Shloka 55
Pitṛ-tīrtha Context: Marks of Sin, Śrāddha Discipline, and Karmic Ripening
in Yayāti’s Narrative
क्षुत्तृषातप्तदेहानामन्नभोजनमिच्छताम् । यः समाचरते विघ्नं तमाहुर्ब्रह्मघातकम्
kṣuttṛṣātaptadehānāmannabhojanamicchatām | yaḥ samācarate vighnaṃ tamāhurbrahmaghātakam
Quem cria obstáculo àqueles cujos corpos ardem de fome e sede e que desejam alimento para comer, esse é chamado matador de um brāhmaṇa (brahma-ghātaka).
Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context likely within the Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue of the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa).
Concept: Obstructing the hungry and thirsty from obtaining food is a grievous sin, equated with brahma-ghātaka.
Application: Do not block access to food/water—support community kitchens, share water, avoid hoarding, and remove bureaucratic or social barriers for the needy.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sun-scorched roadside: travelers with parched lips and hollow cheeks reach toward a pot of water and a basket of flatbreads. A harsh gatekeeper blocks them with a staff, while a compassionate figure pushes past to offer food; the moral contrast is stark—life-giving anna versus cruelty.","primary_figures":["hungry and thirsty seekers","obstructing gatekeeper/official","compassionate donor"],"setting":"village gate or roadside dharmashala with a water pot, shade tree, and simple food offerings","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["sun-baked ochre","dusty brown","water-pot turquoise","cloth white","scarlet accent"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: annadāna scene at a village gate—gold leaf highlights on the water pot and offering tray; the needy rendered with dignified sorrow; the obstructer with rigid posture; rich reds/greens and ornate borders, emphasizing the sacredness of food as near-divine offering.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical roadside under a tree, delicate depiction of thirst and heat; subtle expressions of fatigue; a donor extending bread and water; restrained palette with fine detailing of vessels and textiles; moral narrative conveyed through gentle gestures.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines; dramatic contrast—obstructer in darker tones, donor in warm auspicious colors; stylized tree and pot, natural pigments; expressive eyes showing suffering and compassion.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional annadāna tableau framed by lotus borders; a small Kṛṣṇa/Viṣṇu emblem above the offering to suggest ‘anna as prasāda’; deep blues and gold, intricate floral motifs, peacocks near the water pot, cows at the margin to symbolize nourishment."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["dry wind","clay pot water pour","footsteps on dust","single conch note"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: क्षुत्तृषातप्तदेहानामन्नभोजनमिच्छताम् = क्षुत्-तृषा-तप्त-देहानाम् अन्न-भोजनम् इच्छताम्; तमाहुः = तम् आहुः
FAQs
It condemns obstructing the hungry and thirsty from obtaining food, treating such cruelty as an extremely grave sin.
The verse uses the label “brahma-ghātaka” to signal maximum moral severity—denying sustenance to the suffering is portrayed as a crime on par with the most serious transgressions.
It aligns with Purāṇic dharma that elevates annadāna (giving food) and compassion; harming or hindering basic survival needs is treated as adharma.