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Shloka 16

Dharma-sāra: Dāna-mahātmyam, Karma-vāda, and the Conquest of Grief and Greed

Devanagari script

पश्यन्निवाग्रतो मृत्युं यो धर्मं नाचरेन्नरः / अजागलस्तनस्येव तस्य जन्म निरर्थकम्

Transliteration

paśyannivāgrato mṛtyuṃ yo dharmaṃ nācarennaraḥ / ajāgalastanasyeva tasya janma nirarthakam

Translation

Même en voyant la mort comme si elle se tenait devant lui, l’homme qui ne pratique pas le dharma—sa naissance est vaine, telle une mamelle au cou d’une chèvre.

Word by Word
पश्यन्seeing
पश्यन्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootपश्यत् (कृदन्त; √पश् दर्शने, शतृ)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले कृदन्तः; विशेषणम् (नरः)
इवas if
इव:
Connector (उपमा)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव (अव्यय)
Formउपमार्थक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)
अग्रतःbefore (one), in front
अग्रतः:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअग्रतः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb: in front/before)
मृत्युम्death
मृत्युम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootमृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
यःwho
यः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधकः
धर्मम्dharma, righteous conduct
धर्मम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
नnot
न:
Negation (निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-अव्यय
आचरेत्should practice
आचरेत्:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√चर् (धातु; चरने/आचरणे) उपसर्गः आ-
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; नकारेण निषिद्धः (na + ācaret)
नरःa man
नरः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootनर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
अजागलस्तनस्यof a goat’s neck-teat (i.e., useless appendage)
अजागलस्तनस्य:
Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootअजा (प्रातिपदिक) + गल (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (अजायाः गलः; तस्य स्तनः)
इवlike
इव:
Connector (उपमा)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव (अव्यय)
Formउपमार्थक-अव्यय
तस्यof him
तस्य:
Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
जन्मbirth, life
जन्म:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootजन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
निरर्थकम्meaningless, futile
निरर्थकम्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootनिरर्थक (प्रातिपदिक; निर्- उपसर्ग)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (जन्म)
Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Knowing death is imminent, failing to practice dharma renders human birth futile—like a useless teat on a goat’s neck.

Vedantic Theme: Mṛtyu-smṛti as catalyst for viveka and dharma; human birth as rare opportunity (durlabha-manushya-janma) not to be wasted.

Application: Keep mortality awareness (memento mori) to prioritize dharma; establish daily dharmic non-negotiables (truth, non-harm, duty, worship/meditation).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: frequent mṛtyu-smṛti exhortations and denunciations of pramada (spiritual negligence)

Characters & Entities
M
Mṛtyu (Death)

FAQs

This verse states that dharma gives life its purpose; without practicing dharma—even knowing death is near—one’s life is declared futile.

By stressing death-awareness and dharma, it implies that one’s post-death condition is shaped by conduct; neglect of dharma leaves one unprepared for the consequences described in Yama’s domain.

Live with mortality in mind: follow ethical duties, avoid harmful actions, and prioritize righteous conduct so life is not wasted in complacency.

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