Shloka 20
The Duties and Conduct of the Graduate (Snātaka) and the Householder
तेन यायात्सतां मार्गं तेन गच्छन्न दुष्यति । नित्यं स्वाध्यायशीलः स्यान्नित्यं यज्ञोपवीतवान्
tena yāyātsatāṃ mārgaṃ tena gacchanna duṣyati | nityaṃ svādhyāyaśīlaḥ syānnityaṃ yajñopavītavān
ด้วยวินัยนั้นพึงดำเนินตามมรรคาของสัตบุรุษ; ผู้เดินเช่นนั้นย่อมไม่ตกสู่อธรรม พึงเป็นผู้ตั้งมั่นในสวาธยายะอยู่เสมอ และพึงสวมยัชโญปวีต (สายสิญจน์ศักดิ์สิทธิ์) อยู่เป็นนิตย์
Unspecified (narrative voice not provided in the input excerpt)
Concept: Ācāra (disciplined conduct) and svādhyāya protect one from moral downfall; the sacred thread symbolizes continuous commitment to Vedic duty.
Application: Keep a daily study/recitation routine (svādhyāya), maintain personal vows and ethical guardrails, and treat sacred symbols as reminders of accountability rather than status.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A serene dawn courtyard where a disciplined householder-sage sits on a kusa mat, reciting from palm-leaf manuscripts. The yajñopavīta gleams across his chest as a subtle aura forms a 'path' of light leading forward, symbolizing the satām mārga that prevents moral slipping.","primary_figures":["Vedic householder (gṛhastha)","invisible presence of Dharma as a luminous path"],"setting":"Quiet āśrama-like home courtyard with tulasi platform in the background, a small fire-altar, and stacked palm-leaf texts.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["saffron ochre","ivory white","copper gold","leaf green","smoke gray"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a composed gṛhastha seated in svādhyāya, yajñopavīta prominent, small homa-kuṇḍa and palm-leaf manuscripts, a radiant golden pathway motif behind him; heavy gold leaf embellishment on the sacred thread and halo, rich vermilion and emerald accents, gem-studded ornaments kept minimal to emphasize austerity.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate gṛhastha in a quiet courtyard at sunrise, fine linework on the yajñopavīta and manuscripts, soft Himalayan-like atmospheric gradients, lyrical trees and a small tulasi vrindā in the corner, restrained palette with cool shadows and warm dawn highlights.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined figure with calm wide eyes, sacred thread rendered with rhythmic curves, small ritual fire and manuscripts, temple-wall aesthetic with natural pigments—dominant ochres, greens, and reds; subtle divine aura indicating the satām mārga.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional domestic courtyard with ornate floral borders, stylized lotus motifs forming a luminous 'path', tulasi vrindā and hanging lamps; deep indigo background with gold detailing, emphasizing daily discipline as worship."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","morning birds","gentle conch in distance","page rustle of palm leaves","silence between phrases"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: yāyāt + satām → yāyātsatāṃ; gacchan + na → gacchanna; syāt + nityam → syānnityaṃ
FAQs
It praises following the “path of the virtuous” through steady discipline—especially continual svādhyāya (self-recitation/study of sacred texts) and maintaining the traditional marker of Vedic eligibility, the yajñopavīta (sacred thread).
The verse teaches that consistent alignment with the conduct of the good (satām mārga) protects a person from moral lapse—right practice steadily reduces the tendency toward wrongdoing.
In this isolated verse, the emphasis is ethical and ritual-disciplinary rather than sectarian; it focuses on dharma markers like svādhyāya and yajñopavīta without naming a deity or sect.