Shloka 7

The Marks of Merit and the Destinies of Beings

Divine vs Demonic Traits

Devanagari script

एवं जन्माष्टकं प्राप्य धनिनोऽध्यक्षमंत्रिणः । अर्धसंमुखगात्रेण दिवमश्नंति शाश्वतम्

Transliteration

evaṃ janmāṣṭakaṃ prāpya dhanino'dhyakṣamaṃtriṇaḥ | ardhasaṃmukhagātreṇa divamaśnaṃti śāśvatam

Translation

وهكذا، بعد نيل «الولادة الثمانية»، ينعم الأغنياء—بوصفهم مشرفين ووزراء—بالسماء الأبدية، وأجسادهم مائلةٌ نصفَ ميلٍ نحو الإلهيّ.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: 'thus/in this manner')

• जन्म-अष्टकम्: a set of eight births
• जन्म-अष्टकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) 'जन्मनाम् अष्टकम्' = eight births

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• प्राप्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) 'प्र-आप्य' = having obtained; अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• धनिनः: wealthy men
• धनिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (वैकल्पिक रूप; -इन्-प्रातिपदिक); here as subject with following appositions

• अध्यक्ष-मन्त्रिणः: superintendents and ministers
• अध्यक्ष-मन्त्रिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः 'अध्यक्षाश्च मन्त्रिणश्च' (superintendents and ministers)

• अर्ध-संमुख-गात्रेण: with half-turned body (half-facing)
• अर्ध-संमुख-गात्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + संमुख (प्रातिपदिक) + गात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) 'अर्धं संमुखं गात्रं येन' (by/with a half-turned body; instrumental of manner)

• दिवम्: heaven
• दिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अश्नन्ति: they enjoy/attain
• अश्नन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्; अर्थे 'भुञ्जते/प्राप्नुवन्ति' (enjoy/attain)

• शाश्वतम्: eternal
• शाश्वतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying दिवम्)

Speaker

Unspecified narrator (context needed to confirm the dialogue frame, e.g., Pulastya–Bhīṣma or Śiva–Pārvatī).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: धनिनोऽध्यक्षमंत्रिणः = धनिनः + अध्यक्ष-मन्त्रिणः; जन्माष्टकं = जन्म-अष्टकम्; अर्धसंमुखगात्रेण = अर्ध-संमुख-गात्रेण; अश्नंति (पाठे) = अश्नन्ति (मानक-रूप).

FAQs

What is meant by ‘janmāṣṭaka’ in this verse?

It refers to an ‘eightfold birth’—a phrase suggesting a complete set of auspicious rebirths or a structured karmic progression culminating in higher enjoyments such as heaven.

Why are ‘superintendents and ministers’ mentioned alongside heaven?

The verse links social roles (overseers, counsellors) and prosperity with karmic merit, implying that certain forms of responsible governance and status—when aligned with dharma—are portrayed as yielding heavenly results.

What ethical lesson does the verse imply?

It implies that one’s station and prosperity are not merely worldly but tied to merit: living and acting in ways considered dharmic is presented as leading to lasting spiritual reward (svarga).