Vamana Purana — Karmic Causes of Narakas, Shloka 3

Karmic Causes of Narakas and the Irremediability of Ingratitude (Kṛtaghna-doṣa)

Devanagari script

वेदवेवद्विजातीनां यैर्निन्दा सततं कृता ये पुराणेतिहासार्थान् नाभिनन्दन्ति पापिनः

Transliteration

vedavevadvijātīnāṃ yairnindā satataṃ kṛtā ye purāṇetihāsārthān nābhinandanti pāpinaḥ

Translation

যে পাপীরা বেদ ও দ্বিজদের নিত্য নিন্দা করে, এবং যারা পুরাণ ও ইতিহাসের অর্থ-উপদেশকে অভিনন্দন করে না (তাতে আনন্দ পায় না), তারা পাপের ভাগী হয়।

Word by Word

• वेदवेवद्विजातीनाम्: of the Vedas and the learned twice-born
• वेदवेवद्विजातीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessed-of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + वेवद् + द्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (of Vedas and learned twice-born)

• यैः: by whom
• यैः: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (‘by whom’)

• निन्दा: censure
• निन्दा: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: ‘constantly’)

• कृता: is done
• कृता: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘done/made’ (agreeing with निन्दा)

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (‘those who’)

• पुराणेतिहासार्थान्: the meanings of the Purāṇas and Itihāsas
• पुराणेतिहासार्थान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण + इतिहास + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समाहार/तत्पुरुष (the meanings of Purāṇa and Itihāsa)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• अभिनन्दन्ति: approve / rejoice in
• अभिनन्दन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + नन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पापिनः: sinners
• पापिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speakers

• Not specified in the provided excerpt (often framed as Pulastya → Nārada in the Vāmana Purāṇa)

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics of speech
• Respect for scripture
• Purāṇa-Itihāsa authority

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "raudra", "secondaryRasa": "bhayanaka", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse elevates śāstra-sammāna (reverence for authoritative teachings) and condemns habitual disparagement of Vedic learning and its custodians; it treats contempt for Purāṇa–Itihāsa instruction as a moral failing that corrodes dharma.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa?

This passage is best classified under ancillary dharma-śikṣā (ethical instruction) rather than the five defining topics; it is not sarga/pratisarga/vamśa/manvantara/vamśānucarita, but a normative teaching embedded in the narrative frame.

What is the symbolic significance?

Veda and Purāṇa-Itihāsa are paired as complementary channels of sacred knowledge: rejecting either symbolizes a refusal of both revelation and tradition, leading to a fragmented moral vision and social discord.