Shloka 9

Adhyāya 262: Śabda-brahman, Para-brahman, and the Ethics of Tyāga

Kapila–Syūmaraśmi Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

इष्टापूर्तादसाधूनां विगुणा जायते प्रजा

Transliteration

iṣṭāpūrtād asādhūnāṃ viguṇā jāyate prajā

Translation

From the sacrifices and public benefactions performed by the unrighteous, the offspring that arises is deficient in virtue, lacking good qualities. Merit gained through outward rites, when rooted in bad conduct, does not yield noble progeny or wholesome moral results.

Word by Word

• इष्टापूर्तात्: from sacrifices and charitable works (iṣṭa and pūrta)
• इष्टापूर्तात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: इष्टापूर्त
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• असाधूनाम्: of the wicked / of the non-virtuous
• असाधूनाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असाधु
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• विगुणा: defective; lacking good qualities
• विगुणा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विगुण
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• जायते: is born / arises
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• प्रजा: offspring; progeny
• प्रजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

चुलाधार उवाच

Characters & Entities

• चुलाधार (Tulādhāra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Ritual sacrifice (iṣṭa) and charitable public works (āpūrta) do not by themselves guarantee good outcomes; when performed by the unrighteous, they fail to generate virtuous results and are said to produce morally deficient progeny. Inner character and right conduct are primary.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s discourse, Tulādhāra speaks as a moral instructor, critiquing reliance on external religious acts. He emphasizes that dharma depends on genuine virtue, not merely on performing sacrifices or acts of charity.