Shloka 30
Praise of Digging Wells and Building Water-Reservoirs
The Merit of Water-Works
तस्मान्मेप्ययुतार्थस्य नैत्यकं फलमिष्यते । ततस्तस्याभवद्धास्यं तथैव च सभासदाम्
tasmānmepyayutārthasya naityakaṃ phalamiṣyate | tatastasyābhavaddhāsyaṃ tathaiva ca sabhāsadām
“ฉะนั้นแม้แก่เรา—แม้ความมุ่งหมายจะไม่สำเร็จโดยชอบ—ผลอันยั่งยืนก็จักไม่บังเกิด” แล้วเขาก็ตกเป็นที่เยาะเย้ย และเหล่าสมาชิกในสภาก็เช่นกัน
Unspecified from single-verse context (requires surrounding verses of Adhyaya 57 for confident attribution).
Concept: If one’s aim is misaligned or one’s understanding of merit is distorted, the expected ‘lasting fruit’ does not arise; society (and scripture) corrects such confusion.
Application: Before acting, clarify motive and method; seek counsel from the wise; accept correction without defensiveness.
Primary Rasa: hasya
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a crowded assembly hall, a man’s confident posture collapses into embarrassment as several elders and townsfolk laugh softly, some covering their smiles with their shawls. The central figure stands isolated under the hall’s shadow, while the rest of the sabha remains brightly lit—visualizing the loss of ‘lasting fruit’ through misunderstanding.","primary_figures":["embarrassed speaker","sabha members (elders, townsfolk)","a presiding elder/judge-like figure"],"setting":"A village or royal sabha with pillars, woven mats, and a raised seat for elders; a sense of public scrutiny and moral adjudication.","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["muted saffron","dusty rose","charcoal gray","bronze gold","pale cream"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: sabha scene with expressive gestures—assembly members smiling and laughing, the central figure embarrassed; gold leaf on pillars and ornaments, rich reds/greens, clear narrative staging with the ridiculed man slightly off-center under darker shading to show moral deflation.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: refined courtly assembly with subtle humor; delicate expressions of restrained laughter; the embarrassed figure with lowered gaze; soft interior light, gentle palette, psychological nuance emphasized over caricature.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines and stylized faces; group laughter indicated by hand-to-mouth gestures; central figure in darker tones; warm pigments and temple-hall framing, moral lesson conveyed through composition symmetry broken by the shamed posture.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: sabha framed by ornate floral borders; repeating motifs of lotus buds half-closed to symbolize ‘unfulfilled aim’; figures arranged in rhythmic pattern, deep blues and gold with a humorous yet instructive tone."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft laughter","assembly murmurs","wooden staff tap","brief silence after rebuke"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tasmānmepyayutārthasya = tasmāt + me + api + ayutārthasya; phalamiṣyate = phalam + iṣyate; tatastasyābhavat = tataḥ + tasya + abhavat; abhavaddhāsyam = abhavat + hāsyam (t + h → ddh sandhi).
FAQs
It warns that actions or efforts lacking proper alignment with their true purpose do not yield enduring spiritual or ethical results, and can lead to public dishonor.
It denotes an enduring or lasting fruit—i.e., a stable, meaningful outcome (often implying lasting merit rather than a temporary gain).
The verse links inner inconsistency or misdirected effort with external consequence: loss of respect, becoming a subject of mockery, and reputational harm in public settings.