Brahma Purana — Shiva on Dharma: Nonviolence, Truthful Speech, Mental Discipline, and the Karmic Causes of Heaven and Longevity, Shloka 21

Devanagari script

परुषं ये न भाषन्ते कटुकं निष्ठुरं तथा न पैशुन्यरताः सन्तस् ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः //

Translation

This verse (no. 21) sets forth a venerable teaching in accordance with ancient ordinance.

Word by Word

• paruṣam: harsh (words)
• paruṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; object of bhāṣante (understood: 'harsh speech')

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; relative pronoun referring to te narāḥ

• na: not
• na: Kriyā-niṣedha (क्रिया-निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• bhāṣante: they speak
• bhāṣante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhāṣ (भाष्)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana, Ātmanepada

• kaṭukam: bitter (speech)
• kaṭukam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṭuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; object (elliptic: 'bitter words')

• niṣṭhuram: cruel (speech)
• niṣṭhuram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niṣṭhura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; object (elliptic)

• tathā: likewise, also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb/conjunction meaning 'and also/likewise'

• na: not
• na: Kriyā-niṣedha (क्रिया-निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-particle

• paiśunya-ratāḥ: fond of slander
• paiśunya-ratāḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa / Predicative (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paiśunya (प्रातिपदिक) + rata (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-निष्पन्न)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: 'paiśunye ratāḥ' (delighting in slander); predicate adjective of te narāḥ

• santaḥ: being good, virtuous
• santaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat (कृदन्त; शतृ)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; present participle (शतृ) of √as (अस्) 'being'; used adjectivally 'good/virtuous'

• te: those
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana

• narāḥ: men, people
• narāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana

• svarga-gāminaḥ: heaven-going
• svarga-gāminaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa / Predicative (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक) + gāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Bahuvacana; predicate adjective

Speaker

• Śiva to Umā/Devī