Shloka 112
The Five Great Sacrifices: Supremacy of Honoring Parents, Pativrata Dharma, Truthfulness, and Śrāddha
कर्तव्यं च न ते दोष आज्ञया मम सुंदरि । एतदुक्त्वा गतः सोपि भूपतेः शासनात्पितुः
kartavyaṃ ca na te doṣa ājñayā mama suṃdari | etaduktvā gataḥ sopi bhūpateḥ śāsanātpituḥ
कर्तव्यं चैतदेव, न ते दोषोऽस्ति सुन्दरि, ममाज्ञया। इत्युक्त्वा सोऽपि पितुर्भूपतेः शासनान्निर्गतः।
Unspecified male speaker addressing a woman (“sundari”) within the narrative context
Concept: Agency and accountability: actions done under explicit command are framed as non-culpable for the commanded party—yet Padma Purāṇa’s broader ethic typically still measures commands against dharma.
Application: If you delegate, own the moral responsibility; if you obey, ensure the instruction is ethical—seek clarity before acting.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: shringara
Type: city
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A departing messenger-husband reassures a worried wife, calling her ‘sundarī,’ placing a steadying hand near her shoulder without impropriety. Behind him, palace guards and a corridor recede into night, signaling that he leaves under the king-father’s order, while she remains caught between duty and unease.","primary_figures":["unnamed male speaker","wife addressed as sundarī","palace guards/attendants"],"setting":"palace corridor opening to courtyard, travel cloak and staff, doorway curtains fluttering","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["pale gold","cinnamon brown","jade green","midnight blue","pearl white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: farewell scene in palace corridor; gold leaf on jewelry, doorway arches, and halo-like lamp glow; rich reds/greens, ornate textiles, stylized lotus borders; the man in princely attire stepping forward, the wife poised with restrained emotion.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate farewell with refined faces, soft dawn light, patterned shawls; architectural details in pale washes; a small courtyard with a flowering tree; emotional subtlety and lyrical composition.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, warm pigments; the departing figure shown in dynamic stride, the wife in graceful stance; decorative borders and stylized foliage; emphasis on eyes and gesture conveying reassurance and duty.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: farewell framed by intricate floral borders, lotus vines, and peacock motifs; deep blue and gold accents; symmetrical palace arches; textile-like ornamentation highlighting the theme of duty-bound departure."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["footsteps on stone","distant conch from palace shrine","morning birds","soft cloth rustle"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: एतत् + उक्त्वा → एतदुक्त्वा. सः + अपि → सोपि. शासनात् + पितुः → शासनात्पितुः (त् + प → त्प).
FAQs
It frames an action as “duty” (kartavya) and shifts moral responsibility away from the addressed person because the act is done under an explicit command, emphasizing obedience to legitimate instruction.
It clarifies the chain of authority: the man departs not merely by personal choice but because he is following the king’s directive, and the king is also his father—strengthening the sense of obligation.
The verse highlights duty under command within a royal-dharmic setting, but it does not, by itself, discuss limits of obedience; broader dharma literature typically weighs commands against righteousness (dharma).