Shloka 54
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
मारयेच्च सगोत्रं वा ब्राह्मणं ब्राह्मणाधमः । तस्यैव तद्भवेत्पापं न तु यं परिकीर्त्तयेत्
mārayecca sagotraṃ vā brāhmaṇaṃ brāhmaṇādhamaḥ | tasyaiva tadbhavetpāpaṃ na tu yaṃ parikīrttayet
แม้พราหมณ์ผู้ต่ำช้าจะฆ่าพราหมณ์ในโคตรเดียวกัน บาปแห่งกรรมนั้นย่อมตกแก่ผู้ฆ่าเท่านั้น—มิได้ตกแก่ผู้ซึ่งเขาเอ่ยนามหรืออัญเชิญกล่าวถึง
Unknown (verse excerpt provided without surrounding dialogue context)
Concept: Sin is personal and adheres to the perpetrator; invoking another’s name does not shift karmic burden onto the invoked person.
Application: Do not scapegoat, blame-shift, or use ‘name-dropping’ to evade responsibility; cultivate integrity in speech and action.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stern court of dharma: a ‘brahmaṇa-adhama’ stands with a blood-stained dagger, while a luminous scale of justice hovers above, its weight sinking only on his side. Behind him, a faint, untouched silhouette of the person whose name he tries to invoke remains unshadowed, emphasizing non-transfer of guilt.","primary_figures":["dharma-judge sage","accused killer","invoked brāhmaṇa (as distant silhouette)","scribal muni recording karma"],"setting":"open-pillared sabhā with a symbolic karmic scale and palm-leaf ledger","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["ivory white","iron gray","crimson","antique gold","smoky blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: dharma-sabhā with ornate pillars, central karmic scale rendered with gold leaf, the offender holding a dagger, a sage-judge with halo, a scribe with palm-leaf ledger, rich reds and greens, gem-like highlights, crisp iconographic symmetry, moral gravity in facial expressions.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: refined courtroom scene with delicate brushwork, cool blues and grays, a hovering symbolic scale, subtle blood-red accent, lyrical architecture, expressive yet restrained faces, emphasis on ethical causality.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized scale and ledger, sage-judge with large eyes, offender in contrite posture, red/yellow/green palette with black contours, temple-wall composition conveying karmic law.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: allegorical dharma panel framed by lotus borders, central golden scale motif, side attendants as sages, deep indigo background with gold patterns, minimal violence, emphasis on cosmic justice symbolism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["single bell strikes","tanpura drone","soft page-turn of palm leaves","measured silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: mārayecca = मारयेत् + च; tadbhavetpāpaṃ = तत् + भवेत् + पापम्.
FAQs
It emphasizes personal moral accountability: the doer of a wrongful act bears its sin himself, and cannot transfer blame by invoking or naming someone else.
No—the mention of “same gotra” intensifies the scenario, but the conclusion remains that the sin adheres to the perpetrator alone.
It aligns with the karmic idea that the फल (result) of an action follows the agent; mere association, citation, or verbal invocation of another does not shift karmic responsibility.