Shloka 65

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

Sanskrit

यैः प्रपा-देव-विप्रौको-देवालयसभाः शुभाः ।

भङ्क्त्वा विध्वंसमानिताः क्रोधलोभानुवर्तिभिः ॥

Transliteration

yaiḥ prapā-deva-vipra-uko-devālaya-sabhāḥ śubhāḥ /

bhaṅktvā vidhvaṃsam ānītāḥ krodha-lobhānuvartibhiḥ

Translation

Ceux qui, poussés par la colère et l’avidité, brisent et ruinent les réservoirs d’eau (lieux publics d’abreuvement), les abris pour les dieux et les brāhmaṇa, les temples et les salles d’assemblée de bon augure—(sont châtiés).

Word by Word

• यैः: by whom
• यैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural), सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• प्रपा: a water-shed/rest-house
• प्रपा: कर्म (Karma/Object; as item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular) (समाहार/सूची-प्रयोग in compound list)

• देव: a deity
• देव: कर्म (Karma/Object; list-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (list-member)

• विप्रौकः: a Brahmin’s dwelling
• विप्रौकः: कर्म (Karma/Object; list-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + ओकस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विप्रौक = ब्राह्मण-गृह/abode of a Brahmin); पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (list-member)

• देवालयसभाः: temples and halls/assemblies
• देवालयसभाः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवालय + सभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (देवालय-सभा = temples and assembly-halls); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural)

• शुभाः: auspicious, good
• शुभाः: विशेषण (Adjective of देवालयसभाः etc.)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural)

• भङ्क्त्वा: having broken/destroyed
• भङ्क्त्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भञ्ज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-भाव (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having broken’

• विध्वंसम्: to ruin, destruction
• विध्वंसम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; with नीत)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विध्वंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रयोग (commonly masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• आनीताः: were brought (to)
• आनीताः: कर्म (Karma; passive subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + नी (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense) ‘having been brought’

• क्रोधलोभानुवर्तिभिः: by those who follow anger and greed
• क्रोधलोभानुवर्तिभिः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent in passive; instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध + लोभ + अनुवर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (क्रोध-लोभ-अनुवर्तिन् = followers of anger and greed); पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speakers

• Naraka narration; social-dharma emphasis

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "dharma", "secondaryRasa": "raudra", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Yama (implied)

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Public welfare
• Temple protection
• Karma-phala
• Naraka

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma includes protection of common goods and sacred infrastructure. Harming places that sustain society (water, shelter, assembly, worship) is portrayed as a grave societal sin rooted in krodha and lobha.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Dharma-ācāra and phala teaching (social ethics), not sarga/pratisarga/manvantara/vamśa focus.

What is the esoteric significance?

Temples and prapās symbolize inner supports—faith, nourishment, and community. To destroy them externally reflects inner vandalism of one’s own sattva.