Shloka 38
Rules of Edible and Inedible Foods
मयूरं तित्तिरं चैव कपोतं च कपिंजलम् । वार्ध्रीणसं बकं भक्ष्यं मीनं हंसं पराजितम्
mayūraṃ tittiraṃ caiva kapotaṃ ca kapiṃjalam | vārdhrīṇasaṃ bakaṃ bhakṣyaṃ mīnaṃ haṃsaṃ parājitam
मयूरं तित्तिरं कपोतं कपिञ्जलं च; वार्ध्रीणसं बकं भक्ष्यं, मीनं हंसं पराजितं च।
Unspecified (verse appears within a narrative/listing context in Svarga-khaṇḍa; dialogue speaker not provided in the input).
Concept: Conduct is regulated through detailed categories; even ‘allowed’ foods are framed as part of a rule-governed life.
Application: Treat permissions as bounded: if one follows a tradition, follow it carefully and consistently; avoid using ‘allowed’ as a pretext for excess.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A manuscript page unfurls with illustrated marginalia: peacock, partridge, pigeon, francolin, crane, fish, and a subdued swan emblem, arranged like a traditional natural-history chart. A scribe inks the list while a teacher points, emphasizing that dharma can be precise and enumerative.","primary_figures":["scribe","sage-teacher","symbolic birds and fish (as marginal illustrations)"],"setting":"scriptorium corner of an āśrama; low desk, ink pot, palm leaves, measuring string","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["ink black","palm-leaf tan","peacock teal","vermillion","soft white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a palm-leaf manuscript enlarged as central motif with gold leaf borders; stylized peacock and birds in jewel tones, fish in shimmering blues; a sage points with a golden stylus; rich reds/greens, embossed gold, ornate frame like a temple panel.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate scholar’s corner with delicate brushwork; birds painted as small naturalistic studies along the manuscript margins; cool, refined palette with lyrical detail and gentle shading.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined birds and fish arranged symmetrically around a central manuscript; teacher and scribe in profile; earthy pigments with strong reds/yellows/greens and temple-wall geometry.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: decorative grid of bird-and-fish motifs framed by lotus borders; deep indigo ground with gold floral filigree; central medallion shows a sage indicating the list, blending didactic taxonomy with devotional ornamentation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["pen scratching on palm leaf","rustling leaves","distant peacock call","soft temple bell"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चैव = च + एव; ‘भक्ष्यम्’ अत्र विधेयपदं (these are edible) इति भावः।
FAQs
The verse reads like a catalog of animals described as “bhakṣya” (edible). Whether it is a prescription, permission, or a contextual list depends on the surrounding verses of Adhyāya 56.
“Vārdhrīṇasa” is a rare term in this verse; it appears to name a specific creature (likely a bird/animal). A precise identification typically requires comparison with traditional commentaries and parallel passages.
Not always. “Haṁsa” can denote a swan or goose in different Sanskrit contexts. Here it is listed among edible creatures, so it likely refers to a waterfowl in general.