Shloka 4
The Slaying of Devāntaka, Durdharṣa, and Durmukha
न जानासि यतो धर्मं कालमृत्यु पुरःसरः । न रोगो न जरा कालो न मृत्युर्न च किंकरः
na jānāsi yato dharmaṃ kālamṛtyu puraḥsaraḥ | na rogo na jarā kālo na mṛtyurna ca kiṃkaraḥ
Karena engkau tidak memahami dharma, maka Kala dan Maut berdiri di hadapanmu sebagai pendahulu. Tiada penyakit, tiada tua renta; tiada Kala, tiada kematian—dan tiada pula pelayan yang menunaikan kehendakmu.
Unspecified (contextual admonition within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa narrative; exact speaker not provided in the input)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मृत्युर्न = मृत्युः + न (विसर्ग-सन्धि: उः + न → उर्न).
FAQs
It warns that ignorance of dharma brings one face-to-face with the inescapable forces of Time (kāla) and Death (mṛtyu), emphasizing moral accountability and the urgency of righteous living.
The phrase suggests they are already ‘ahead’ of a person—ever-present and leading the way—meaning one cannot outpace or evade them, especially when living without dharma.
It underscores human limitation: one cannot command away decay, illness, time, or death. Therefore, cultivating dharma is presented as the wise and meaningful use of life rather than relying on power, status, or control.