Shloka 44
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
वेदशास्त्रयुतं हत्वा श्रोत्रियं विजितेंद्रियम् । विप्रं च वैष्णवं हत्वा तस्माद्दशगुणोत्तरम्
vedaśāstrayutaṃ hatvā śrotriyaṃ vijiteṃdriyam | vipraṃ ca vaiṣṇavaṃ hatvā tasmāddaśaguṇottaram
వేదశాస్త్రసంపన్నుడై, ఇంద్రియనిగ్రహం కలిగిన శ్రోత్రియుణ్ని హతమార్చి, అలాగే వైష్ణవ బ్రాహ్మణుణ్ని హతమార్చితే, దానికన్నా పాపం దశగుణముగా అధికమని చెప్పబడింది।
Unspecified (narrative voice not indicated in the provided excerpt)
Concept: Violence against the learned and self-controlled śrotriya is grievous; violence against a Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇa is declared even more catastrophic, multiplying the sin.
Application: Honor spiritual practitioners, avoid sectarian contempt, and treat devotees with humility; protect religious teachers and communities; practice speech-restraint to avoid ‘killing’ through slander.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A symbolic moral hierarchy: two radiant figures stand—one a śrotriya with Veda manuscripts and calm gaze, the other a Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇa with ūrdhva-puṇḍra and tulasī-mālā—while a dark storm of sin swells tenfold behind the aggressor’s shadow. The scene communicates ‘daśaguṇottaram’ through multiplying waves or concentric rings of darkness recoiling from their sanctity.","primary_figures":["śrotriya brāhmaṇa (Veda-bearing)","Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇa (ūrdhva-puṇḍra, tulasī-mālā)","personified Pāpa as a dark cloud","Viṣṇu as unseen protector (chakra aura)"],"setting":"Hermitage courtyard with a small Viṣṇu shrine and a Vedic study pavilion (pāṭhaśālā).","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["sapphire blue","ivory white","saffron","emerald green","storm gray"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: two central brāhmaṇas—one śrotriya holding palm-leaf Veda, one Vaiṣṇava with ūrdhva-puṇḍra and tulasī-mālā—standing before a small Viṣṇu shrine; a tenfold layered dark aura behind the would-be killer; lavish gold leaf halos, ruby-maroon background, ornate temple arch framing the moral hierarchy.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a serene āśrama with a pāṭhaśālā, the śrotriya seated teaching, the Vaiṣṇava offering flowers at a tiny Viṣṇu altar; behind a distant figure, soft-edged storm bands multiply in ten rings; cool palette, delicate facial expressions, lyrical trees and hills.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: frontal iconic Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇa with tulasī-mālā and ūrdhva-puṇḍra, beside a śrotriya with manuscript; bold outlines, flat fields of red/yellow/green, a stylized ten-layer pāpa-cloud motif, Viṣṇu’s chakra emblem above as protector.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central Viṣṇu emblem with garlanded tulasī, flanked by a Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇa and a śrotriya; lotus and vine borders, deep indigo ground, gold highlights; ten concentric floral-dark rings subtly indicating ‘tenfold’ consequence."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell (soft)","temple bells","rustling palm leaves","hushed assembly murmur"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विजितेंद्रियम् = विजित + इन्द्रियम्; तस्माद्दशगुणोत्तरम् = तस्मात् + दशगुणोत्तरम् (द्-आगम/व्यञ्जन-सन्धि)
FAQs
It teaches a graded ethic of non-violence: harming spiritually disciplined and learned persons—especially a Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇa—is treated as a far heavier wrongdoing.
A śrotriya is a properly trained Vedic scholar—one grounded in Veda and śāstra—here additionally described as self-controlled (vijitendriya).
Within Purāṇic dharma discourse, violence against one who embodies learning, restraint, and devotion is considered especially destructive, so the text marks it as a dramatically aggravated offense.