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Shloka 56

Teaching on Karma-yoga

Discipline of Action as Worship

निवेद्य गुरुवेऽश्नीयाद्वाग्यतस्तदनुज्ञया । भवत्पूर्वं चरेद्भैक्ष्यमुपवीती द्विजोत्तमः

nivedya guruve'śnīyādvāgyatastadanujñayā | bhavatpūrvaṃ caredbhaikṣyamupavītī dvijottamaḥ

เมื่อถวายแด่ครูบาอาจารย์ก่อนแล้ว จึงฉันได้ด้วยอนุญาตของท่าน โดยสำรวมวาจา พราหมณ์ผู้ประเสริฐพึงออกบิณฑบาตหลังจากครูได้ฉันแล้ว และสวมยัชโญปวีต (สายสิญจน์ศักดิ์สิทธิ์) ให้ถูกต้อง

निवेद्यhaving informed/offered (it)
निवेद्य:
Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वक्रिया)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनि-विद् (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त), Indeclinable in use (अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः)
गुरवेto the teacher
गुरवे:
Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
TypeNoun
Rootगुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular (एकवचन)
अश्नीयात्should eat
अश्नीयात्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअश् (धातु)
FormVerb (तिङन्त), Optative/Potential (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)
वाक्यतःrestraining speech
वाक्यतः:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootवाक् + यत (प्रातिपदिक; 'restrained in speech')
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); adjective meaning 'speech-restrained'
तत्that (his)
तत्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/demonstrative)
TypeAdjective
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun (सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), used as demonstrative with अनुज्ञया (tad-anujñayā = with his permission)
अनुज्ञयाwith permission
अनुज्ञया:
Karana (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootअनुज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)
भवत्you (honorific)
भवत्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootभवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक/आदरार्थ-शब्द)
FormHonorific pronoun-like stem (आदरार्थ), Genitive relation implied in compound with पूर्वम् (भवत्पूर्वम् = before you/yourself first); form used as prior member
पूर्वम्first/beforehand
पूर्वम्:
Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
FormAdverb (अव्ययवत्), indicating precedence
चरेत्should practice/perform
चरेत्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootचर् (धातु)
FormVerb (तिङन्त), Optative/Potential (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)
भैक्ष्यम्begging for alms (bhikṣā-duty)
भैक्ष्यम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootभैक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)
उपवीतीwearing the sacred thread
उपवीती:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootउपवीतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); adjective meaning 'wearing the upavīta (sacred thread)'
द्विजोत्तमःthe best of the twice-born
द्विजोत्तमः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootद्विज + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); components: द्विज (twice-born) + उत्तम (best)

Not explicitly stated in the provided excerpt (context likely a didactic narration on brahmacarya/guru-sevā).

Concept: Guru-sevā and brahmacarya discipline: offer food to the teacher first, eat only with permission, restrain speech, and collect alms only after the guru has eaten, properly wearing the sacred thread.

Application: In modern terms: prioritize mentors/elders, practice mindful speech, and cultivate disciplined routines before personal consumption; make gratitude and permission-seeking a habit.

Primary Rasa: shanta

Type: forest

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a quiet forest āśrama, a brahmacārin stands with a begging bowl, first placing gathered alms before the seated guru near a sacred fire. The student’s lips are gently closed in vow-like restraint, yajñopavīta neatly worn, while the guru blesses with a calm gesture before granting permission to eat.","primary_figures":["guru (ācārya)","brahmacārin (dvijoत्तमः)","other students (background)","sacred fire (agni)"],"setting":"Forest hermitage with kuśa grass mats, yajña-kuṇḍa, waterpot, deer-skin, palm-leaf texts, and a small Viṣṇu symbol (śaṅkha-cakra) on a wooden post or altar corner.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["smoke-white ash","saffron firelight","forest green","bark brown","sky blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: forest gurukula with guru by the sacred fire, brahmacārin offering alms first with folded hands, yajñopavīta clearly rendered; gold leaf flames, halos, and ornate borders, rich reds/greens, embossed detailing on vessels and manuscripts.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: tranquil Himalayan-like āśrama with delicate brushwork, cool greens and blues, the guru seated on a mat, student presenting a bowl, subtle fire glow; refined facial features, lyrical trees and distant hills, fine textile patterns.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: iconic guru-sevā scene with bold black outlines, stylized eyes, central sacred fire, student with bowl and sacred thread; natural pigments in red/yellow/green, temple-wall symmetry, ornamental borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional gurukula tableau framed by lotus borders, deep blue background with gold accents; central sacred fire and guru, student offering alms; peacocks and floral motifs, a small Vaiṣṇava emblem subtly integrated."}

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["crackling sacred fire","forest birds","soft bell at offering","tanpura drone"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes: गुरुवेऽश्नीयात् = गुरवे + अश्नीयात्; अश्नीयाद्वाग्यतः = अश्नीयात् + वाक्यतः; तदनुज्ञया = तत् + अनुज्ञया; चरेद्भैक्ष्यम् = चरेत् + भैक्ष्यम्; भैक्ष्यमुपवीती = भैक्ष्यम् + उपवीती

FAQs

It teaches that a student should offer food to the guru first, eat only with the guru’s permission, maintain restraint in speech, and collect alms only after the guru has eaten.

It underscores humility, obedience, and the primacy of guru-sevā (service to the teacher) as foundational to learning and ethical formation.

Respect for teachers, self-control (especially of speech), and disciplined livelihood (alms as regulated conduct) are presented as essential virtues for the twice-born student.