Shloka 36

Adhyaya 14 — The Messenger of Yama Explains Karmic Retribution and the Causes of Naraka Torments

Sanskrit

क्षपयन्ति नरा घोरं नरकान्तरविवर्तिनः ।

तथैव राजन् पुण्यानि स्वर्गलोकेऽमरैः सह ॥

Transliteration

kṣapayanti narā ghoraṃ narakāntarvivartinaḥ / tathaiva rājan puṇyāni svargaloke 'maraiḥ saha

Translation

إن الناس، إذ يدورون عبر جحيماتٍ شتّى، يُفنون الإثمَ الرهيب. وكذلك، أيها الملك، يُفنون المَكارم في العالم السماوي مع الخالدين (الآلهة).

Word by Word

• kṣapayanti: they exhaust, wear out
• kṣapayanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṣap (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद; causative sense 'cause to be exhausted'

• narāḥ: men, persons
• narāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ghoram: terrible (suffering)
• ghoram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• naraka-antara-vivartinaḥ: moving about within the hell-regions
• naraka-antara-vivartinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naraka (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक) + vivartin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'narakāntareṣu vivartinaḥ' = moving/turning about in the intervals/regions of hell; विशेषण (qualifying narāḥ)

• tathā: so, likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक अव्यय (adverb: so, thus)

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle: indeed/just)

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• puṇyāni: merits (good deeds/fruits)
• puṇyāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• svargaloke: in the world of heaven
• svargaloke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svargaloka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: 'svargasya lokaḥ'

• amaraiḥ: with the immortals (gods)
• amaraiḥ: Sahakāraka (सह/सहयोग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सह/सहयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक अव्यय/उपपद (postposition-like indeclinable: with)

Speakers

• Sage/narrator addressing a king (vocative: rājan)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "karuna", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Devas (collective)

Key Themes

• Naraka
• Svarga
• Karma exhaustion
• Afterlife

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Both punishment and reward are temporary states tied to karmic balance: sin is exhausted in hell and merit is exhausted in heaven.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Moral-eschatological teaching; ancillary to purāṇic narrative structure, not a core lakṣaṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

Heaven and hell function as karmic ‘clearing houses’; the soul’s journey is governed by moral bookkeeping until liberation-oriented knowledge intervenes.