Shloka 41
Prohibitions and Rules of Right Conduct (Ācāra): Theft, Speech, Purity, Residence, and Social Boundaries
सत्येन तुल्यो दोषः स्यादसत्याद्दोषवान्भवेत् । नृणां मिथ्याभिशस्तानां पतंत्यश्रूणि रोदनात्
satyena tulyo doṣaḥ syādasatyāddoṣavānbhavet | nṛṇāṃ mithyābhiśastānāṃ pataṃtyaśrūṇi rodanāt
Kesalahan boleh ditimbang dengan kebenaran; tetapi melalui dusta seseorang menjadi benar-benar tercela. Bagi mereka yang dituduh secara palsu, air mata jatuh ketika mereka menangis.
Unspecified (context not provided for dialogue attribution)
Concept: Truth may carry a manageable fault, but falsehood makes one truly culpable; false accusation causes real suffering.
Application: Verify before speaking; if uncertain, remain silent. When hearing accusations, withhold judgment and protect the vulnerable from reputational harm.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A village assembly stands divided as an innocent person sits with bowed head, tears falling onto the earth. Above, a subtle beam of light symbolizes satya, while shadowy tongues of rumor coil around the accusers—showing how falsehood darkens the heart and harms the blameless.","primary_figures":["an innocent accused person","accusers","an elder judge/wise witness (symbolic satya)"],"setting":"Open-air sabhā under a peepal tree; earthen ground, simple benches, a witness stand with palm-leaf records.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["dawn gold","earth brown","ash gray","deep maroon","sky blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: dramatic sabhā scene with the innocent weeping, satya symbolized by a gold-leaf haloed beam; ornate borders, rich reds and greens, stylized figures; moral contrast between luminous truth and dark rumor.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: poignant court-under-tree composition, delicate tears, refined expressions; soft dawn wash, peepal leaves detailed; subtle symbolism of light over the innocent, restrained palette with emotional clarity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, expressive eyes with visible tears; satya as a radiant disc above; accusers in darker tones; rhythmic foliage and temple-like framing, natural pigment palette.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: allegorical satya motif—lotus of truth blooming above the weeping figure; ornate floral borders, deep blue background, gold highlights; peacocks at corners as witnesses, intricate patterning."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["low drone (tanpura)","brief silence after 'asatyāt'","distant wind through leaves"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: syādasatyād → syāt asatyāt; doṣavānbhavet → doṣavān bhavet; pataṃtyaśrūṇi → patanti aśrūṇi; mithyābhiśastānām treated as mithyā + abhiśasta (upapada-tatpuruṣa).
FAQs
It elevates satya (truthfulness) as the standard for judging wrongdoing and condemns asatya (falsehood), especially in the form of false accusation, as a serious moral fault.
It highlights the real human suffering caused by slander or wrongful blame, underscoring that false speech creates harm beyond mere words.
It advises restraint and verification in speech—do not accuse without truth, and weigh faults carefully rather than amplifying them through untruth.