Shloka 53
Right Conduct, Offenses Against Brāhmaṇas, Truthfulness, and the Greatness of the Cow
Go-Māhātmya
भ्रूणं च घातयेद्यस्तु शिशुं वा आतुरं गुरुम् । ब्रह्महा स्वयमेव स्यान्न तु यं परिकीर्तयेत्
bhrūṇaṃ ca ghātayedyastu śiśuṃ vā āturaṃ gurum | brahmahā svayameva syānna tu yaṃ parikīrtayet
جو کوئی جنین، بچے، یا بیمار استاد کو قتل کرتا ہے—وہ خود ہی برہمن کا قاتل بن جاتا ہے؛ اس کی تعریف یا عزت نہیں کی جانی چاہیے۔
Unspecified (narrative voice within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa; exact dialogue pair not provided in input)
Concept: Harming the most vulnerable (embryo/child) and the guru is treated as brahmahatyā in moral gravity; such a person is unworthy of honorific remembrance.
Application: Guard speech and action from cruelty; protect dependents; treat teachers/elders with care, especially in illness; refuse to glorify or platform those who commit severe harm.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A solemn dharma-sabha: an aged, fevered guru lies on a low cot under a canopy, while a sage points to a palm-leaf śāstra, warning a trembling man whose shadow looms over a cradle and a pregnant mother. The atmosphere is heavy with ethical consequence, as if invisible scales weigh the act as brahmahatyā.","primary_figures":["ailing guru (ācārya)","pregnant woman","infant/child","dharma-preaching sage","repentant offender"],"setting":"interior of a traditional āśrama hall with sacred fire, palm-leaf manuscripts, and a cradle near the doorway","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["smoldering amber","ash gray","deep maroon","sandalwood beige","muted gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a dharma-sabha inside an āśrama, sage holding palm-leaf śāstra in one hand and abhaya gesture in the other, an ailing guru on a cot, a cradle and a pregnant mother in the foreground, ornate pillars and arch, heavy gold leaf halos and borders, rich reds and greens, gem-studded ornaments, traditional South Indian iconography, solemn expressions, intricate textile patterns.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate āśrama interior with delicate linework, a sage admonishing an offender, the sick guru resting, mother and child rendered with tenderness, cool earthy palette with soft washes, refined faces, minimal architecture, lyrical naturalism, subtle moral tension.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, natural pigments, the sage and guru with large expressive eyes, stylized cradle and manuscripts, warm red/yellow/green palette, temple-wall aesthetic, symmetrical composition emphasizing dharma’s warning.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic dharma tableau framed by lotus and tulasi-like floral borders, central sage with scripture, side vignettes of guru and child, deep indigo background with gold detailing, intricate motifs and patterned textiles, devotional moral allegory rather than realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["low temple bell","soft mridang pulse","crackling sacred fire","brief silence after key words"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ghātayedyastu = घातयेत् + यः + तु; syānna = स्यात् + न.
FAQs
It classifies the killing of an embryo, a child, or an ailing teacher as an extremely grave sin, equated with brahma-hatyā (the sin of killing a brāhmaṇa), and warns against honoring such a person.
Because the guru is viewed as a foundational protector of dharma and knowledge; harming an ailing preceptor is presented as a moral transgression severe enough to be counted among the highest sins.
Not directly; it is primarily a dharma-ethical injunction about heinous acts and their moral status, rather than a teaching about sacred geography or devotional practice.