Shloka 13
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
नारद उवाच । प्राप्नुवंति गतिं लोकाः पूजयित्वा द्विजोत्तमान् । द्विजानां पीडनं कृत्वा गतिं गच्छति कां प्रभो
nārada uvāca | prāpnuvaṃti gatiṃ lokāḥ pūjayitvā dvijottamān | dvijānāṃ pīḍanaṃ kṛtvā gatiṃ gacchati kāṃ prabho
นารทกล่าวว่า: ผู้คนย่อมได้คติอันเป็นมงคลด้วยการบูชาทวิชผู้ประเสริฐ (พราหมณ์ผู้เลิศ) แต่ข้าแต่พระผู้เป็นเจ้า ผู้ที่เบียดเบียนทวิชแล้ว ย่อมไปสู่คติใดเล่า?
Nārada
Concept: Honoring the worthy (especially brāhmaṇas as carriers of śruti/smṛti and ritual fire) leads to auspicious gati; harming them leads to adverse gati.
Application: Practice respectful speech, hospitality, and support for genuine teachers/priests; avoid contempt, exploitation, or humiliation of those who live by dharma.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A humble household threshold becomes a moral crossroads: a weary, hungry brāhmaṇa guest stands with a begging bowl, while Nārada, veena in hand, turns toward a radiant, four-faced Brahmā seated on a lotus, asking about the unseen destinies shaped by honor or harm. The air feels charged with dharma—one path lit by offering, the other shadowed by contempt.","primary_figures":["Nārada","Brahmā","hungry brāhmaṇa atithi","householder (symbolic)"],"setting":"Lotus-born Brahmā’s celestial pavilion blending into an earthly doorway scene—two realms juxtaposed to show karmic consequence.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance with a moral chiaroscuro at the threshold","color_palette":["lotus pink","saffron gold","sapphire blue","ivory white","smoke gray"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Nārada with vīṇā questioning Brahmā on a grand lotus throne; a side-panel vignette shows a hungry brāhmaṇa at a house door, the householder holding a vessel of food; heavy gold leaf halos, rich crimson and emerald textiles, gem-studded crowns, ornate arch motifs, sacred thread details, polished wooden panel look.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical scene with Nārada and Brahmā in a delicate lotus pavilion; in the lower register, a quiet Himalayan-style village doorway where a brāhmaṇa guest arrives; cool washes, fine linework, gentle facial expressions, soft clouds, flowering trees, subtle moral tension.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined Brahmā on lotus with Nārada in dynamic pose; stylized doorway scene with atithi brāhmaṇa; flat temple-wall composition, natural pigment reds/yellows/greens, large expressive eyes, patterned borders with lotus and conch motifs.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional border of lotuses and tulasi leaves framing a central moral tableau—Nārada and Brahmā above, and below a household offering scene; deep indigo background, gold detailing, intricate floral filigree, peacocks at corners, temple-arch framing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["tanpura drone","soft temple bells","veena motif (for Nārada)","gentle conch in distance","silence between questions"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: द्विजोत्तमान् = द्विज-उत्तमान् (कर्मधारय); प्राप्नुवंति → प्राप्नुवन्ति (मानक रूप)
FAQs
It contrasts the merit (puṇya) gained by honoring virtuous Brahmins with the negative karmic consequence implied by harming them, stressing non-injury and respect for dharmic persons.
“Gati” refers to one’s post-death destiny or spiritual trajectory—an auspicious or inauspicious state reached due to one’s actions (karma).
The verse indicates Nārada is speaking to a revered superior (prabhu), but the addressee is not specified in the provided excerpt alone; it depends on the surrounding chapter context.