Shloka 15
Teaching of Karma-yoga
Student Conduct, Vedic Study, and Gāyatrī Supremacy
आसीत गुरुणा सार्द्धं शिलाफलक नौषु च । जितेंद्रियः स्यात्सततं वश्यात्माक्रोधनः शुचिः
āsīta guruṇā sārddhaṃ śilāphalaka nauṣu ca | jiteṃdriyaḥ syātsatataṃ vaśyātmākrodhanaḥ śuciḥ
గురువుతో కలిసి నివసించాలి—శిలాఫలకంపై గానీ, నౌకలో గానీ; ఎల్లప్పుడూ ఇంద్రియజయుడై, ఆత్మవశుడై, క్రోధరహితుడై, శుచిగా ఉండాలి।
Unspecified (didactic narration within Svarga-khaṇḍa 53)
Concept: True discipleship is portable: remain with the guru even in hardship; cultivate indriya-jaya, self-governance, akrodha, and śauca.
Application: Practice anger management, cleanliness, and sensory moderation; keep good company (mentor/teacher) during travel and difficulty; maintain routines even in inconvenient settings.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"On a river crossing, the guru sits calmly in a small boat while the disciple steadies the vessel, eyes serene, angerless even amid wind and splashing water. Later, both rest on simple stone slabs under an open sky—no luxury, only purity, self-control, and the quiet intimacy of teacher and student companionship.","primary_figures":["Guru (ācārya)","Disciple (śiṣya)","Boatman (optional)"],"setting":"River boat at midstream transitioning to a riverside stone platform/ghat with minimal bedding; a small bundle of manuscripts wrapped in cloth.","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["midnight blue","silver white","river teal","stone gray","saffron cloth"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: moonlit river scene with guru and disciple in a boat, gold-leaf accents on halos and water highlights, ornate border; second vignette shows them on stone slabs, disciple calm and pure, rich blues and saffron, devotional serenity emphasized.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical moonlit river crossing with delicate ripples, cool palette, refined faces; the disciple’s composed expression conveys akrodha and self-mastery, with a quiet ghat and stone slab resting place in the background.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized boat and river with bold outlines, large expressive eyes; natural pigment blues/greens with red/yellow accents, iconic depiction of śauca and indriya-jaya through composed postures and minimal props.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: nocturnal river vignette framed by lotus borders; subtle Vaishnava symbols (conch, chakra) in corners, deep indigo with gold, peacocks and floral motifs; guru-disciple calmness centered, water rendered in patterned waves."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["flowing water","oar strokes","night birds","soft conch (very distant)","long silences between pādas"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śilā-phalake (as one compound); jita indriyaḥ → jiteṃdriyaḥ; syāt satatam → syātsatatam; vaśya ātmā → vaśyātmā
FAQs
It emphasizes staying with the guru (guru-saṅga/guru-sevā) and cultivating steady discipline: sense-control (jitendriya), self-mastery (vaśyātmā), freedom from anger (akrodhana), and purity (śuci).
These images suggest steadiness in practice across changing conditions and places—whether on simple resting platforms or while traveling—one should maintain restraint, calmness, and purity.
True spiritual life is measured by character: continual self-control, non-anger, and inner/outer cleanliness, supported by the guidance and proximity of the teacher.