Shloka 101
Pitṛmātṛtīrtha Greatness & the Discourse on Embodiment: Karma, Birth, Impurity, and Dispassion
समे पथि शनैर्गच्छन्स्खलतीव पदेपदे । सत्यां बुद्धौ न जानाति बोध्यमानो बुधैरपि
same pathi śanairgacchanskhalatīva padepade | satyāṃ buddhau na jānāti bodhyamāno budhairapi
समे पथि शनैर्गच्छन्नपि पदेपदे स्खलतीव; सत्यां बुद्धौ स्थितोऽपि बुधैर्बोध्यमानो न जानाति।
Unspecified (context-dependent within Adhyaya 66; commonly framed within the Bhīṣma–Pulastya dialogue in Bhūmi-khaṇḍa)
Concept: False certainty (‘my buddhi is true’) combined with delusion causes repeated stumbling; even wise instruction fails when ego-hardening blocks receptivity.
Application: Practice intellectual humility: verify convictions against śāstra and the counsel of the wise; when you keep repeating the same mistake, treat it as a sign of moha and seek corrective sādhana.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"On a perfectly smooth stone road leading to a bright temple, a traveler inexplicably stumbles at every step as if unseen knots snag his feet. Beside the road, calm sages gesture with open palms, offering guidance; yet a rigid, glass-like ‘truth’ mask covers the traveler’s face, reflecting only his own certainty.","primary_figures":["a stumbling traveler (jīva)","two or three sages (budhas)","symbolic mask of false certainty","distant temple of Viṣṇu"],"setting":"A level pilgrimage road with milestone stones and a visible temple spire ahead; sages seated under a banyan tree at roadside.","lighting_mood":"clear daylight with subtle moral tension","color_palette":["stone gray","banyan green","sunlit gold","sky cyan","cloth ochre"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a straight stone pilgrimage road to a gold-leaf radiant Viṣṇu temple, a traveler stumbling repeatedly, sages under a banyan tree offering instruction, a reflective mask of false certainty on the traveler’s face, ornate borders, rich reds/greens, gold leaf on temple and halo accents.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: serene landscape with a smooth path, delicate depiction of stumbling motion, sages with refined faces and gentle gestures, distant temple on a hill, cool natural palette with warm highlights, lyrical clarity and moral symbolism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines of the traveler mid-stumble, sages in seated teaching posture, stylized banyan leaves, temple spire glowing in yellow-red, mask motif rendered as a patterned reflective surface, symmetrical temple-wall composition.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central straight path bordered by floral motifs, repeated footprints showing stumbling rhythm, sages framed by ornate vines, distant Viṣṇu shrine as a small radiant medallion, intricate borders in indigo and gold, lotus motifs guiding the eye forward."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["footsteps on stone","rustling banyan leaves","soft bell from afar","gentle murmurs of sages"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गच्छन्स्खलतीव = गच्छन् + स्खलति + इव; पदेपदे = पदे + पदे; बुधैरपि = बुधैः + अपि (विसर्गलोपः)
FAQs
It portrays a person who stumbles even on a smooth road, symbolizing inner confusion or moral/intellectual imbalance despite outwardly favorable conditions.
Because his intellect is rigidly fixed in a presumed ‘truth’ (a mistaken certainty), making him resistant to correction and genuine insight.
Humility and openness to guidance are essential; stubborn attachment to one’s own view can block learning, clarity, and right conduct.