Shloka 76
Pitṛ-tīrtha Context: Marks of Sin, Śrāddha Discipline, and Karmic Ripening
in Yayāti’s Narrative
स्वधर्मं विक्रयेद्यस्तु अधर्मं वर्णते नरः । परदोषप्रवादी च परच्छिद्रावलोककः
svadharmaṃ vikrayedyastu adharmaṃ varṇate naraḥ | paradoṣapravādī ca paracchidrāvalokakaḥ
บุรุษใดขายสวธรรมของตนเอง ผู้ยกย่องอธรรม ผู้กล่าวโทษผู้อื่น และผู้คอยสอดส่องหาช่องโหว่กับความอ่อนแอของผู้อื่น—
Unspecified (contextual narrator/teacher voice within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa; likely within a Pulastya–Bhīṣma style discourse, but not provable from this single verse alone)
Concept: Svadharma is not a commodity; adharma begins with self-betrayal and the habit of fault-finding in others.
Application: Do not compromise core duties for gain; practice self-scrutiny before criticizing; replace ‘loophole-hunting’ with honest accountability and service-minded speech.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stern rishi-teacher addresses a young prince seated on a low throne, while shadowy figures in the background whisper and point, symbolizing fault-finding and the ‘search for others’ weaknesses.’ A balance-scale and a broken yoke lie near the teacher’s feet, showing svadharma being ‘sold’ and order being disrupted.","primary_figures":["rishi-teacher (dharma-upadesha)","young prince (nṛpanandana)","symbolic whisperers (para-doṣa-pravādins)"],"setting":"Forest hermitage court with palm-leaf manuscripts, a small fire-altar, and a distant village market hinted at to symbolize ‘selling dharma.’","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["saffron ochre","smoke gray","deep maroon","leaf green","antique gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a rishi with raised teaching-hand (vyakhyana mudra) admonishing a prince, gold leaf halo around the rishi, ornate throne textiles, symbolic broken scale and scattered coins near a dharma-scroll, rich reds and greens, gem-studded ornaments, traditional South Indian iconographic detailing, crisp temple-like framing border.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate hermitage scene with delicate linework, the rishi and prince in profile, cool greens and earthy browns, subtle expressions of moral gravity, whispering silhouettes behind a tree, refined facial features, lyrical forest background with a small yajna-kunda.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, rishi and prince front-facing with large expressive eyes, warm red/yellow/green palette, stylized palm-leaf manuscripts and a small lamp, symbolic figures of gossip rendered as dark simplified forms, temple-wall aesthetic.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: moral allegory framed by lotus and creeper borders, central rishi-prince dialogue, decorative motifs of scales and scrolls, deep blues and gold accents, intricate floral patterns; subtle Vaishnava touch with a small Vishnu emblem above indicating dharma as Vishnu-priya."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["temple bells (distant)","crackling fire","rustling leaves","brief silence between clauses"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विक्रयेद्यस्तु→विक्रयेत् यः तु; परच्छिद्रावलोककः→पर-छिद्र-अवलोककः.
FAQs
It condemns abandoning or “selling” one’s svadharma, advocating adharma, speaking about others’ faults, and habitually searching for others’ weaknesses or loopholes.
It suggests treating one’s rightful duty as a commodity—giving it up for gain, convenience, or social advantage—rather than living it as a moral obligation aligned with one’s station and responsibilities.
It points to a mindset of fault-hunting that distracts from self-correction; spiritually, it fuels pride, hostility, and adharma, whereas dharmic practice emphasizes introspection and restraint in speech.