Shloka 82

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

Sanskrit

पुनर्भूपतयो जीर्णा यावज्जीवन्ति ये नराः ।

इमे कृमित्वमापन्ना भक्ष्यन्तेऽत्र पिपीलिकैः ॥

Transliteration

punar bhūpatayo jīrṇā yāvaj jīvanti ye narāḥ | ime kṛmitvam āpannā bhakṣyante 'tra pipīlikaiḥ ||

Translation

Diese Männer—die, obwohl betagt, erneut zu Herrschern werden und so lange leben, wie sie können—werden hier zu Würmern und von Ameisen gefressen.

Word by Word

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्ति (again)

• भूपतयः: kings
• भूपतयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• जीर्णाः: worn out / decrepit
• जीर्णाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जॄ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; used adjectivally

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधी-निर्देशक (limit marker: as long as)

• जीवन्ति: they live
• जीवन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; relative pronoun

• नराः: men
• नराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• इमे: these (people)
• इमे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• कृमित्वम्: wormhood / being worms
• कृमित्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृमि + त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तद्धितान्त (त्व) 'state of being a worm'

• आपन्नाः: having attained / become
• आपन्नाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + पद् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• भक्ष्यन्ते: they are eaten
• भक्ष्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; कर्मणि भाव: 'are eaten'

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• पिपीलिकैः: by ants
• पिपीलिकैः: Karana/Agent (करण/कर्ता-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिपीलिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

Speakers

• Dialogue frame not explicit in the provided excerpt; didactic naraka catalogue.

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Abuse of power / kingship ethics (implicit)
• Karma and retribution
• Degradation of status

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Attachment to power and prolonged self-serving rule is portrayed as spiritually corrosive; the result is radical reversal—loss of human dignity and becoming prey, not protector.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ancillary dharma/karmaphala material; it supports Purāṇic ethical governance ideals but is not itself a Manvantara or Vaṃśa enumeration.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Wormhood’ symbolizes consciousness narrowed to mere survival and consumption; ants represent countless small karmic debts that collectively consume the arrogant ego.