Shloka 63
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
नारद उवाच । कां वृत्तिं समुपाश्रित्य जीवितव्यं द्विजेन हि । अपानेन सुरश्रेष्ठ तत्वतो वक्तुमर्हसि
nārada uvāca | kāṃ vṛttiṃ samupāśritya jīvitavyaṃ dvijena hi | apānena suraśreṣṭha tatvato vaktumarhasi
นารทกล่าวว่า: “พราหมณ์ผู้เป็นทวิชะควรอาศัยวิถีเลี้ยงชีพเช่นใดจึงจะดำรงชีวิตได้? โอ้ผู้ประเสริฐยิ่งในหมู่เทพ โปรดกล่าวให้ตรงตามสัจจะและตามความเป็นจริงเถิด”
Nārada
Concept: Right livelihood (ājīvikā) for the twice-born must be grounded in truth (tattvataḥ) and dharmic restraint, not mere expediency.
Application: Seek guidance before choosing income sources; prefer livelihoods that minimize harm, preserve integrity, and keep one’s daily sādhana undisturbed.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Nārada, veena in hand, stands with folded palms before a radiant, four-faced Brahmā seated upon a lotus rising from cosmic waters. The atmosphere is quiet and exacting—an earnest question hangs in the air as sages in the background pause their recitation, awaiting a dharmic verdict on right livelihood.","primary_figures":["Nārada","Brahmā","attendant ṛṣis (silent witnesses)"],"setting":"A celestial lotus-throne hall (brahmaloka sabhā) with subtle Vedic implements—kusha grass, ladles, and palm-leaf manuscripts—arranged as symbols of dharma.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["lotus pink","sapphire blue","gold leaf","pearl white","emerald green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Nārada with veena offering pranāma to four-faced Brahmā on a grand lotus throne, heavy gold leaf halo-work around Brahmā’s faces and crown, gem-studded ornaments, rich vermilion and emerald textiles, miniature Vedic manuscripts and yajña implements at the base, symmetrical South Indian iconographic framing, ornate arch with floral motifs.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate celestial court scene with delicate linework—Nārada respectfully questioning Brahmā on a lotus seat, cool blues and soft pinks, refined faces, thin gold accents, airy cosmic background with faint clouds and a suggestion of the world-egg, small group of sages seated with manuscripts, lyrical stillness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and flat natural pigments—Brahmā with four faces and elaborate crown seated on lotus, Nārada in saffron with veena, large expressive eyes, red-yellow-green dominant palette, temple-wall aesthetic borders with lotus and creeper patterns, sacred implements stylized near the foreground.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: lotus-filled cosmic pond with ornate floral borders, central lotus throne bearing Brahmā, Nārada at the side in devotional posture, intricate white lotus motifs and gold detailing, deep indigo background, peacocks and stylized vines framing the discourse as a sacred tableau."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft tanpura drone","temple bells (distant)","conch shell (very faint)","silence between question and answer"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सम्+उप+आश्रित्य → समुपाश्रित्य; सुरश्रेष्ठ (समास) ।
FAQs
Nārada asks what kind of livelihood (vṛtti) a dvija—especially a brāhmaṇa—should adopt in order to sustain life in a dharmic way.
Not directly; it frames an ethical-dharmic inquiry about right livelihood. In the Purāṇic context, such guidance often supports a life conducive to spiritual practice, including devotion.
That livelihood should be chosen consciously and in alignment with truth (tattvataḥ) and dharma, and that one should seek authoritative guidance on proper conduct.