Shloka 28
Account of the Ripening of Karma
Childlessness, Offspring, and Remedial Dharma
एकदा पथियातौ च नीचपुत्रं जलेपि च । मग्नं दृष्ट्वा हेलया च गतौ स पंचतां गतः
ekadā pathiyātau ca nīcaputraṃ jalepi ca | magnaṃ dṛṣṭvā helayā ca gatau sa paṃcatāṃ gataḥ
ఒకసారి మార్గమున వెళ్తూ వారు నీటిలో మునిగిపోతున్న నీచకులపు కుమారుని చూశారు; కానీ నిర్లక్ష్యంగా వదిలి ముందుకు వెళ్లారు. ఫలితంగా ఆ బాలుడు మరణాన్ని పొందాడు.
Unspecified (narrative voice within the Adhyaya; dialogue pair not provided in the excerpt)
Concept: Callousness toward a life in peril—especially a child—creates severe karmic repercussions; compassion is dharma.
Application: Do not dismiss others’ suffering as ‘not my concern’; intervene within your capacity, offer help, and cultivate empathy as daily sādhana.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: river
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"On a rain-swollen riverbank, a child flails in dark water, fingers breaking the surface as ripples widen. Two travelers—Varatanu and Śaṅkarī—pause only briefly, their faces indifferent, then turn away; above them, the sky seems to darken as if karma itself gathers like storm clouds.","primary_figures":["drowning child","Varatanu","Śaṅkarī","subtle personification of Karma/Yama as shadowy presence (optional)"],"setting":"muddy river crossing on a travel road, reeds and stones, distant trees bent by wind","lighting_mood":"storm-darkened twilight","color_palette":["slate gray","river-black","mud brown","dull teal","ashen white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: dramatic river scene with embossed gold border contrasting the dark water; the drowning child centered with stylized waves; travelers turning away with ornate but subdued attire; gold leaf used sparingly as ominous highlights in clouds and ripples, emphasizing moral gravity.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: expressive yet restrained tragedy—fine ripples, delicate reeds, cool grays and blues; travelers rendered with subtle facial emotion (detachment); distant hills and a narrow path leading away, symbolizing moral choice.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, high-contrast water patterns; the child’s outstretched arms stylized; travelers in profile moving away; a dark cloud band above like a karmic register, using earthy reds/yellows muted by gray washes.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: narrative vignette framed by lotus borders; stylized water as repeating motifs; incorporate a moral emblem—withered lotus on one side, blooming lotus on the other—hinting at choice and consequence; deep indigo ground with restrained gold."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["rushing water","thunder rumble","urgent drum pulse","sudden silence after the turning away"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पथियातौ = पथि + यातौ; जलेपि = जले + अपि (ए + अ → ए); पंचतां = पञ्चताम् (अनुस्वार/पञ्च-शब्द).
FAQs
It condemns indifference to another’s suffering: neglecting a person in mortal danger is presented as a grave moral failure with fatal consequences.
Literally “gone to the state of the five (elements),” it is an idiom for death—returning to the five material elements.
Not in the provided excerpt; identifying them requires the surrounding verses of Adhyaya 5.