Vamana Purana — Karmic Causes of Narakas, Shloka 3

Karmic Causes of Narakas and the Irremediability of Ingratitude (Kṛtaghna-doṣa)

Devanagari script

वेदवेवद्विजातीनां यैर्निन्दा सततं कृता ये पुराणेतिहासार्थान् नाभिनन्दन्ति पापिनः

Transliteration

vedavevadvijātīnāṃ yairnindā satataṃ kṛtā ye purāṇetihāsārthān nābhinandanti pāpinaḥ

Translation

Sündige Menschen, die fortwährend die Veden und die Zweimalgeborenen (dvija) schmähen und die den Sinn und die Lehre der Purāṇas und Itihāsas (Epen) weder billigen noch daran Freude finden, laden sich Verdienstverlust und Schuld auf.

Word by Word

• वेदवेवद्विजातीनाम्: of the Vedas and the learned twice-born
• वेदवेवद्विजातीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessed-of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + वेवद् + द्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (of Vedas and learned twice-born)

• यैः: by whom
• यैः: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (‘by whom’)

• निन्दा: censure
• निन्दा: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: ‘constantly’)

• कृता: is done
• कृता: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘done/made’ (agreeing with निन्दा)

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (‘those who’)

• पुराणेतिहासार्थान्: the meanings of the Purāṇas and Itihāsas
• पुराणेतिहासार्थान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण + इतिहास + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समाहार/तत्पुरुष (the meanings of Purāṇa and Itihāsa)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• अभिनन्दन्ति: approve / rejoice in
• अभिनन्दन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + नन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पापिनः: sinners
• पापिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speakers

• Not specified in the provided excerpt (often framed as Pulastya → Nārada in the Vāmana Purāṇa)

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics of speech
• Respect for scripture
• Purāṇa-Itihāsa authority

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse elevates śāstra-sammāna (reverence for authoritative teachings) and condemns habitual disparagement of Vedic learning and its custodians; it treats contempt for Purāṇa–Itihāsa instruction as a moral failing that corrodes dharma.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa?

This passage is best classified under ancillary dharma-śikṣā (ethical instruction) rather than the five defining topics; it is not sarga/pratisarga/vamśa/manvantara/vamśānucarita, but a normative teaching embedded in the narrative frame.

What is the symbolic significance?

Veda and Purāṇa-Itihāsa are paired as complementary channels of sacred knowledge: rejecting either symbolizes a refusal of both revelation and tradition, leading to a fragmented moral vision and social discord.