Shloka 22
Exposition of the Duties of Ascetics
Saṃnyāsa-Dharma
मोक्षशास्त्रेषु निरतो ब्रह्मसूत्री जितेंद्रियः । दंभाहंकारनिर्मुक्तो निंदापैशुन्यवर्जितः
mokṣaśāstreṣu nirato brahmasūtrī jiteṃdriyaḥ | daṃbhāhaṃkāranirmukto niṃdāpaiśunyavarjitaḥ
ผู้นั้นตั้งมั่นในคัมภีร์ว่าด้วยโมกษะ ยึดมั่นพรหมสูตร และชนะอินทรีย์ทั้งหลาย พ้นจากความเสแสร้งและอหังการ ไม่กล่าวนินทาและไม่ใส่ร้ายป้ายสี
Unspecified (context-dependent within Svargakhaṇḍa 3.59)
Concept: Liberation-oriented study must be paired with conquered senses and ethical speech—freedom from hypocrisy, ego, slander, and backbiting.
Application: Adopt a ‘speech vrata’: avoid gossip, sarcasm, and reputational harm; practice daily self-audit for ego and perform anonymous service to dissolve dambha.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A quiet study hall within a hermitage: palm-leaf manuscripts of mokṣa-śāstra lie open while a disciplined seeker sits upright, eyes calm, hands in jñāna-mudrā. Shadowy figures representing ‘dambha’ and ‘ahaṅkāra’ dissolve like smoke behind him, while a gentle light falls on his lips—symbolizing purified speech free of nindā.","primary_figures":["seeker studying mokṣa-śāstra","personifications of dambha (hypocrisy) and ahaṅkāra (ego) as fading shadows"],"setting":"forest āśrama library with palm-leaf manuscripts, a small yajña-kuṇḍa, and a simple seat of kuśa mat","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["smoky charcoal","palm-leaf tan","lamp-gold","deep maroon","sage green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: seated sādhaka with sacred thread, open palm-leaf manuscripts labeled ‘mokṣa-śāstra’ and ‘brahma-sūtra’, gold-leaf halo and lamp flames, rich maroon backdrop, stylized fading demons of ego and hypocrisy behind, ornate border with subtle conch and lotus motifs.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate hermitage study scene, delicate lines on manuscripts, cool muted palette, refined face showing humility, faint translucent silhouettes of slander and ego drifting away, trees and distant hills framing the quiet discipline.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, warm yellow and red fields; seeker with large calm eyes, manuscripts as patterned rectangles, symbolic dark forms of nindā and paiśunya retreating, lamp rendered with rhythmic curves, strong green accents for the āśrama setting.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central seated devotee-scholar, ornate floral borders, lotus medallions containing words ‘śauca’ and ‘dama’, deep blue ground with gold highlights, peacocks and cows subdued at the edges to keep contemplative mood, stylized smoke-forms of ego dissipating upward."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft tanpura drone","page-rustle of palm leaves","distant conch","night insects"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मोक्षशास्त्रेषु → मोक्ष-शास्त्रेषु; जितेंद्रियः → जित-इन्द्रियः; दंभाहंकारनिर्मुक्तो → दंभ-अहंकार-निर्मुक्तः; निंदापैशुन्यवर्जितः → निन्दा-पैशुन्य-वर्जितः
FAQs
Devotion to liberation-focused scriptures, mastery over the senses, humility (freedom from ego), and ethical speech (avoiding slander and backbiting).
It indicates a person anchored in Vedāntic reasoning and discipline associated with the Brahma-sūtras—i.e., committed to the study and lived application of non-dual/ultimate truth inquiry.
A sincere seeker avoids harmful speech—both direct condemnation (nindā) and covert malicious reporting (paiśunya)—as part of purification and spiritual maturity.