Shloka 16

Śīla-prāpti and Śīla-lakṣaṇa (शीलप्राप्ति-शीललक्षणम्) | On the Acquisition and Marks of Character

Devanagari script

प्रज्ञानाशात्मको मोहस्तथा धर्मार्थनाशक: । तस्मान्नास्तिकता चैव दुराचारश्न॒ जायते

Transliteration

prajñānāśātmako mohas tathā dharmārthanāśakaḥ | tasmān nāstikatā caiva durācāraś ca jāyate ||

Translation

L’illusion (moha) est, par nature, la destruction du discernement ; elle détruit aussi le dharma et l’artha. De là naissent l’incrédulité envers la vérité morale et spirituelle (nāstikatā) puis la conduite corrompue : lorsque la sagesse est éclipsée par la confusion, l’homme tombe dans la faute.

Word by Word

• प्रज्ञानाशात्मकः: having the nature of destruction of wisdom
• प्रज्ञानाशात्मकः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रज्ञानाशात्मक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मोहः: delusion
• मोहः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोह
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: and likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• धर्मार्थनाशकः: destroyer of dharma and artha
• धर्मार्थनाशकः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मार्थनाशक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तस्मात्: from that; therefore
• तस्मात्: Apadana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तस्मद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• नास्तिकता: atheism; disbelief
• नास्तिकता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नास्तिकता
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed; just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• दुराचारः: bad conduct; wickedness
• दुराचारः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुराचार
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• जायते: arises; is born
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

Speaker

कामन्दक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Kāmandaka

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When discernment (prajñā) is ruined, delusion (moha) takes over; this delusion undermines both dharma (ethical order) and artha (practical welfare), and from it arise disbelief in moral-spiritual truth (nāstikatā) and immoral conduct (durācāra).

What is happening in the narrative?

Kāmandaka is instructing on the causes of ethical decline, explaining how inner confusion and loss of judgment lead step-by-step to the collapse of righteous living and worldly well-being, culminating in disbelief and corrupt behavior.