Shloka 73
Teaching of Karma-yoga
Student Conduct, Vedic Study, and Gāyatrī Supremacy
विप्रस्य विदुषो देहे तावद्ब्रह्म न कीर्तयेत् । शयानः प्रौढपादश्च कृत्वा चैवावसक्थिकाम्
viprasya viduṣo dehe tāvadbrahma na kīrtayet | śayānaḥ prauḍhapādaśca kṛtvā caivāvasakthikām
ตราบใดที่อยู่ต่อหน้าร่างของพราหมณ์ผู้รู้ ไม่พึงสาธยายพระนามพรหมา—ยิ่งนักเมื่อกำลังนอนเหยียดเท้า หรืออยู่ในอิริยาบถที่ไม่สมควร
Unspecified (narrative injunction within Svargakhaṇḍa; exact dialogue speaker not provided in the input)
Concept: Decorum in liminal contexts: avoid sacred recitation and disrespectful posture (lying down, feet out, improper sitting) in the presence of a revered body; bodily reverence supports inner reverence.
Application: In temples, funerals, and study spaces: sit properly, keep feet from pointing toward sacred persons/objects, and maintain silence or appropriate mantra only when eligible; cultivate embodied respect.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A quiet room where a learned brāhmaṇa’s body lies in dignified stillness, covered with a clean cloth and garlanded. Nearby, disciples sit upright with folded hands, feet tucked in, maintaining solemn silence—no recitation, only reverent presence—while a single lamp burns steadily.","primary_figures":["deceased learned brāhmaṇa (honored body)","disciples/students","elder priest guiding decorum"],"setting":"Simple indoor hall or āśrama room with a low bier, kusa grass, flowers, and a single oil lamp; minimal objects to emphasize restraint.","lighting_mood":"lamp-lit stillness","color_palette":["soft ochre","ivory","marigold orange","shadow brown","midnight blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: dignified funerary decorum scene—honored brāhmaṇa on a bier with floral garlands, disciples seated properly with folded hands; gold leaf on lamp flame and subtle halos of sanctity; rich but restrained reds/greens, ornate border framing a solemn composition.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate interior with delicate brushwork, subdued palette, students sitting upright with tucked feet; refined facial expressions of grief and reverence; soft lamp glow and gentle textile patterns, minimalistic sacred objects.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines of seated disciples in correct posture, central bier with stylized floral garland; natural pigments, temple-wall aesthetic, large eyes conveying solemnity; red/yellow/green balanced with deep blues for night-like quiet.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic reverence—central lamp and lotus medallion, disciples arranged symmetrically, floral borders heavy with marigold motifs; deep blues and gold accents, emphasizing devotional decorum rather than realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["single bell strike","lamp crackle","soft weeping in distance","night insects","silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तावद्ब्रह्म = तावत् + ब्रह्म; प्रौढपादश्च = प्रौढपादः + च; चैवावसक्थिकाम् = च + एव + अवसक्थिकाम्.
FAQs
It advises restraint and reverence: do not recite (here, ‘Brahmā/Brahman’) while in the presence of a learned brāhmaṇa if one is in a disrespectful posture such as lying down or stretching the feet.
In classical dharma-ācāra, posture signals respect. Reclining or pointing the feet is treated as casual or disrespectful in the presence of elders, teachers, or revered persons, especially during sacred speech or recitation.
Sacred knowledge is not only about words but also about disciplined conduct (ācāra). Reverence toward the learned and mindful bodily etiquette are presented as part of dharmic practice.