“For one thing, he may have rejected brahminhood, but brahminhood never left him. No one ever excommunicated him officially. He didn’t die an outcaste; so he remains a brahmin in his death. Only another brahmin has any right to touch his body. If we let someone else do it, we’d be sullying our brahminhood.”
This is a comment made by Praneshacharya regarding Naranappa's funeral rites. He acknowledges the fact that Naranappa went against the tenets of their culture, but says that he still remained a Brahmin, as it is a status that a person maintains forever. In Praneshacharya's view, an individual can choose to distance themselves from Brahminhood, but this does not result in their no longer being a Brahmin. This paradox is one of the central conflicts of the book. Praneshacharya's comments indicate that Naranappa needs to receive Brahmin funeral rites but no one wants to perform them, as he behaved in such direct opposition to every rule set by the Brahmins. His comments reflect a thoughtful articulation of the issues faced by the community in the aftermath of Naranappa's death.
“Your texts and rites don’t work any more. The Congress Party is coming to power, you’ll have to open up the temples to all outcastes.”
This is a quote from Naranappa. Praneshacharya remembers it as he reflects on a conversation he had with him. Naranappa shows his complete lack of faith in their religious order. He says that their society is on the verge of a major cultural shift, one in which the government has more control over the social classes and wealth distribution. Naranappa's actions reflect his belief in this future upheaval, as he has abandoned all regard for Brahmin culture. What he means is that very soon, he thinks, the Brahmin will be forced to give up their high status, as the Indian legislature will take away their ability to self-govern. His comments show both his lack of respect for Brahmin culture as well as a premonition about the coming separation of religious and secular governance.
They were afraid, fearful that the lust for gold might destroy brahmin purity. But in the heart of every one of them flashed the question: if some other brahmin should perform the final rite for Naranappa, he might keep his brahminhood and yet put all that gold on his wife’s neck.
This statement describes the shared feeling among the Brahmins in the village temple. It summarizes the conflicted sentiment about Naranappa's funeral rites. People in the temple are disturbed by the greed surrounding Naranappa's wealth but also know that if they are willing to perform the rites themselves, then they might be able to get Naranappa's wealth for themselves. This moment explicates yet another paradox related to Naranappa, showcasing how his demise has brought about a major schism in the temple, as people vie for Naranappa's gold but want nothing to do with his funeral.
"Look here Chandri. Your generosity complicates the question. The brahmin has to follow whatever is right for an emergency. Keep this gold with you. Naranappa's dead. But you've got your life to live."
This is a quote said by Praneshacharya in a conversation with Chandri. He refuses to accept her tribute of jewelry for Naranappa's funeral rites. He tells her that she is being too generous, as she still has to find a way through her life. He is stunned by her generosity, as the already wealthy Brahmins seem largely concerned with Naranappa's gold, while she is willing to sacrifice what little she has to help Naranappa. Her generosity unsettles him, as she acts more in accordance with Brahmin values despite being excluded from its ranks. This moment marks a subtle shift in Praneshacharya, as he engages with the question of what it means to truly adhere to Brahmin beliefs. In allowing her to keep the jewelry, he shows a preference for true acts of generosity over performances of virtue.
To relieve this misery, he must lose awareness again and embrace her, must wake up in that misery, for absolution one must return to her... This is the life of 'Passion'. Even if he had left desire, desire had not left him.
At this moment, Praneshacharya struggles to reconcile his beliefs with his desire for Chandri. He is torn between the pleasure he experienced in being with her and the pain he feels in being unfaithful to Brahminism. He knows he wants to return to her, and for this reason he knows he has not been released from the grip of desire. The circuitous language in this passage reflects the rapid nature of his thoughts, as he keeps trying to understand and make sense of what he has done. Furthermore, it shows the way in which he is attempting to unpack whether what he is feeling is simple lust or if it is something more, as he finds himself still drawn to her, even in the knowledge that what he has done goes against his beliefs.
He tried not to hold back his tears; he wept till all his weariness flowed away from him.
This scene occurs immediately after Praneshacharya's wife has died. He mourns the loss and has her cremated, as is the Brahmin custom. As he stands before the funeral pyre, he weeps. This is an emotionally complex moment. Praneshacharya appears to be weeping for the death of his wife, but he is also in shambles after having slept with Chandri. Weeping almost becomes a relief for him, as he is given an outlet for all of the pent-up suffering he has been experiencing over the past few days.
"Even if he gave up brahminism, brahminism cannot leave Naranappa. Which means, the right and proper duty is to perform the death rites. But the impurity must also be cleared—therefore all his property, silver and gold must be offered to the monastery, to Lord Krishna."
This is a remark made by the guru of the temple, as Garuda and Lakshmana bicker over who has a stronger claim to his wealth. It echoes Praneshacharya's earlier comments about how someone does not stop being a Brahmin, even if they choose to reject its core tenets. However, the guru's additional comments deal with the matter of Naranappa's wealth in a way that displeases various members of the community. He says that Naranappa's impurity can only be cleansed if all of his belongings are donated to the temple. This frustrates the Brahmins hoping to profit off of him, as they did not anticipate this roadblock. At the same time, it reflects the hypocrisy at the heart of the community, as everyone is primarily concerned with what will happen to Naranappa's things and not his body and spirit. It quickly becomes clear that, for most characters, faith is only being served when it acts in their best interests.
"Even if I lost control, the responsibility to decide was still mine. Man's decision is valid only because it's possible to lose control, not because it's easy. We shape ourselves through our choices, bring form and line to this thing we call our person."
This is another one of Praneshacharya's reflections on his decision to sleep with Chandri. He ponders over his loss of control and how choice is a central element in the definition of a person. These comments demonstrate his stringent sense of morality, as he is disturbed by the idea that anyone's actions can be momentarily written off or dismissed. They show the moral standard he holds himself to, as he believes every decision is a comment on its actor. He cannot let go of his choice to be with Chandri, as it may not have been a momentary submission to desire, but rather was likely an indicator of deeper feelings.
"If I don't, my fear will dog me everywhere, I wont be free. What then?"
This is another moment of reflection from Praneshacharya. It occurs in his interior monologue, as he decides to perform the funeral rites and confess to sleeping with Chandri. His resolve in this moment shows that he does not want to live in fear of a secret. He wants to confess, as he feels it will make him "free." He rigorously interrogates his morals to get a sense of how to move forward and decides that honesty is the only course of action. For Praneshacharya, reckoning with one's impulses is a key component of understanding one's choices. In admitting to what he has done, he does not ask for a pardon; what he hopes to be rid of is not guilt but fear.
Praneshacharya waited, anxious, expectant.
This is the final line of the book. Praneshacharya heads back to the village, as he prepares to perform the funeral rites and confess to sleeping with Chandri. The specific use of the words "anxious" and "expectant" show Praneshacharya's feelings of excitement and unease, as he looks forward to doing the right thing, but worries about what the fallout from his confession will be. Ananthamurthy chooses to end the book here in an effort to leave the reader in suspense. Readers can imagine what Praneshacharya will do next, but we are shown only the intent to act and not the action itself. In this way, this moment reflects the novel's broader themes, as intentions are held up as being just as meaningful, if not more meaningful, than the actions they result in.
