Shloka 36
Karmas Leading to Hell and Heaven
Ethical Catalog of Destinies
प्रवृत्तौ च निवृत्तौ च श्रुतिशास्त्रोक्तमेव च । आचरंति महात्मानस्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
pravṛttau ca nivṛttau ca śrutiśāstroktameva ca | ācaraṃti mahātmānaste narāḥ svargagāminaḥ
ప్రవృత్తి మరియు నివృత్తి—ఈ రెండు మార్గాలలోనూ వేదశాస్త్రోక్త విధానాన్నే యథావిధిగా ఆచరించే మహాత్ములు స్వర్గాన్ని పొందుతారు।
Unspecified (context not provided; likely within a Purāṇic narration/teaching dialogue in Bhūmi-khaṇḍa)
Concept: Whether one follows pravṛtti (worldly engagement) or nivṛtti (renunciation), success depends on aligning conduct with śruti and śāstra.
Application: Choose duties appropriate to your life-stage and capacity, then execute them with scriptural conscience: truthful livelihood, regulated senses, daily worship/recitation, and charity without abandoning responsibilities.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A serene hermitage scene where a venerable sage instructs householders and renunciants seated together, symbolizing the harmony of pravṛtti and nivṛtti. Behind them, palm-leaf manuscripts and a small Viṣṇu shrine indicate śruti-śāstra as the guiding lamp, while a lotus pond reflects quiet heavenward aspiration.","primary_figures":["a teaching sage (ṛṣi)","householder couple","young renunciant (sannyāsin)","Vishnu (as a small shrine icon)"],"setting":"forest āśrama with a manuscript stand, sacrificial fire, and a lotus pond at the edge of cultivated earth","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["sandalwood beige","forest green","lotus pink","saffron orange","antique gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a central seated sage with raised teaching hand, flanked by a gṛhastha couple and a saffron-clad renunciant, a small Viṣṇu shrine with conch and discus behind; heavy gold leaf halos, rich vermilion and emerald drapery, gem-studded ornaments on the shrine, ornate arch frame, lotus motifs along the border.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate hermitage teaching scene with refined faces, soft Himalayan foothills in the distance, a lotus pond and slender trees, subtle shading on garments, cool greens and pinks, manuscript bundle near the sage, calm compositional symmetry expressing balance of pravṛtti and nivṛtti.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, warm ochres and greens, large expressive eyes; sage teaching under a stylized tree, small Viṣṇu icon with śaṅkha-cakra, rhythmic floral borders, temple-wall aesthetic emphasizing dharma as cosmic order.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Viṣṇu shrine as the focal center with lotus garlands and ornate borders; devotees representing householder and renunciant offering lamps; dense lotus patterns, peacocks at the pond edge, deep indigo background with gold highlights, Nathdwara-like floral framing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","gentle wind in leaves","low fire-crackle","distant conch shell","silence between lines"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: श्रुतिशास्त्रोक्तमेव = श्रुतिशास्त्रोक्तम् + एव; महात्मानस्ते = महात्मानः + ते.
FAQs
Pravṛtti is the path of righteous engagement in duties and society, while nivṛtti is the path of withdrawal and renunciation; the verse says both should be guided by śruti and śāstra.
It presents Vedic revelation (śruti) and scriptural guidance (śāstra) as the standard for right conduct, whether one is active in the world or pursuing renunciation.
Ethical life is framed as disciplined practice aligned with revealed and taught dharma; those who live accordingly—without deviating into self-made rules—are praised as mahātmās and are said to attain svarga.