Shloka 38
Dehānta (Cyavana) and Upapatti: Kāśyapa’s Questions and the Siddha’s Account of Death, Pain, and Karmic Re-embodiment
नच्छुत्वा नैछिकीं बुद्धि बुद्धयेथा: कर्मनिश्चयम् । तारारूपाणि सर्वाणि यत्रैतच्चन्द्रमण्डलम्
na cchrutvā naicikīṁ buddhiṁ buddhyethāḥ karma-niścayam | tārā-rūpāṇi sarvāṇi yatraitat candra-maṇḍalam ||
The Siddha said: “If you listen to this, you will gain a firm discernment of the course of actions and their results, and you will attain the higher (naicikī) understanding. Know that the region where all the stars are seen, where the circle of the moon shines, and where the orb of the sun illuminates the world with its radiance—these are the abodes of men of meritorious deeds. The righteous go to those worlds and experience the fruits of their virtue.”
सिद्ध उवाच
Educational Q&A
That attentive hearing of spiritual instruction yields clear certainty about karma and its results, and leads to a higher discernment (naicikī buddhi). The verse links ethical conduct (puṇya-karma) with corresponding luminous heavenly abodes where the fruits of merit are experienced.
A Siddha addresses the listener (disciple/interlocutor) and points to cosmic regions—stars, moon, and (by context) the sun—as symbolic and literal realms attained by the meritorious, explaining the destination and enjoyment of the results of virtuous deeds.