Shloka 55
Kāṣṭhīla-Upākhyāna: Rākṣasī, Spear-Śakti, and Kāśī as Śakti-kṣetra
पापं किमत्र तन्मत्तः सम्यक्छृणु स्वयं वर । अलीकं नैव वक्तव्यं प्राणैः कंठगतैरपि ॥ ५५ ॥
pāpaṃ kimatra tanmattaḥ samyakchṛṇu svayaṃ vara | alīkaṃ naiva vaktavyaṃ prāṇaiḥ kaṃṭhagatairapi || 55 ||
“Trong việc này có tội gì?”—hãy nghe kỹ từ ta, hỡi bậc ưu tú. Tuyệt đối chớ nói dối, dù hơi thở đã dâng lên cổ họng (ngay lúc cận tử).
Narada (teaching/admonishing the interlocutor in a dharma context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It establishes satya (truthfulness) as a non-negotiable pillar of dharma: spiritual integrity is tested most when life is threatened, and the verse insists truth must not be abandoned even then.
Bhakti is not merely ritual emotion; it is sustained by purity of conduct. Speaking truth and refusing falsehood preserves inner sattva, making the mind fit for sincere remembrance and worship.
It highlights dharmic discipline rather than a technical Vedanga: the practical takeaway is ethical restraint of speech (vāṅ-niyama), a core sadācāra principle supporting mantra-japa, vrata observance, and tīrtha conduct.