Shloka 31
Dharma as the Cause of Prosperity and the Signs of a Righteous Death
गीतं गायंति गंधर्वाः स्तुवंतिस्तावकाः स्तवैः । मंत्रपाठैस्तथा विप्रा माता स्नेहेन पूजयेत्
gītaṃ gāyaṃti gaṃdharvāḥ stuvaṃtistāvakāḥ stavaiḥ | maṃtrapāṭhaistathā viprā mātā snehena pūjayet
గంధర్వులు గీతాలు పాడుతారు, భక్తులు స్తోత్రాలతో స్తుతిస్తారు, బ్రాహ్మణులు మంత్రపాఠం చేస్తారు; ఈ విధంగా తల్లిని స్నేహంతో పూజించాలి।
Unspecified (context-dependent within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa narrative)
Concept: Mother is to be honored with affectionate reverence, accompanied by sacred sound—song, hymn, and mantra—integrating emotion and ritual.
Application: Regularly serve and honor one’s mother/parents; incorporate prayer, chanting, and gratitude rituals at home; speak gently and offer tangible care.
Primary Rasa: shringara
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: temple
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A mother sits on a decorated seat in a courtyard-altar space, while brāhmaṇas recite mantras beside a small sacred fire and devotees sing stotras. Above, gandharvas in the sky play vīṇā and sing, their music descending like garlands; the scene centers on affectionate honor rather than grandeur.","primary_figures":["mother (mātā)","brāhmaṇas reciting mantras","devotees singing stotras","gandharvas with vīṇā and drums"],"setting":"Domestic courtyard or temple mandapa with a small yajña-kuṇḍa, flower garlands, lamps, and seating for elders; sky-space for gandharvas.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit with soft celestial glow overhead","color_palette":["marigold orange","vermillion red","turquoise","cream white","antique gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: mother honored in a mandapa with gold leaf embellishment; brāhmaṇas chanting near a small fire, devotees singing with cymbals, gandharvas above with vīṇā; rich reds/greens, ornate jewelry, gem-studded borders, halos and lamp flames rendered with luminous gold.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate courtyard ceremony with delicate brushwork; mother seated with gentle expression, priests chanting, singers in a semicircle; gandharvas lightly painted in the sky, cool pastel architecture, refined textiles and floral detail.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined ritual scene—mother central, priests with palm-leaf texts, singers with cymbals; gandharvas overhead; natural pigments with dominant reds/yellows/greens, stylized flames and floral garlands.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ceremonial honoring of mother framed by intricate floral borders and lotus motifs; symmetrical arrangement of singers and priests, deep blue background with gold highlights, gandharvas as decorative celestial band, peacocks at corners, abundant garlands and patterned canopy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"celebratory","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["vīṇā melody","group stotra singing","Vedic mantra cadence","temple bells","soft hand cymbals"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: stuvaṃtistāvakāḥ = stuvanti tāvakāḥ; maṃtrapāṭhaistathā = mantra-pāṭhaiḥ tathā.
FAQs
It prescribes honoring (pūjā) of the mother with genuine affection, accompanied by devotional praise and mantra-recitation.
They represent complementary modes of sacred honoring: musical celebration (Gandharvas), verbal praise through hymns (stavas), and ritual-vedic sanctification through mantras (vipras).
That reverence toward the mother is a core dharmic duty, best expressed not only through formal rites but through sincere, affectionate conduct.