Vamana Purana — Karmic Causes of Narakas, Shloka 7

Karmic Causes of Narakas and the Irremediability of Ingratitude (Kṛtaghna-doṣa)

Devanagari script

परोपतापजनकाश्चन्दनोशीरहारिणः बालव्यजनहर्त्तारः करम्भसिकताश्रिताः

Transliteration

paropatāpajanakāścandanośīrahāriṇaḥ bālavyajanaharttāraḥ karambhasikatāśritāḥ

Translation

They become agents that cause affliction to others—(like) those who steal sandalwood and uśīra (fragrant roots), those who take away children’s fans, and those who resort to (mixing) sand into karambha (a food preparation).

Word by Word

• पर-उपताप-जनकाः: causers of others' torment
• पर-उपताप-जनकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + उपताप (प्रातिपदिक) + जनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (परस्य उपतापः) + तत्पुरुषः (उपतापस्य जनकः)

• चन्दन-उशीर-हारिणः: stealers of sandal and vetiver
• चन्दन-उशीर-हारिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक) + उशीर (प्रातिपदिक) + हारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; (चन्दन-उशीर) इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः + उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (हारिन् = हरति)

• बाल-व्यजन-हर्तारः: robbers of children's fans
• बाल-व्यजन-हर्तारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यजन (प्रातिपदिक) + हर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; √हृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-सामर्थ्य (बालानां व्यजनम्) + उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (हर्तृ = हरति)

• करम्भ-सिकता-आश्रिताः: those resorting to gruel and sand (i.e., fed with gruel mixed with sand)
• करम्भ-सिकता-आश्रिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + सिकता (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रित (प्रातिपदिक; √श्रि + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; (करम्भ-सिकता) इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः + क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (आश्रित)

Speakers

• Not specified in input (Vāmana Purāṇa commonly frames teachings within Pulastya–Nārada dialogue)

Key Themes

• Dharma/ethics
• Ritual purity (implied)
• Consequences of harmful actions

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse condemns petty and cruel acts that directly diminish others’ wellbeing—stealing valued goods, depriving children of comfort, and adulterating food. It frames such behavior as intrinsically harm-producing (paropatāpa), thus contrary to dharma and social trust.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is best classified under dharma-śikṣā within ācāra/karma-related instruction rather than the five hallmark topics; it loosely aligns with normative teaching embedded in itihāsa-style narration (not sarga/pratisarga).

What is the symbolic significance?

Sandalwood/uśīra symbolize refined, cooling benefit; stealing them inverts their purpose into social heat (conflict). Sand mixed into food symbolizes moral grit—corrupting nourishment itself—an image often used to mark inner impurity manifesting as outer harm.