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Shloka 7

Yamarāja Instructs the Yamadūtas: Supreme Authority, Mahājanas, and the Glory of the Holy Name

अतस्त्वमेको भूतानां सेश्वराणामधीश्वर: । शास्ता दण्डधरो नृणां शुभाशुभविवेचन: ॥ ७ ॥

atas tvam eko bhūtānāṁ seśvarāṇām adhīśvaraḥ śāstā daṇḍa-dharo nṝṇāṁ śubhāśubha-vivecanaḥ

Por lo tanto, el juez supremo debe ser uno, no muchos. Nosotros entendíamos que tú eres ese juez supremo, con jurisdicción incluso sobre los devas. Eres el señor de todos los seres y, discerniendo las acciones piadosas e impías de los hombres, portas el castigo.

अतःtherefore
अतः:
Hetu-phala-bodhaka (हेतु/Conclusion marker)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअतः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; हेत्वर्थक-अव्यय (therefore/from that reason)
त्वम्you
त्वम्:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootयुष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formउत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)
एकःone (alone)
एकः:
Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootएक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)
भूतानाम्of beings
भूतानाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
TypeNoun
Rootभूत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)
सेश्वराणाम्of those having a lord / with rulers
सेश्वराणाम्:
Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of भूतानाम्)
TypeAdjective
Rootसेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) = स + ईश्वर
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)
अधीश्वरःthe supreme lord (over-lord)
अधीश्वरः:
Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
TypeNoun
Rootअधीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) = अधि + ईश्वर
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)
शास्ताthe ruler / chastiser
शास्ता:
Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
TypeNoun
Rootशास्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)
दण्डधरःthe bearer of the staff (punisher)
दण्डधरः:
Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
TypeNoun
Rootदण्डधर (प्रातिपदिक) = दण्ड + धर
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)
नृणाम्of men
नृणाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
TypeNoun
Rootनृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)
शुभाशुभविवेचनःthe discerner of good and bad
शुभाशुभविवेचनः:
Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
TypeNoun
Rootशुभाशुभविवेचन (प्रातिपदिक) = शुभ + अशुभ + विवेचन
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)
Y
Yamarāja
Y
Yamadūtas

FAQs

This verse states that Yamarāja is the supreme authority over living beings in matters of justice, carrying the rod of punishment and discerning auspicious and inauspicious actions.

After the Yamadūtas were checked by the Viṣṇudūtas in Ajāmila’s case, Yamarāja clarifies his rightful jurisdiction as the judge of karma and instructs his messengers about proper understanding of dharma.

Practice conscious moral discernment—choose actions aligned with dharma, avoid harmful habits, and remember that accountability for one’s deeds is a spiritual principle, not merely a social rule.