Shloka 13
Exposition of the Duties of Ascetics
Saṃnyāsa-Dharma
कालमेव प्रतीक्षेत निर्देशं भृतको यथा । नाध्येतव्यं न वर्तव्यं श्रोतव्यं न कदाचन
kālameva pratīkṣeta nirdeśaṃ bhṛtako yathā | nādhyetavyaṃ na vartavyaṃ śrotavyaṃ na kadācana
صرف مناسب وقت ہی کا انتظار کرے، جیسے اجرتی خادم حکم کا منتظر رہتا ہے؛ جب اس میں مشغول ہونا مناسب نہ ہو تو کبھی نہ پڑھنا چاہیے، نہ عمل کرنا، نہ سننا بھی۔
Unspecified (context needed to confirm the dialogue pair in Svargakhaṇḍa 59)
Concept: Wait for the proper time and instruction; do not engage in study, action, or even listening when the context is improper—discipline includes restraint from ‘good’ acts done wrongly or prematurely.
Application: Choose the right time and setting for learning and practice; avoid impulsive debates, gossip disguised as ‘listening,’ and actions done for display; follow a steady schedule for sādhana.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A quiet hermitage courtyard: a disciplined seeker stands with folded hands, waiting outside a hut while an elder teacher meditates within, suggesting ‘kālam eva pratīkṣet’. In the foreground, a closed palm-leaf manuscript and a silent drum symbolize withheld study and action until the proper cue arrives.","primary_figures":["seeker/novice","elder guru (silhouetted or partially seen)"],"setting":"forest āśrama with thatched hut, sacred fire pit, and a simple wooden staff leaning against a tree","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["forest green","bark brown","muted saffron","parchment beige","shadow black"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: hermitage scene with the waiting disciple at the threshold, gold leaf highlighting the sacred fire and a subtle aura around the guru, rich vermilion and green borders, ornate yet calm composition emphasizing patience and obedience.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate forest textures, a small hut with fine linework, the disciple poised in stillness, cool greens and browns, lyrical negative space to convey restraint from study/action/listening.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized trees and hut, the disciple in ochre, the guru in meditative posture, rhythmic bands of color and a small glowing homa-kunda, emphasizing niyama and kāla.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central waiting figure framed by floral borders and small manuscript motifs, deep blue-green ground with gold accents, peacocks perched quietly to symbolize watchful patience, minimal narrative clutter."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["forest birds","crackling sacred fire","soft staff tap","measured pauses"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kālameva = kālam + eva; nādhyetavyaṃ = na + adhyetavyaṃ (a+a→ā).
FAQs
It teaches restraint and timing: one should act only when appropriate—like a servant awaiting an order—and avoid engaging (studying, doing, or even hearing) what is improper for the moment or context.
The analogy highlights disciplined obedience and readiness: just as a hired servant waits for direction, a seeker should wait for the right occasion and authorization before undertaking certain actions or teachings.
It emphasizes self-control—knowing when to refrain. Not everything should be pursued immediately; discernment about time, context, and suitability is itself a form of dharma.