Shloka 67

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

Sanskrit

गोब्राह्मणार्कमार्गेषु येऽवमेहन्ति मानवाः ।

तेषामेतानि कॄष्यन्ते गुदेनान्त्राणि वायसैः ॥

Transliteration

go-brāhmaṇārka-mārgeṣu ye 'vamehanti mānavāḥ /

teṣām etāni kṛṣyante gudenāntrāṇi vāyasaiḥ

Translation

Quant aux humains qui urinent sur les chemins ou lieux liés aux vaches, aux brāhmaṇa et au Soleil, des corbeaux leur arrachent les entrailles par l’anus.

Word by Word

• गोब्राह्मणार्कमार्गेषु: in/onto cows, Brahmins, the sun, and paths (i.e., in those places)
• गोब्राह्मणार्कमार्गेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + ब्राह्मण + अर्क + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व/सूची-समास (cows, Brahmins, sun, and paths); पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/सप्तमी), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अवमेहन्ति: urinate upon, defile by urinating
• अवमेहन्ति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + मिह्/मेह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• मानवाः: men, humans
• मानवाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; apposition to ये)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• एतानि: these
• एतानि: कर्म (Karma; passive subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• कृष्यन्ते: are dragged
• कृष्यन्ते: क्रिया (Passive verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive) ‘are dragged/pulled’

• गुदेन: by/with the anus
• गुदेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• अन्त्राणि: intestines
• अन्त्राणि: कर्म (Karma; passive subject/apposition to एतानि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• वायसैः: by crows
• वायसैः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent in passive; instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

Speakers

• Naraka narration; purity/pollution ethics

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Yama (implied)
• Sūrya (by ‘ārka’)

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Śauca (purity)
• Aparādha
• Naraka
• Karma-phala

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse enforces śauca and reverence in shared sacred spaces. Defilement of what sustains spiritual and social life is treated as a severe breach of dharmic cleanliness and respect.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Dharma/ācāra instruction with naraka-phala; not directly sarga/pratisarga/manvantara/vamśa.

What is the esoteric significance?

Defilement signifies contempt for light (ārka) and guidance (brāhmaṇa/guru). The ‘pulling out of intestines’ symbolizes exposure of inner impurity that was hidden by outward life.