Shloka 21
Narrative of the Śūdra’s Renunciation of Greed
with the Tulādhāra Greatness Prelude
बह्वर्घमल्पमर्घं च क्रयविक्रयणे सुधीः । सत्यवाक्यं प्रशस्तं च विशेषात्साक्षिणो भवेत्
bahvarghamalpamarghaṃ ca krayavikrayaṇe sudhīḥ | satyavākyaṃ praśastaṃ ca viśeṣātsākṣiṇo bhavet
ในการซื้อขาย ไม่ว่าราคาจะสูงหรือ ต่ำ บัณฑิตพึงเป็นพยานโดยเฉพาะ คือผู้กล่าววาจาสัตย์และเป็นที่สรรเสริญ
Unspecified (context not provided in the input excerpt)
Concept: Truthful witnesshood is paramount in commerce; ethical speech safeguards social order regardless of the transaction’s magnitude.
Application: In contracts, sales, and disputes, prioritize accuracy and reputation over gain; be the person whose word can be relied upon even when stakes are small.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A bustling bazaar is depicted with merchants weighing grains and cloth, while a calm, learned witness stands beside a scribe, ensuring fairness. The scene contrasts glittering goods with the quiet radiance of truthful speech—shown as a subtle light around the witness’s mouth and palm raised in oath.","primary_figures":["wise witness (sudhī)","merchant","buyer","scribe"],"setting":"market street with weighing scales, ledgers, cloth bolts, grain sacks, and a small civic pavilion for agreements","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["turmeric yellow","copper brown","jade green","lapis blue","chalk white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a marketplace transaction under a decorated pavilion, ornate scales and ledgers in the foreground, the wise witness with a raised oath-hand and a gentle halo of truth, merchants in rich textiles; gold leaf highlights on scales, jewelry, and pavilion arches, saturated reds/greens, intricate border patterns.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate bazaar vignette with delicate brushwork, the witness and scribe seated on a patterned rug, merchants presenting goods, fine facial expressions conveying trust; soft mountain-like pastel background, cool blues and greens with warm ochres, meticulous textile patterns.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized figures with bold outlines, a prominent tulā (scale) and palm-leaf ledger, the witness centered as moral axis; strong red-yellow-green palette, rhythmic decorative motifs framing the market scene like a temple narrative panel.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: a symbolic ‘dharma-bazaar’ where scales are adorned with lotus garlands, the witness framed by floral borders and peacocks; deep blue ground with gold detailing, intricate lotuses and vines, devotional ornamentation transforming commerce into sacred order."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft crowd murmur (distant)","metallic clink of scales","tanpura drone"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bahvargham → bahu + argham; alpamargham → alpa + argham; krayavikrayaṇe treated as dvandva compound; viśeṣātsākṣiṇo → viśeṣāt + sākṣiṇaḥ.
FAQs
It teaches that truthfulness and reputability are essential in commercial dealings, especially for anyone acting as a witness in buying and selling.
To emphasize that moral duty does not change with the value of the transaction; honesty is required whether the deal is large or small.
One should be a reliable witness—truthful in speech and respected in character—so that social trust and justice are upheld.