Shloka 37

Adhyaya 14 — The Messenger of Yama Explains Karmic Retribution and the Causes of Naraka Torments

Sanskrit

गन्धर्वसिद्धाप्सरसां गीताद्यैरुपभुञ्जते ।

देवत्‍वे मानुषत्वे च तिर्यक्त्वे च शुभाशुभम् ॥

Transliteration

gandharvasiddhāpsarasāṃ gītādyair upabhuñjate / devatve mānuṣatve ca tiryaktve ca śubhāśubham

Translation

Ils jouissent (de leurs mérites) par des chants et autres plaisirs parmi les Gandharva, les Siddha et les Apsaras. Dans la condition divine, humaine, et même animale, ils éprouvent l’auspicieux et le néfaste.

Word by Word

• gandharva-siddha-apsarasām: of Gandharvas, Siddhas, and Apsarases
• gandharva-siddha-apsarasām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandharva (प्रातिपदिक) + siddha (प्रातिपदिक) + apsaras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine, governed by apsaras), षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural); द्वन्द्व-समास (enumerative): 'of Gandharvas, Siddhas, and Apsarases'

• gīta-ādyaiḥ: by songs and the like
• gīta-ādyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gīta (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष (ādi as 'etc.'): 'gītāni ādayaḥ' = songs and the like

• upabhuñjate: they enjoy
• upabhuñjate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upabhuj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), आत्मनेपद

• devatve: in godhood (as a god)
• devatve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• mānuṣatve: in human state
• mānuṣatve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānuṣatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (and)

• tiryaktve: in animal state
• tiryaktve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tiryaktva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (and)

• śubha-aśubham: good and evil (results)
• śubha-aśubham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक) + aśubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); द्वन्द्व: 'śubhaṃ ca aśubhaṃ ca' (good and bad)

Speakers

• Sage/narrator addressing a king (continued context)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Svarga enjoyment
• Rebirth across realms
• Karma
• Three destinies

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Rebirth spans multiple modes of existence; karmic fruits manifest as refined pleasures in heaven and as mixed outcomes across divine, human, and animal births.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

General dharma/karma doctrine; not a genealogical or manvantara enumeration.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘song’ motif points to subtle enjoyment (sūkṣma-bhoga): even pleasure is a binding experience that consumes merit and keeps the cycle turning.