Shloka 12

Adhyaya 29 — Alarka’s Inquiry and Madalasa’s Teaching on Householder Dharma (Gārhasthya), Vaiśvadeva, and Atithi Hospitality

Sanskrit

तेषामुच्छेदकर्ता च यो नरोऽत्यन्तपापकृत् ।

स तमस्यान्धतामिस्त्रे तामिस्त्रे च निमज्जति ॥

Transliteration

teṣām ucchedakartā ca yo naro ’tyantapāpakṛt | sa tamasy āndhatāmistre tāmistre ca nimajjati ||

Translation

„Wer jedoch das ihnen Zustehende an Nahrung und Riten abschneidet—ein Täter überaus schwerer Sünden—versinkt in ‚Finsternis‘, in blinde Finsternis und in völlige Finsternis (schreckliche höllische Zustände).“

Speakers

• Instructional dialogue (elder to disciple/‘son’)

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Karma and retribution
• Hell (naraka) imagery
• Neglect of ritual obligations