Shloka 9

Utkramaṇa-sthāna and Ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇa: Yājñavalkya’s Instruction on Departure Pathways and Mortality Signs

Devanagari script

अथवानन्तरकृतं किंचिदेव निदर्शनम्‌

Transliteration

athavānantara-kṛtaṃ kiñcid eva nidarśanam

Translation

“Or else, let there be just a small illustration drawn from what has been done immediately afterward.”

Word by Word

• अथवा: or else
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा

• अनन्तरकृतम्: done immediately after (something); subsequent act
• अनन्तरकृतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्तरकृत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• किञ्चित्: something; a certain (thing)
• किञ्चित्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun/Indefinite
• Root: किञ्चित्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• एव: indeed; just; only
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• निदर्शनम्: example; illustration; indication
• निदर्शनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: निदर्शन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

Speaker

जनक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Janaka

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Janaka signals a shift from abstract instruction to a concrete illustration, implying that ethical and dharmic points are best clarified through a brief, relevant example drawn from immediate context.

What is happening in the narrative?

Janaka, as the speaker, proposes to support his point by offering a small example based on what occurred right afterward, preparing the listener for an illustrative case rather than further theory.