Shloka 6

रसातल-वर्णनम्

Rasātala Description: Surabhi, Phenapāḥ, and the Directional Cows

Devanagari script

कर्मणा क्षत्रियाश्रैते निर्धणा भोगिभोजिन: । ज्ञातिसंक्षयकर्तत्वाद ब्राह्मुण्यं न लभन्ति वै

Transliteration

karmaṇā kṣatriyāśraite nirdhaṇā bhogibhojinaḥ | jñātisaṃkṣayakartṛtvād brāhmaṇyaṃ na labhanti vai ||

Translation

Nārada said: “Though born in a brāhmaṇa lineage, by their conduct they have taken on the character of kṣatriyas. They are without compassion and live by consuming serpents. Because they bring about the destruction of their own kin, they do not truly attain brāhmaṇa-hood.”

Word by Word

• {'karmaṇā': 'by action, through conduct', 'kṣatriya-āśraite': 'having resorted to / assumed the kṣatriya way (kṣatriya-like disposition)', 'nirdhaṇāḥ': 'without compassion/mercy (lit. ‘without tenderness’

• contextually ‘hard-hearted’)', 'bhogi-bhojinaḥ': 'eaters of serpents (bhogin = serpent

• bhojin = eater/consumer)', 'jñāti': 'kinsman, relative, one’s own people', 'saṃkṣaya': 'destruction, ruin, extermination', 'kartṛtvāt': 'because of being the doers/agents (of that act)', 'brāhmaṇyam': 'brāhmaṇa-hood

• the ethical-spiritual status/qualities of a brāhmaṇa', 'na labhanti': 'do not obtain, do not attain', 'vai': 'indeed, certainly (emphatic particle)'}

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• brāhmaṇa (class/lineage)
• kṣatriya (class/ethos)
• serpents (nāga/bhogin)
• kinsmen/relatives (jñāti)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Lineage alone does not confer brāhmaṇa status; ethical qualities—especially compassion and non-violence toward one’s own kin—are decisive. Actions that mirror kṣatriya-like harshness and kin-destruction negate the claim to brāhmaṇya.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada characterizes a group as brāhmaṇa-born but behaviorally kṣatriya-like: they lack mercy, subsist on eating serpents, and cause the destruction of their own relatives; therefore, he declares they do not attain true brāhmaṇa-hood.