Shloka 48

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

Sanskrit

प्राणान्तिकं ददुस्तापमदुष्टानाञ्च येऽधमाः ।

करम्भवालुकासंस्थास्त इमे पापभागिनः ॥

Transliteration

prāṇāntikaṃ dadus tāpam aduṣṭānāṃ ca ye 'dhamāḥ /

karambhavālukāsaṃsthās ta ime pāpabhāginaḥ

Translation

Jene Elenden, die Unschuldigen lebensbedrohliche Hitze und Qual zufügten — diese Sünder lässt man in der Strafe namens karambha-vālukā wohnen (eine Pein aus glühendem Sand bzw. brennender, breiartiger Masse).

Word by Word

• प्राणान्तिकम्: life-threatening / up to death
• प्राणान्तिकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राण + अन्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (prāṇānām antikam = up to life/death), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'तापम्' इति विशेषणम्

• ददुः: they gave / inflicted
• ददुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• तापम्: pain / torment
• तापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अदुष्टानाम्: of the innocent (non-wicked)
• अदुष्टानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; नञ्-समास (negation)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय

• अधमाः: the vile ones
• अधमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• करम्भवालुकासंस्थाः: placed in (a mixture of) gruel and sand
• करम्भवालुकासंस्थाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करम्भ + वालुका + संस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (karambha-vālukāsu saṃsthāḥ = situated/placed in gruel and sand), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'ते' इति विशेषणम्

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• इमे: these
• इमे: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पापभागिनः: sharers in sin / sinners
• पापभागिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप + भागिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (pāpasya bhāgī = partaker of sin), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; -inान्त-शब्द

Speakers

• Didactic narration (frame-speaker not explicit in excerpt)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Karmic retribution
• Non-violence (ahiṃsā)
• Protection of the innocent
• Naraka

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Inflicting extreme suffering on the innocent is a high-grade adharma. The text frames cruelty as an actionable karmic cause, not merely a social failing.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Dharma/ācāra instruction through naraka-varṇana; outside the strict pancalakṣaṇa headings.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Heat’ (tāpa) is both physical and mental. One who burns others with oppression, intimidation, or violence externalizes inner tamas and returns to a realm where that ‘heat’ becomes their environment.