Shloka 18

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

Sanskrit

परित्यजति भोगाच्च पुण्यापुण्ये निबोध मे ।

दुर्भिक्षादेव दुर्भिक्षं क्लेशात् क्लेशं भयाद्भयम् ॥

Transliteration

parityajati bhogācca puṇyāpuṇye nibodha me / durbhikṣādeva durbhikṣaṃ kleśāt kleśaṃ bhayādbhayam

Translation

Erkennt von mir das Wirken von Verdienst und Schuld: Aus Hungersnot entsteht nur Hungersnot; aus Bedrängnis Bedrängnis; aus Furcht Furcht—ein Zustand bringt gewöhnlich seinesgleichen hervor.

Word by Word

• परित्यजति: abandons, gives up
• परित्यजति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• भोगात्: from enjoyment/pleasure
• भोगात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative, 5th), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुण्यापुण्ये: merit and demerit
• पुण्यापुण्ये: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य + अपुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्विवचन (dual), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. dual; form identical)

• निबोध: understand, know
• निबोध: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular)

• मे: to me / for me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी एकवचन (Gen./Dat. singular enclitic)

• दुर्भिक्षात्: from famine
• दुर्भिक्षात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्भिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative, 5th), एकवचन (singular)

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

• दुर्भिक्षम्: famine
• दुर्भिक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्भिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• क्लेशात्: from affliction
• क्लेशात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्लेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative, 5th), एकवचन (singular)

• क्लेशम्: affliction
• क्लेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्लेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• भयात्: from fear
• भयात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative, 5th), एकवचन (singular)

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (singular)

Speakers

• Dialogue setting (speaker not specified in the provided excerpt)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Karma
• Puṇya–Pāpa
• Ethics
• Suffering
• Causality

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

One’s conditions are not isolated accidents; they are part of a karmic chain. Habitual causes (fear, distress, scarcity) tend to reproduce similar outcomes unless countered by dharmic action and right conduct.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This passage is best classified under Dharma/karma instruction rather than the five classical markers; it is ancillary teaching commonly embedded in Purāṇic dialogue, not directly Sarga/Pratisarga/Manvantara/Vaṃśa/Vaṃśānucarita.

What is the esoteric significance?

The verse hints at saṃskāra-continuity: inner states (fear, agitation) become seeds that shape perception and circumstance, perpetuating cycles until transformed by insight (jñāna) and disciplined conduct (dharma).