Shloka 29
Teaching on Karma-yoga
Discipline of Action as Worship
ब्राह्मणं कुशलं पृच्छेत्क्षत्रबंधुमनामयम् । वैश्यं क्षेमं समागम्य शूद्रमारोग्यमेव च
brāhmaṇaṃ kuśalaṃ pṛcchetkṣatrabaṃdhumanāmayam | vaiśyaṃ kṣemaṃ samāgamya śūdramārogyameva ca
เมื่อพบพราหมณ์พึงถามถึงความผาสุก; เมื่อพบกษัตริย์พึงถามถึงความปลอดโรค; เมื่อพบไวศยะพึงถามถึงความมั่นคงและความรุ่งเรือง; และเมื่อพบศูทรพึงถามถึงสุขภาพโดยแท้
Not specified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses).
Concept: Appropriate, role-sensitive greetings cultivate social order and goodwill; speech becomes a dharmic act.
Application: When meeting people, ask questions that genuinely support their welfare (health, safety, stability) rather than intrusive or competitive talk; tailor kindness to their responsibilities.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A village pathway shaded by banyan trees where travelers meet: a learned Brāhmaṇa with palm-leaf manuscripts, a Kṣatriya with a modest sword, a Vaiśya with a ledger and grain sacks, and a Śūdra artisan with tools. A courteous householder folds hands and asks each a fitting question, the scene radiating calm social harmony.","primary_figures":["Householder greeter","Brāhmaṇa","Kṣatriya","Vaiśya","Śūdra artisan"],"setting":"Tree-lined village road near a small shrine, with market stalls in the distance and a water pot at the roadside.","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["earth ochre","banyan green","cotton white","indigo blue","terracotta red"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a central householder in añjali-mudrā greeting four figures representing the varṇas, with gold leaf accents on garments and ornaments, rich reds and greens, stylized shrine backdrop, and embossed halos subtly indicating dharmic dignity; emphasize benevolent facial expressions and orderly composition.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a lyrical roadside meeting under banyan shade, delicate linework and soft colors, refined faces, each varṇa figure holding symbolic objects (manuscripts, sword, ledger, tools), with gentle hills and a small shrine in the background; convey quiet civility through gestures and spacing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines depict the greeter and four social figures in a frieze-like arrangement, temple-shrine motif behind, warm red-yellow-green palette, large expressive eyes, and clear hand gestures of inquiry and blessing; focus on didactic clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional border of floral vines and lotuses framing a social-harmony tableau; deep blue ground with gold highlights, peacocks at corners, and a small Vishnu shrine motif above, suggesting that courteous speech is offered as seva to Hari’s world-order."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["village ambience","birds","distant temple bell","soft footsteps"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पृच्छेत्क्षत्रबन्धुमनामयम् = पृच्छेत् + क्षत्रबन्धुम् + अनामयम्; शूद्रमारोग्यमेव = शूद्रम् + आरोग्यम् + एव
FAQs
It teaches dhārmic etiquette: when meeting people, one should inquire appropriately—about well-being, security, and health—according to traditional social roles.
It frames different customary concerns (welfare, security/prosperity, health) in a traditional varṇa-based society, presenting a social convention of polite inquiry rather than a metaphysical hierarchy.
As a general ethic of considerate speech: ask others about what matters most to them—health, safety, livelihood, and overall well-being—when you meet them.