Shloka 57
The Meeting with Puṣkala’s Wife
रघुनाथोऽपि तच्छ्रुत्वा भद्रमस्त्विति चाब्रवीत् । बालं स्त्रियं प्रमत्तं त्वं मा हन्याः शस्त्रवर्जितम्
raghunātho'pi tacchrutvā bhadramastviti cābravīt | bālaṃ striyaṃ pramattaṃ tvaṃ mā hanyāḥ śastravarjitam
Raghunātha, ao ouvir isso, respondeu: «Que seja auspicioso». E acrescentou: «Não golpeies com armas quem está sem armas: uma criança, uma mulher ou alguém distraído e desprevenido».
Raghunātha (Śrī Rāma)
Concept: Even in conflict, dharma forbids violence against the unarmed and the vulnerable; power must be governed by restraint.
Application: Use strength only to protect; avoid exploiting asymmetry (status, knowledge, force). In leadership, set rules that safeguard children, women, and the unaware; in speech, do not ‘strike’ the defenseless.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Rāma, calm yet commanding, raises an open palm in a gesture of restraint as a tense moment of conflict pauses. Nearby stand a frightened child and a veiled woman at the edge of the scene, while a warrior lowers his weapon, the air shifting from aggression to dharmic stillness.","primary_figures":["Śrī Rāma (Raghunātha)","Śatrughna (implied trainee/warrior)","attendants/warriors","a child","a woman"],"setting":"A royal camp or palace courtyard at the threshold of battle—banners, bows, and a dharma-śāsana atmosphere rather than gore.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["sapphire blue","dharmic white","vermillion red","antique gold","leaf green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Śrī Rāma in sapphire-blue complexion with gold-leaf halo and gem-studded crown, right hand in abhaya/niyama gesture stopping a warrior’s raised sword; child and veiled woman sheltered behind, ornate palace courtyard with red-green drapery, heavy gold embellishment, traditional South Indian iconography, rich lacquered finish.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: Rāma in delicate profile with refined facial features, soft blue-green landscape and palace terrace, a warrior lowering his weapon, child and woman at the margin; lyrical restraint, cool palette with subtle gold accents, fine brushwork and patterned textiles.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Bold black outlines, Rāma with large expressive eyes and radiant aura, hand raised to forbid violence; stylized warriors and attendants, temple-courtyard geometry, natural pigment reds/yellows/greens, rhythmic ornamental borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Central Rāma framed by lotus and floral borders, symbolic weapons set aside, peacocks and temple lamps as auspicious motifs; deep indigo background with gold highlights, narrative vignettes of protection of the vulnerable around the border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"authoritative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["temple bells","conch shell (distant)","measured silence","soft footfalls on stone"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रघुनाथोऽपि → रघुनाथः अपि (ः + अ); तच्छ्रुत्वा → तत् श्रुत्वा (त् + श्); भद्रमस्त्विति → भद्रम् अस्तु इति (म् + अ; उ + इ); चाब्रवीत् → च अब्रवीत् (अ + अ)
FAQs
It teaches restraint in violence: one should not attack noncombatants—especially the unarmed, children, women, or someone unaware—highlighting dharmic rules for the use of force.
It reflects classical warrior ethics that prohibit harming those who are unarmed or not in a position to fight, emphasizing fairness and protection of the vulnerable.
Raghunātha (Śrī Rāma) speaks, and his instruction is significant because Rāma is portrayed as an exemplar of dharma, making the rule a model of righteous conduct.