Shloka 32
पञ्चवर्णोत्पत्तिः — The Origin of the Five-Colored Fiery Being and Ritual-Disruptor Lineages
शुभै: प्रयोगैर्देवत्वं व्यामिश्रैर्मानुषो भवेत् मोहनीयैर्वियोनीषु त्वधोगामी च किल्बिषी,शुभकर्मोंके संयोगसे जीवको देवत्वकी प्राप्ति होती है। शुभ और अशुभ दोनोंके सम्मिश्रणसे उसका मनुष्य-योनिमें जन्म होता है। मोहमें डालनेवाले तामस कर्मोंके आचरणसे जीव पशु, पक्षी आदिकी योनिमें जन्म ग्रहण करता है और जिसने केवल पापका ही संचय किया है, वह नरकगामी होता है
śubhaiḥ prayogair devatvaṃ vyāmiśrair mānuṣo bhavet | mohanīyair viyonīṣu tv adhogāmī ca kilbiṣī ||
The hunter-teacher explains the moral law of rebirth: by the consistent practice of auspicious deeds one attains a divine state; by actions mixed with both good and evil one is born among humans. By delusive, tamasic acts that cloud discernment, one falls into lower wombs—such as animals and birds. And the one who has accumulated only sin becomes a downward-bound offender, destined for hellish realms.
व्याध उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a graded karmic causality: predominantly wholesome action leads to a divine condition, mixed action yields human birth, delusive tamasic conduct results in lower non-human births, and exclusive accumulation of sin leads to hellish downfall.
In the Vana Parva’s dialogue associated with the hunter (vyādha), he instructs a seeker on dharma by explaining how different moral qualities of action determine the soul’s next state of existence.