Shloka 42

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

Sanskrit

असच्छास्त्रोपदेशास्तु यैर्दत्ता यैश्च मन्त्रिताः ।

सम्यग्दृष्टेर्विनाशाय रिपूणामपि मानवैः ॥

Transliteration

asacchāstropadeśās tu yair dattā yaiś ca mantritāḥ /

samyagdṛṣṭer vināśāya ripūṇām api mānavaiḥ

Translation

Ceux qui ont enseigné de fausses doctrines, et ceux qui ont conseillé de telles choses—afin de détruire la juste compréhension, même (en le faisant) contre leurs ennemis—(encourent de lourdes conséquences).

Word by Word

• असत्-शास्त्र-उपदेशाः: false scriptural instructions
• असत्-शास्त्र-उपदेशाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उपदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समासः (असत् शास्त्रम्; तस्य उपदेशाः); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/विरोध-अव्ययम् (particle)

• यैः: by whom
• यैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; instrumental plural (by whom)

• दत्ताः: given
• दत्ताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; agreeing with उपदेशाः

• यैः: by whom
• यैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; instrumental plural (by whom)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• मन्त्रिताः: counselled/urged
• मन्त्रिताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्त्र् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः (क्त); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्; agreeing with उपदेशाः; 'counselled/instigated'

• सम्यक्: rightly
• सम्यक्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्ययम् (adverb: rightly)

• दृष्टेः: of right view
• दृष्टेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे षष्ठी एकवचनम्; genitive singular

• विनाशाय: for destruction
• विनाशाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे चतुर्थी एकवचनम्; dative singular (for destruction)

• रिपूणाम्: of enemies
• रिपूणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी बहुवचनम्; genitive plural

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अवधारण-अव्ययम् (particle: even/also)

• मानवैः: by men
• मानवैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; instrumental plural (by men)

Speakers

• Didactic narration on ethical speech/teaching (frame-speaker not explicit in excerpt)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Right view (samyagdṛṣṭi)
• Ethics of teaching and counsel
• Speech as karma

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Corrupting another’s understanding is a grave harm. Even if directed at an enemy, deliberately promoting falsehood that ruins discernment is condemned—dharma does not permit unethical means for personal victory.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Dharma/ācāra instruction; it functions as moral guidance embedded in the Purāṇic narrative framework.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Right view’ is the lamp of liberation. To extinguish it in oneself or others is to deepen tamas; hence later punishments focus on organs of expression (tongue) and perception (eyes).