","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["indigo shadow","saffron ochre","ivory white","deep maroon","smoke gray"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a sādhvī in rich maroon sari with gold borders admonishes a dvija at the doorway of a South Indian-style house; gold leaf highlights on jewelry and doorframe, stylized city crowd in the background as faint silhouettes, expressive eyes and hand-mudrā indicating ‘speak before us, not before others’, ornate arch motif framing the moral drama.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate domestic courtyard scene with delicate brushwork; the woman leans forward with composed firmness, the brāhmaṇa slightly turned, a narrow lane with tiny onlookers suggested in soft washes; cool palette with lyrical naturalism, refined faces, subtle humor in distant figures yet serious foreground tension.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, warm red/yellow/green pigments; the woman’s commanding gesture and the brāhmaṇa’s attentive posture dominate; simplified city backdrop with rhythmic patterns suggesting public chatter; temple-wall aesthetic emphasizing dharma of speech.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic composition—foreground figures at a threshold, background filled with stylized floral borders and lotus motifs; subtle inscriptions-like patterns suggesting ‘loka’; deep blue ground with gold accents, peacocks at corners to imply watchful society, devotional undertone without explicit Krishna centrality."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["murmuring crowd","soft laughter fading","anklet chime","brief silence after rebuke"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ततस्सा = ततः + सा; तमुवाचेदं = तम् + उवाच + इदम्; लोकहास्यवचस्तव = लोकहास्यवचः + तव; नश्चाग्रे = नः + च + अग्रे; पुरोऽन्यस्य = पुरः + अन्यस्य.
FAQs
It advises discretion in speech: a matter that could invite public ridicule should be spoken privately before trusted listeners, not in front of others.
No. In this verse, no named deity, tīrtha, or geographic reference appears; it is a general statement within a dialogue.
It highlights responsible communication—avoiding public embarrassment, choosing an appropriate audience, and maintaining confidentiality when circumstances require it.