Shloka 55
Pitṛ-tīrtha Context: Marks of Sin, Śrāddha Discipline, and Karmic Ripening
in Yayāti’s Narrative
क्षुत्तृषातप्तदेहानामन्नभोजनमिच्छताम् । यः समाचरते विघ्नं तमाहुर्ब्रह्मघातकम्
kṣuttṛṣātaptadehānāmannabhojanamicchatām | yaḥ samācarate vighnaṃ tamāhurbrahmaghātakam
جن کے بدن بھوک اور پیاس سے جل رہے ہوں اور جو کھانے کے لیے اناج چاہیں، ان کے لیے جو رکاوٹ پیدا کرے—اسے برہمن گھاتک کہا گیا ہے۔
Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context likely within the Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue of the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa).
Concept: Obstructing the hungry and thirsty from obtaining food is a grievous sin, equated with brahma-ghātaka.
Application: Do not block access to food/water—support community kitchens, share water, avoid hoarding, and remove bureaucratic or social barriers for the needy.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sun-scorched roadside: travelers with parched lips and hollow cheeks reach toward a pot of water and a basket of flatbreads. A harsh gatekeeper blocks them with a staff, while a compassionate figure pushes past to offer food; the moral contrast is stark—life-giving anna versus cruelty.","primary_figures":["hungry and thirsty seekers","obstructing gatekeeper/official","compassionate donor"],"setting":"village gate or roadside dharmashala with a water pot, shade tree, and simple food offerings","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["sun-baked ochre","dusty brown","water-pot turquoise","cloth white","scarlet accent"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: annadāna scene at a village gate—gold leaf highlights on the water pot and offering tray; the needy rendered with dignified sorrow; the obstructer with rigid posture; rich reds/greens and ornate borders, emphasizing the sacredness of food as near-divine offering.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical roadside under a tree, delicate depiction of thirst and heat; subtle expressions of fatigue; a donor extending bread and water; restrained palette with fine detailing of vessels and textiles; moral narrative conveyed through gentle gestures.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines; dramatic contrast—obstructer in darker tones, donor in warm auspicious colors; stylized tree and pot, natural pigments; expressive eyes showing suffering and compassion.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional annadāna tableau framed by lotus borders; a small Kṛṣṇa/Viṣṇu emblem above the offering to suggest ‘anna as prasāda’; deep blues and gold, intricate floral motifs, peacocks near the water pot, cows at the margin to symbolize nourishment."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["dry wind","clay pot water pour","footsteps on dust","single conch note"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: क्षुत्तृषातप्तदेहानामन्नभोजनमिच्छताम् = क्षुत्-तृषा-तप्त-देहानाम् अन्न-भोजनम् इच्छताम्; तमाहुः = तम् आहुः
FAQs
It condemns obstructing the hungry and thirsty from obtaining food, treating such cruelty as an extremely grave sin.
The verse uses the label “brahma-ghātaka” to signal maximum moral severity—denying sustenance to the suffering is portrayed as a crime on par with the most serious transgressions.
It aligns with Purāṇic dharma that elevates annadāna (giving food) and compassion; harming or hindering basic survival needs is treated as adharma.