Shloka 81
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
यामाश्रित्य दिवं यांति सर्वक्षत्रियकुंजराः । धर्मयुद्धे शुभो मृत्युः संमुखे क्षत्त्रियस्य च
yāmāśritya divaṃ yāṃti sarvakṣatriyakuṃjarāḥ | dharmayuddhe śubho mṛtyuḥ saṃmukhe kṣattriyasya ca
ఆ ధర్మసూత్రాన్ని ఆశ్రయించి క్షత్రియులలో గజసమాన వీరులందరూ స్వర్గానికి వెళ్తారు. ధర్మయుద్ధంలో మరణం శుభం—ముఖాముఖి సమరంలో క్షత్రియునికి అది విశేషంగా శుభప్రదం.
Unspecified (narrative voice not provided in the excerpt)
Concept: For a kṣatriya, death in dharma-yuddha—met directly, without cowardice—is auspicious and leads to heaven.
Application: Meet difficult duties directly and ethically; accept consequences with steadiness rather than evasion or deceit.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Elephant-like kṣatriya heroes advance in disciplined formation, shields gleaming, eyes steady as they face the enemy head-on. Above them, a celestial pathway opens—apsaras scattering flowers and a radiant svarga-gate appearing—signaling that righteous courage transforms death into auspicious ascent.","primary_figures":["kṣatriya heroes (sarva-kṣatriya-kuñjarāḥ)","celestial beings (apsaras, gandharvas)","svarga gatekeepers (optional)"],"setting":"Battlefield with an opening sky-vista revealing svarga; banners, chariots, and a luminous celestial arch overhead.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["sapphire blue","sunlit gold","cloud white","vermillion","emerald green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: heroic kṣatriyas in frontal procession, ornate armor and crowns, gold leaf svarga-arch above with flower-rain, rich reds and greens, gem-studded ornaments, symmetrical composition emphasizing auspicious death and heavenward ascent.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: refined warriors with calm faces, lyrical sky opening into a celestial realm, cool blues and soft whites, delicate floral rain, subtle Himalayan-like horizon, narrative elegance highlighting ‘face-to-face’ valor.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, rhythmic marching warriors, large expressive eyes, celestial beings in upper register, red/yellow/green pigments with blue sky band, temple-wall storytelling of dharma-yuddha leading to svarga.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central heroic scene framed by lotus borders, upper band showing svarga with floral motifs and peacocks, deep blue background with gold highlights, auspicious symbols (conch, chakra) subtly woven to Vaishnavaize the moral cosmos."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"celebratory","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell","victory drums restrained","flower petals falling (soft rustle)","temple bells","uplifting drone"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यामाश्रित्य → याम् आश्रित्य (म् + आ). यांति → यान्ति (अनुस्वार-लेखनभेद). सर्वक्षत्रियकुंजराः → सर्वक्षत्रियकुञ्जराः (ं before ज → ञ्).
FAQs
It refers to dying while upholding dharma—here, specifically in a dharma-yuddha—so the death is framed as spiritually meritorious rather than tragic.
It highlights courage and straightforward combat, contrasting it with fleeing, deceit, or being killed while turned away—qualities traditionally seen as contrary to kṣatriya-dharma.
No. The verse qualifies the context as dharma-yuddha (righteous war), implying ethical constraints and a moral cause rather than violence for greed or conquest.