Shloka 52
Pitṛ-tīrtha Context: Marks of Sin, Śrāddha Discipline, and Karmic Ripening
in Yayāti’s Narrative
ब्राह्मणं यः समाहूय याचमानमकिंचनम् । पश्चान्नास्तीति यो ब्रूयात्स च वै ब्रह्महा नृप
brāhmaṇaṃ yaḥ samāhūya yācamānamakiṃcanam | paścānnāstīti yo brūyātsa ca vai brahmahā nṛpa
ข้าแต่มหาราช ผู้ใดเรียกพราหมณ์ผู้ขอทานอันยากไร้มา แล้วภายหลังกล่าวว่า “ไม่มีอะไร (จะให้)” ผู้นั้นแลเป็นผู้ฆ่าพราหมณ์โดยแท้
Unspecified narrator addressing a king (nṛpa) within the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa dialogue context
Concept: Inviting a destitute brāhmaṇa and then refusing alms is a grave betrayal of dharma, equated with brahmahatyā in moral weight.
Application: Do not make performative promises of help; give according to capacity with truthful speech. If unable, speak honestly upfront and offer non-monetary support (food, water, guidance).
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A palace threshold becomes a moral stage: a weary, destitute brāhmaṇa stands with a begging bowl, eyes lowered yet dignified. A king’s attendant gestures him forward, but a wealthy householder turns away with a dismissive hand, while an unseen divine presence seems to darken the air as the refusal is spoken.","primary_figures":["destitute brāhmaṇa","wealthy householder (or courtier)","king (nṛpa) as witness","invisible Dharma/Viṣṇu presence suggested symbolically"],"setting":"royal court entrance with carved pillars, a small alms area, guards and courtiers watching; a faint lotus motif on pillars to hint Padma Purāṇa’s Vaishnava aura","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["deep maroon","burnished gold","ash white","indigo shadow","saffron ochre"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: palace-pillared threshold scene where a destitute brāhmaṇa with kamandalu and begging bowl is first beckoned and then refused; the king watches from a jeweled seat; heavy gold leaf halos and borders, rich reds and greens, gem-studded ornaments, stylized lotus motifs, moral tension conveyed through stern eyes and rigid gestures.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate court vignette with delicate brushwork—thin, dignified brāhmaṇa in simple white cloth; a proud donor figure turning away; the king seated under a canopy; cool architectural tones, lyrical realism, fine facial expressions, subtle shadowing to suggest the weight of adharma.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and natural pigments; brāhmaṇa rendered with serene yet pained eyes; the refuser shown with angular, harsh posture; palace pillars with lotus and conch motifs; red/yellow/green palette, temple-wall aesthetic emphasizing ethical drama.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Krishna-centered moral allegory—Śrī Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa implied via a small śālagrāma or conch-lotus emblem above the scene; ornate floral borders, lotus clusters, deep blues and gold; the brāhmaṇa at the threshold as a sacred guest, cows and peacocks in the margins to frame dharma of giving."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["temple bells","low court murmur","conch shell","brief silence after the refusal"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: याचमानमकिंचनम् = याचमानम् + अकिञ्चनम्; पश्चान्नास्तीति = पश्चात् + न + अस्ति + इति; ब्रूयात्स = ब्रूयात् + सः.
FAQs
It condemns the act of summoning a destitute Brahmin who seeks alms and then dismissing him by falsely claiming that nothing is available to give.
The verse treats deliberate deception and humiliation of a needy Brahmin—after inviting him with the expectation of support—as a grave moral offense, comparable in severity to brahma-hatyā.
Do not invite or encourage a supplicant unless you intend to give; if you cannot give, respond honestly and respectfully rather than misleading or dishonoring the person.