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Shloka 21

दैव–पुरुषकार-प्रश्नः

Daiva–Puruṣakāra Inquiry: Fate and Human Effort

न तथा मानुषे लोके भयमस्ति शुभाशुभे । तथा त्रिदशलोके हि भयमल्पेन जायते,इस मनुष्यलोकमें शुभाशुभ कर्मोंसे उतना भय नहीं प्राप्त होता, जितना कि देवलोकमें थोड़े ही पापसे भय होता है

na tathā mānuṣe loke bhayam asti śubhāśubhe | tathā tridaśa-loke hi bhayam alpena jāyate ||

قال بهيشما: «في عالم البشر لا تُحدث الأفعال—حسنة كانت أم سيئة—خوفاً بالقدر نفسه؛ أما في عالم الآلهة، فإن مقداراً يسيراً من الإثم يُنبت الخوف سريعاً. وفي ذلك بيانٌ أن العوالم الأعلى تتطلب طهارةً أخلاقية أشد، وأن الزلات الدقيقة هناك تجرّ عواقبها فوراً.»

not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
तथाthus/so; to that extent
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
मानुषेin the human (realm)
मानुषे:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootमानुष
FormMasculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular
लोकेin the world
लोके:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootलोक
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
भयम्fear
भयम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभय
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
अस्तिis/exists
अस्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootअस्
FormPresent, Third, Singular
शुभाशुभेin good and bad (deeds/results)
शुभाशुभे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootशुभ + अशुभ
FormNeuter, Locative, Dual
तथाso; to that extent
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
त्रिदशलोकेin the world of the gods
त्रिदशलोके:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootत्रिदश + लोक
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
हिindeed/for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
भयम्fear
भयम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootभय
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
अल्पेनby a little (fault/sin); with a small (cause)
अल्पेन:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootअल्प
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular
जायतेarises/is produced
जायते:
TypeVerb
Rootजन्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
M
mānuṣa-loka (human world)
T
tridaśa-loka (world of the gods)

Educational Q&A

Moral accountability is sharper in higher realms: in heaven (tridaśa-loka), even minor wrongdoing can quickly produce fear and instability, implying that subtle lapses have immediate consequences where merit is refined and standards are stricter.

Bhīṣma is instructing on dharma and the differing consequences of actions across realms, contrasting the human world—where results may be delayed or mixed—with the divine world, where small sins can swiftly lead to fear and loss of security.