Adhyaya 14 — The Messenger of Yama Explains Karmic Retribution and the Causes of Naraka Torments
तथैव कण्टकैर्दीर्घैरायसैः पश्य शाल्मलिम् ।
आरोपिता विभिन्नाङ्गाः प्रभूतासृक्स्रवाविलाः ॥
tathaiva kaṇṭakair dīrghair āyasaiḥ paśya śālmalim / āropitā vibhinnāṅgāḥ prabhūtāsṛkstravāvilāḥ
De même, contemple l'arbre Shalmali aux longues épines de fer : on force les gens à y grimper, leurs membres déchirés, trempés et maculés de flots de sang abondant.
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The verse uses visceral imagery to deter grave misconduct, stressing that pleasures pursued through harm and transgression culminate in pain proportionate to the offense.
Ethical/karmic (dharma/karmaphala) segment, not a direct instance of the five lakṣaṇas.
The thorn-tree represents the ‘tree of desire’: ascent motivated by craving results in self-wounding at every step. Iron thorns indicate hardened, unyielding consequences.