Shloka 25
The Manifestation of Viṣṇu’s Footprints: Vāmana–Trivikrama, Bāṣkali’s Subjugation, and the Rise of Viṣṇupadī
Gaṅgā
नैतावतैव साधुत्वं कृते यातु प्रतिक्रिया । स्वार्थैकनिष्ठबुद्धीनामेतन्नापि प्रवर्तते
naitāvataiva sādhutvaṃ kṛte yātu pratikriyā | svārthaikaniṣṭhabuddhīnāmetannāpi pravartate
صرف برائی کے بعد تلافی یا کفّارہ کر لینے سے نیکی ثابت نہیں ہوتی؛ جن کی عقل صرف خودغرضی پر جمی ہو، ان میں تو یہ رغبت بھی پیدا نہیں ہوتی۔
Unspecified (narratorial/teaching voice within the chapter context)
Concept: Sādhutva is not proven merely by post-facto amends; for minds fixed in self-interest, even the impulse to make amends may not arise—so inner orientation must be transformed.
Application: Practice preventive ethics: pause before acting, check for svārtha-bias, and cultivate habits of generosity. When wrong occurs, repair is necessary but also commit to changing the underlying motive-pattern.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A mirror-like pond reflects a householder’s face as he stands at its edge, hands folded, realizing that mere apology is not enough without inner change. Behind him, two paths diverge: one lined with coins and self-interest, the other with lotus flowers leading toward a distant Viṣṇu shrine, suggesting the shift from svārtha to seva.","primary_figures":["a reflective householder","a silent sage as witness","symbolic distant Viṣṇu shrine"],"setting":"riverbank/pond-edge near a small forest shrine with a forked path","lighting_mood":"moonlit with calm silver sheen","color_palette":["moon silver","lotus pink","deep teal","soft white","antique gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a contemplative figure by a reflective water surface, a small Viṣṇu shrine in the distance with gold leaf halo and ornate arch, two symbolic paths (coin-strewn vs lotus-strewn), rich reds and greens in borders, gem-like highlights on shrine ornaments, emphasizing inner transformation beyond mere amends.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: moonlit pond with delicate ripples, a thoughtful householder and a gentle sage, cool blues and teals with lotus pink accents, refined facial expressions of self-scrutiny, distant shrine nestled among trees, lyrical naturalism and quiet moral clarity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines of a figure at water’s edge, stylized lotus motifs forming the dharmic path, a Viṣṇu icon in a small shrine with chakra motif, red-yellow-green palette moderated by dark blue night background, temple-wall didactic composition.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic forked-path composition with abundant lotus motifs, ornate floral borders, deep blue night ground with gold highlights, a small central Viṣṇu emblem above, peacocks near the lotus path, emphasizing transformation from svārtha to sādhutva."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["flowing water","soft ankle-bells in distance","tanpura drone","long contemplative silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नैतावतैव = न + एतावता + एव; बुद्धीनामेतत् = बुद्धीनाम् + एतत्; एतन्नापि = एतत् + न + अपि.
FAQs
No. It says virtue is not proven merely by post-facto remedies; genuine goodness is prior intention and conduct, not only later correction.
Those whose intellect is exclusively fixed on self-interest (svārthaika-niṣṭha-buddhi); in them, even the tendency to make amends may not arise.
True dharma is proactive integrity; amends after wrongdoing may be necessary, but they do not by themselves constitute sainthood or moral excellence.