Shloka 109
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
पुण्यकर्मरतो विप्रः कृषिं हि परिकारयेत् । वाहयेद्दिवसस्यार्धं बलीवर्दचतुष्टयम्
puṇyakarmarato vipraḥ kṛṣiṃ hi parikārayet | vāhayeddivasasyārdhaṃ balīvardacatuṣṭayam
نیک اعمال میں مشغول برہمن کو چاہیے کہ کھیتی باڑی کرائے؛ اور چار بیلوں کی جوڑی سے دن کے آدھے حصے تک ہل چلوا دے۔
Unspecified (narrative instruction within the chapter; speaker not provided in the input excerpt)
Concept: Merit arises from righteous livelihood when work is measured, non-exploitative, and aligned with one’s varṇa-duties.
Application: Work within humane limits; treat dependent beings (animals, workers, family) as entrusted lives; set clear boundaries on labor time and intensity.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dawn-lit agrarian scene where a learned brāhmaṇa-householder supervises ploughing with calm restraint. Four strong oxen pull a wooden plough through moist earth, while the man holds a staff and water-pot, his gaze gentle—signaling that labor is dharma, not exploitation.","primary_figures":["brāhmaṇa gr̥hastha","four oxen (bali-varda)"],"setting":"village fields at the edge of a sacred grove; distant thatched homes; a small shrine-stone under a neem tree","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["earth umber","harvest gold","leaf green","cotton white","vermillion"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a serene brāhmaṇa gr̥hastha in white dhotī with sacred thread stands beside a wooden plough; four oxen adorned with simple bells pull in unison; include a small Viṣṇu shrine under a tree in the background; gold leaf highlights on ornaments, bells, and halo-like radiance around the dharmic householder; rich reds and greens, gem-studded accents, South Indian iconographic symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical rural valley with soft hills; delicate linework shows four oxen ploughing; the brāhmaṇa’s calm face and modest posture convey restraint; cool sky gradients, detailed grasses, and a tiny shrine-stone near a neem; refined facial features and gentle naturalism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines; the brāhmaṇa with stylized eyes and sacred thread; four oxen in rhythmic formation; flat yet vibrant fields; natural pigment palette with red/yellow/green dominance; temple-wall aesthetic with ornamental borders of lotus and creepers.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional rural tableau framed by intricate floral borders; lotus motifs and peacocks at corners; the oxen and plough centered like a sacred procession; deep blues and gold accents; subtle inclusion of a small Viṣṇu emblem (śaṅkha-cakra) above the field as blessing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft temple bell","ox-bells","morning birds","distant conch","rustle of crops"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vāhayeddivasasya → vāhayet divasasya; balīvardacatuṣṭayam → balīvarda-catuṣṭayam.
FAQs
It recommends arranging agricultural work and specifies a measured workload: using a team of four oxen for half a day.
Yes—framed as an act aligned with puṇya (merit), it presents agriculture (performed/arranged properly) as a permissible, orderly activity connected with righteous conduct.
It suggests moderation and restraint—setting humane, regulated limits on labor rather than maximizing extraction or overburdening animals.