Shloka 26
Vena’s Fall into Adharma and the Prelude to Pṛthu’s Birth
वेदाचारं परित्यज्य पापं यास्यंति मानवाः । पापस्य मूलमेवं वै जैनधर्मं न संशयः
vedācāraṃ parityajya pāpaṃ yāsyaṃti mānavāḥ | pāpasya mūlamevaṃ vai jainadharmaṃ na saṃśayaḥ
เมื่อทอดทิ้งจารีตแห่งพระเวท มนุษย์ย่อมตกสู่บาป; ฉะนั้นจึงกล่าวกันว่า ลัทธิไชนะ (เชน) เป็นรากแห่งบาป—หาใช่มีข้อสงสัยไม่
Unspecified (context-dependent within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa Adhyaya 38)
Concept: Abandoning Vedic conduct leads to pāpa; the text polemically labels a rival path as the ‘root’ of sin.
Application: Read as an internal Purāṇic boundary-marker: cultivate ethical discipline, truthfulness, non-harm, and devotion grounded in your tradition’s pramāṇas; avoid hatred—convert polemic into self-audit of one’s own integrity.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stern sage stands beside a sacred fire altar whose flames burn bright gold, while behind him a shadowed crowd turns away from the altar, stepping into a gray fog labeled ‘pāpa.’ The king’s face shows conflict—between reverence for śāstra and fear of societal drift—capturing the verse’s sharp admonition.","primary_figures":["a stern ṛṣi","a king","symbolic sacred fire (Agni)","a crowd turning away"],"setting":"yajña-śālā with vedi, ladles, samidh bundles; beyond it a fading city street swallowed by mist","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["fire gold","deep maroon","charcoal gray","ivory","dark teal"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central Agni altar with embossed gold flames; sage with gold halo admonishing a jeweled king; background crowd rendered in muted tones moving into gray mist; rich reds/greens, gem-studded ornaments, ornate arch frame with gold leaf emphasizing śāstra’s authority.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate yajña scene with fine-line vedi details; sage’s raised hand in instruction; the crowd receding into pale gray wash; cool, restrained palette with a warm focal glow at the fire; subtle moral contrast through color temperature.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: iconic Agni altar, sage and king in bold outlines; strong red/yellow/green pigments; foggy gray band behind the crowd; didactic temple-wall composition with clear gestures and symbolic props (śāstra bundle, kamaṇḍalu).","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: a central golden flame motif framed by lotus borders; lower register shows sage and king; side panels show two paths—one toward a bright altar, one into gray mist—rendered with intricate floral patterns and subdued peacock motifs."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["sharp bell strike","yajña crackle","conch shell (brief)","tense silence between phrases"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वेदाचारं = वेदाचारम्; यास्यंति = यास्यन्ति (anusvāra spelling variant); मूलमेवं = मूलम् + एवम्
FAQs
It claims that abandoning vedācāra (Vedic conduct) leads humans into sin, and it polemically characterizes “Jainadharma” as a root-cause of sin.
Such lines are often part of intra-traditional debate and sectarian boundary-making; they are best read in their narrative context (speaker, audience, and purpose of the chapter) rather than as neutral historical description.
The verse emphasizes adherence to a prescribed code of conduct (ācāra) and warns that rejecting one’s normative dharma is seen as leading to moral downfall (pāpa).