Shloka 10
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
ततः कंठगतैः प्राणैराचारं कुरुते द्विजः । कर्मणा मनसांगेन सदाचारं सदा कुरु
tataḥ kaṃṭhagataiḥ prāṇairācāraṃ kurute dvijaḥ | karmaṇā manasāṃgena sadācāraṃ sadā kuru
แล้วแม้เมื่อปราณชีวิตขึ้นมาถึงลำคอ ทวิชะก็ยังพยายามรักษาอาจาระไว้ ด้วยการกระทำ ด้วยใจ และด้วยอวัยวะแห่งกาย—จงประพฤติสทาจารเสมอ
Uncertain (context not provided; likely a narrator/teacher voice within the Adhyaya)
Concept: Maintain sadācāra even at life’s last moment; practice goodness through body, mind, and action continually.
Application: Daily tri-fold audit: (1) one bodily restraint, (2) one mental purification (no envy), (3) one right action (service). Build habits that remain intact under stress or illness.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An aged dvija lies calmly, breath gathered at the throat, yet his gaze is steady and luminous—his hands in a gesture of resolve rather than fear. Around him, three subtle streams—mind, body, and action—are depicted as purified currents converging into a single clear flame of conduct.","primary_figures":["elderly dvija (brāhmaṇa)","personified Mind (Manas) as a clear stream","personified Action (Karma) as a steady lamp","personified Body (Aṅga) as a disciplined posture"],"setting":"quiet hermitage interior with a low cot, sacred fire, and scriptures; minimal objects to emphasize final clarity","lighting_mood":"lamp-lit","color_palette":["warm amber","sandalwood beige","deep maroon","smokeless gold","midnight blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: an elderly brāhmaṇa on a simple cot, sacred thread visible, right hand raised in dharma-mudrā; a small homa fire and palm-leaf manuscripts nearby; three gold-embellished motifs (mind, deed, body) encircle him as lotus medallions; rich reds/greens with heavy gold leaf on halos, fire, and borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate indoor scene with soft shadows, the elder’s face serene; delicate rendering of breath as a thin silver line near the throat; a small lamp and scripture stand; cool blues and warm ochres balanced, refined expressions, lyrical stillness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: frontal elder figure with stylized eyes, bold outlines; lamp-lit aura in yellow and red; symbolic triad motifs around him; temple-wall aesthetic with natural pigments and rhythmic ornamentation.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central elder figure framed by lotus borders; three lotus garlands labeled by motifs (mind, body, action) converging into a single flame; deep indigo background with gold highlights and floral intricacy."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["steady tanpura drone","soft lamp crackle","night insects","long pauses","distant bell"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kaṃṭhagataiḥ = kaṇṭha + gataiḥ (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष); manasāṃgena is resolved as manasā + aṅgena; sadācāram = sat + ācāram (कर्मधारय).
FAQs
It teaches unwavering commitment to sadācāra (good conduct), insisting that virtue must be maintained through body, mind, and actions—even at the final moments of life.
It is a traditional image for the time of death, stressing that dharma should not be abandoned under fear, weakness, or urgency; integrity is tested most at life’s end.
Indirectly: while it is primarily an ethics-and-dharma instruction, sustained purity of conduct (ācāra) is presented as foundational for any spiritual path, including devotion (bhakti) and ritual discipline.