Shloka 14

Dharma of Non-Injury, Non-Stealing, Purity, and Avoidance of Hypocrisy (Ācāra and Saṅkarya-Nivṛtti)

Devanagari script

बैडालव्रतिनः पापा लोके धर्मविनाशकाः / सद्यः पतन्ति पापेषु कर्मणस्तस्य तत् फलम्

Transliteration

baiḍālavratinaḥ pāpā loke dharmavināśakāḥ / sadyaḥ patanti pāpeṣu karmaṇastasya tat phalam

Translation

Les pécheurs qui observent le « vœu du chat », hypocrites qui ruinent le dharma dans le monde, tombent aussitôt dans le péché ; tel est le fruit d’un tel acte.

Word by Word

• बैडालव्रतिनः: those observing the ‘cat-vow’ (hypocritical ascetics)
• बैडालव्रतिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बैडाल-व्रतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—बैडालस्य व्रतम् इति (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष), व्रतिन् = व्रतधारी

• पापाः: sinful
• पापाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• धर्मविनाशकाः: destroyers of dharma
• धर्मविनाशकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म-विनाशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—धर्मस्य विनाशकाः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• पतन्ति: they fall
• पतन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• पापेषु: into/among sins (sinful states)
• पापेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• कर्मणः: of the action/deed
• कर्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• तस्य: of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम, विशेषणम्

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu), instructing on dharma and condemning hypocritical observances

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kurma
• Vishnu
• Dharma

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the moral logic of karma (karma-phala)?

It states that hypocritical, dharma-destroying conduct produces an immediate downfall into sin—karma bears fruit in direct proportion to the intention and impact of the act.

What spiritual discipline is implicitly discouraged here, in contrast to true Yoga and vrata?

It discourages outward austerity used as a disguise (the ‘cat-like vow’), implying that authentic discipline must be rooted in inner purity, truthfulness, and non-harm rather than mere appearance.

How does this teaching fit the Kurma Purana’s broader Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis?

By prioritizing dharma and inner integrity over sectarian display, it aligns with the Purana’s integrative stance: devotion and practice—whether framed through Vishnu or Shiva—must be sincere and ethically grounded.