Shloka 16

Rules of Purity (Shauca) — Rules of Purity (Śauca), Permissible Foods, and the Duties of the Householder and Forest-Dweller

Devanagari script

यज्ञदानतपांसीह पुरुषस्य न भूतये भवन्ति यः समुल्लङ्घ्य सदाचारं प्रवर्तते

Transliteration

yajñadānatapāṃsīha puruṣasya na bhūtaye bhavanti yaḥ samullaṅghya sadācāraṃ pravartate

Translation

In dieser Welt führen Opferhandlungen (yajña), Gaben (dāna) und Askesen (tapas) nicht zum wahren Gedeihen dessen, der die gute Lebensführung überschreitet und anders handelt.

Word by Word

• यज्ञदानतपांसि: sacrifice, gifts, and austerities
• यज्ञदानतपांसि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ + दान + तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative)

• इह: here (in this world)
• इह: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• पुरुषस्य: of a man
• पुरुषस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• भूतये: for prosperity/welfare
• भूतये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient-purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन

• भवन्ति: become / are
• भवन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of subordinate clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• समुल्लङ्घ्य: having transgressed
• समुल्लङ्घ्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उत् + लङ्घ् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• सदाचारम्: good conduct
• सदाचारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of ‘transgressed’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सद् + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• प्रवर्तते: acts / proceeds
• प्रवर्तते: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

Speakers

• Purāṇic dialogue frame likely: Pulastya to Nārada (chapter-level instruction on dharma/sadācāra)

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Sadācāra
• Ethics over ritualism
• Karma (conduct determines fruit)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Ritual merit (yajña), charity (dāna), and austerity (tapas) become fruitless when severed from sadācāra. The verse prioritizes ethical integrity as the necessary foundation that makes religious acts efficacious.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is best classified under Ācāra/Dharma-anuśāsana material (often embedded within Vamśānucarita-era dialogues in Purāṇas), rather than the core pañcalakṣaṇa topics like sarga/pratisarga. Functionally it serves as normative dharma instruction within the narrative frame.

What is the symbolic significance?

Sadācāra is treated as the ‘container’ that holds and sanctifies all other religious practices; without it, yajña-dāna-tapas leak their merit. Symbolically, outer acts without inner moral order are portrayed as spiritually non-productive.