Shloka 40
Dharma-vyādha’s Analysis of Moral Decline and the Mahābhūta–Guṇa Schema (धर्मव्याधोपदेशः)
येषां तटाकानि महोदकानि वाप्यश्च कूपाश्च प्रतिश्रयाश्व अन्नस्य दानं मधुरा च वाणी यमस्य ते निर्वचना भवन्ति,जो लोग अगाध जलसे भरे हुए तालाब और पोखरे खुदवाते हैं, बावली, कुएँ तथा धर्मशालाएँ तैयार कराते हैं, अन्नका दान करते और मीठी बातें बोलते हैं, उन्हें यमराजकी बात भी नहीं सुननी पड़ती है अर्थात् यमराज उसे वचनमात्रसे भी दण्ड नहीं दे सकते
yeṣāṃ taṭākāni mahodakāni vāpyāś ca kūpāś ca pratiśrayāś ca | annasya dānaṃ madhurā ca vāṇī yamasya te nirvacanā bhavanti ||
マールカンデーヤは語った。「深く水を湛えた池を掘らせ、階段井戸（ステップウェル）や井戸、旅人のための宿所を設けさせ、食を施し、言葉を柔らかく甘やかに語る者——その者にはヤマ（閻魔）の権能が及ばぬ。すなわち、ヤマの召しの声すら聞く必要がない。かかる功徳が、彼らを罰の手の届かぬところへ置くからである。」
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Public-benefit gifts (water sources and shelters), food charity, and gentle speech are presented as powerful forms of dharma whose merit protects a person from Yama’s punitive authority—emphasizing that sustaining life, easing travel, and practicing kindness in word and deed are among the highest ethical acts.
Mārkaṇḍeya is instructing his listeners on the fruits of righteous conduct. He lists concrete, socially sustaining actions—building waterworks and shelters, giving food, and speaking kindly—and declares that such people are not subject to Yama’s summons or punishment, highlighting the moral economy of karma and merit.