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

Die Menschen, die durch die verschiedenen Höllen kreisen, erschöpfen furchtbare Sünde. Ebenso, o König, erschöpfen sie ihre Verdienste in der Himmelswelt zusammen mit den Unsterblichen (den Göttern).

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.