Shloka 57
Pitṛ-tīrtha Context: Marks of Sin, Śrāddha Discipline, and Karmic Ripening
in Yayāti’s Narrative
देवद्विज गवां भूमिं पूर्वदत्तां हरेत्तु यः । प्रनष्टामपि कालेन तमाहुर्ब्रह्मघातकम्
devadvija gavāṃ bhūmiṃ pūrvadattāṃ harettu yaḥ | pranaṣṭāmapi kālena tamāhurbrahmaghātakam
Quem toma a terra anteriormente concedida aos deuses, aos brāhmaṇas ou às vacas, ainda que com o tempo tal doação tenha sido perdida ou obscurecida, esse é declarado matador de um brāhmaṇa, culpado de brahma-hatyā.
Unspecified (narrative voice within the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa discourse)
Concept: Sacred gifts—especially land granted to deities, brāhmaṇas, and cows—remain morally binding; usurping them is treated as brahma-hatyā in gravity.
Application: Honor inheritances and endowments meant for worship/charity; avoid benefiting from disputed temple or charitable lands; when uncertain, seek restitution or lawful return rather than exploitation.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A solemn royal court where a scribe reads an ancient copper-plate grant, its letters half-worn by time, while a greedy claimant reaches for the marked boundary-stone. Behind, a serene temple deity and a brāhmaṇa with a cow stand as witnesses; a shadowy aura of sin coils around the usurper as if the very earth protests.","primary_figures":["a king/judge (rāja)","a brāhmaṇa recipient","a cow with calf","temple deity icon (Viṣṇu as presiding witness)","a land-usurper"],"setting":"village boundary near a small temple; boundary stones, palm-leaf records, copper-plate charter, sacred tulā/scale of justice motif","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit with ominous side-shadows","color_palette":["burnished gold","earth-ochre","deep maroon","smoke-gray","sandalwood beige"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a South Indian temple-front court scene with Viṣṇu as divine witness in a small sanctum, gold leaf halo and arch, gem-studded ornaments; a brāhmaṇa holding a copper-plate grant beside a gentle cow; the usurper reaching toward a boundary stone, rendered with darker tones; rich reds and greens, ornate pillars, intricate floral borders, heavy gold leaf embellishment emphasizing dharma’s radiance.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a lyrical rural boundary scene with delicate linework—soft hills, a small shrine, a brāhmaṇa and cow in calm poise; a local ruler seated on a carpet hearing the dispute; the usurper’s anxious posture contrasted with serene witnesses; cool natural palette, refined faces, subtle cloud bands suggesting moral tension.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and temple-wall composition—central Viṣṇu icon with radiant aura, flanked by brāhmaṇa and cow; below, the act of land-grab shown as a narrative vignette; strong red/yellow/green pigments, stylized eyes, rhythmic ornamentation, dharma symbols (conch, discus) framing the warning.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: a devotional tableau where Śrī Viṣṇu’s presence sanctifies the land-gift—lotus borders, intricate floral vines; cows and calves near a shrine; the boundary stone garlanded; the usurper depicted at the edge in muted tones; deep blues and gold with detailed textile patterns, emphasizing sacred ownership and protection."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["temple bells","low conch drone","murmur of a court assembly","distant cowbells","brief silence after the word brahma-ghātakam"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हरेत्तु = हरेत् तु; प्रनष्टामपि = प्रनष्टाम् अपि; तमाहुः = तम् आहुः
FAQs
It teaches that retracting or seizing what has been rightfully donated—especially land dedicated to gods, brāhmaṇas, or the welfare of cows—is a grave violation of dharma, treated as an extremely serious sin.
It emphasizes that the moral force of a legitimate donation does not expire: even if records, boundaries, or possession have become unclear over time, taking it back is still condemned.
Brahmaghātaka literally means “killer of a brāhmaṇa,” and in dharma literature it denotes the bearer of brahma-hatyā—one of the most severe categories of sin—used here to stress the seriousness of confiscating sacred or protected gifts.