Shloka 30

Adhyāya 12: Devas’ Petition to Nahūṣa; Bṛhaspati on Śaraṇāgata-Dharma; Indrāṇī’s Strategic Delay

Devanagari script

क्षिप्रं वामभिकामश्न विनशिष्यति पापकृत्‌ | नहुषो देवि शक्रश्न सुरैश्चवर्यमवाप्स्यति

Transliteration

kṣipraṃ vām abhikāmaś ca vinaśiṣyati pāpakṛt | nahuṣo devi śakraś ca suraiś cāryam avāpsyati ||

Translation

Śalya said: “Very soon, both the sinful-doer and the one driven by lustful desire will come to ruin. O goddess, neither Nahuṣa nor even Śakra will attain supremacy among the gods.”

Word by Word

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly, soon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र
• Form: Avyaya (adverb)

• वाम: left (side); adverse
• वाम: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम
• Form: Masculine, nominative singular

• अभिकामः: desirous, eager
• अभिकामः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिकाम
• Form: Masculine, nominative singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न
• Form: Avyaya (negation)

• विनशिष्यति: perishes, is destroyed
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नश्
• Form: Lat (present), parasmaipada, 3rd person singular

• पापकृत्: evil-doer, sinner
• पापकृत्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापकृत्
• Form: Masculine, nominative singular

• नहुषः: Nahusha (proper name)
• नहुषः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नहुष
• Form: Masculine, nominative singular

• देवि: O goddess / O lady
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी
• Form: Feminine, vocative singular

• शक्रः: Shakra (Indra)
• शक्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र
• Form: Masculine, nominative singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न
• Form: Avyaya (negation)

• सुरैः: by/with the gods
• सुरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर
• Form: Masculine, instrumental plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: Avyaya (conjunction)

• वर्यम्: the best state/boon; excellence
• वर्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्य
• Form: Neuter, accusative singular

• अवाप्स्यति: will obtain, will attain
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-आप्
• Form: Lrt (simple future), parasmaipada, 3rd person singular

Speaker

शल्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śalya
• Nahuṣa
• Śakra (Indra)
• Devi (goddess, addressed)
• Suras (the gods)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Wrongdoing and uncontrolled desire lead swiftly to ruin; even exalted status cannot be securely held when dharma is violated.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śalya delivers a warning framed through mythic exemplars (Nahuṣa and Śakra/Indra), emphasizing that supremacy among the gods is not attained—or is lost—when one is driven by sin and desire.