Shloka 20
Account of the Ripening of Karma
Childlessness, Offspring, and Remedial Dharma
यो नरो गोधनं कुर्याच्छूद्रः कुर्याद्विमोहितः । ब्राह्मणीहरणं वापि कर्मणा स नपुंसकः
yo naro godhanaṃ kuryācchūdraḥ kuryādvimohitaḥ | brāhmaṇīharaṇaṃ vāpi karmaṇā sa napuṃsakaḥ
Kẻ nào trộm đoạt “godhāna” (tài sản là bò), hoặc một Śūdra vì mê muội mà làm vậy, hay kẻ dùng hành vi bắt cóc một phụ nữ Bà-la-môn—do nghiệp ấy, người đó trở thành kẻ nhục nhã như bị hoạn.
Unspecified (narratorial/dharmic instruction within Brahma-khaṇḍa context)
Concept: Theft of cattle-wealth and abduction/violation of a brāhmaṇa woman are grave adharma leading to loss of honor and virility (napuṃsakatva) as karmic consequence.
Application: Practice strict non-stealing (including exploitation), respect women’s autonomy and safety, and avoid actions that harm community trust; cultivate self-control and accountability.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stark moral tableau: a cattle pen under a stormy sky where a thief is caught mid-act, while a radiant, protective aura surrounds a brāhmaṇa household in the distance. The thief’s shadow appears diminished and broken, symbolizing loss of tejas and honor as the cosmic law closes in.","primary_figures":["cattle thief","village guardians (optional)","brāhmaṇa household silhouettes","symbolic Dharma/Yama presence (subtle)"],"setting":"rural cowshed and village edge, boundary fence, distant sacred fire smoke from a brāhmaṇa home","lighting_mood":"storm-lit with flashes","color_palette":["iron gray","lightning white","oxblood red","dark forest green","dusty ochre"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: dramatic dharma-warning scene—cowshed, thief recoiling, distant brāhmaṇa home with sacred lamp; gold leaf used for lightning and a faint Dharma emblem, rich reds/greens, ornate border framing the moral lesson.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: tense rural night with delicate detailing of cattle, fence lines, and expressive faces; storm clouds over rolling hills, cool palette, moral contrast between the calm brāhmaṇa home and the thief’s agitation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized cattle and figures; Yama/Dharma motif as a symbolic backdrop, earthy pigments, strong narrative clarity and ethical emphasis.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: allegorical composition—cows as sacred motifs within ornate borders; the wrongdoer rendered smaller, surrounded by thorn-vine patterns; deep blues/greys with gold highlights, emphasizing dharma’s protective canopy over the righteous."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["thunder","sharp temple bell strikes","cattle lowing","urgent drum pulse","sudden silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुर्याच्छूद्रः = कुर्यात् + शूद्रः; कुर्याद्विमोहितः = कुर्यात् + विमोहितः; वापि = वा + अपि
FAQs
It condemns serious transgressions—stealing cattle-wealth and abducting a brāhmaṇa woman—stating they lead to severe moral and social degradation.
While napuṃsakaḥ can denote a literal eunuch, Purāṇic dharma passages often use it as a strong moral-legal censure implying loss of honour, potency, and social standing due to grievous wrongdoing.
Cattle were central to livelihood, ritual economy, and dharmic symbolism; harming or stealing them is treated as a major offense in many dharma-oriented texts.