Shloka 121

Karma, Non-Violence, Tīrtha & Gaṅgā Merit, Vaiṣṇava Protection, Śālagrāma Worship, and Ekādaśī as Deliverance

Devanagari script

अपि पापसमाचाराः कर्म्मण्यनधिकारिणः । शालग्रामार्चका वैश्य नैव यांति यमालयम्

Transliteration

api pāpasamācārāḥ karmmaṇyanadhikāriṇaḥ | śālagrāmārcakā vaiśya naiva yāṃti yamālayam

Translation

たとえ罪深い行いをなし、ヴェーダの儀礼に与る資格がなくとも、シャーラグラーマを礼拝するヴァイシャは決してヤマの住処へは赴かない。

Word by Word

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक (particle: even/also)

• पापसमाचाराः: those of sinful conduct
• पापसमाचाराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप + समाचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—पापः समाचारः (कर्मधारयः: ‘sinful conduct’)

• कर्मणि: in (Vedic) rites
• कर्मणि: Adhikaraṇa (Domain/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अनधिकारिणः: not entitled/unauthorized
• अनधिकारिणः: Karta (Subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनधिकारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying पापसमाचाराः)

• शालग्रामार्चकाः: worshippers of Śālagrāma
• शालग्रामार्चकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालग्राम + अर्चक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—शालग्रामस्य अर्चकः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• वैश्याः: Vaiśyas
• वैश्याः: Karta (Apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; संबोधन/जातिवाचक (class noun)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• एव: indeed/at all
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• यान्ति: go
• यान्ति: Kriyā (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• यमालयम्: the abode of Yama
• यमालयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—यमस्य आलयः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

Speaker

Not specified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses; commonly framed within Purāṇic dialogue narration).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: कर्म्मण्यनधिकारिणः→कर्मणि अनधिकारिणः; शालग्रामार्चका→शालग्रामार्चकाः; नैव→न एव; यांति→यान्ति

Characters & Entities

• Śālagrāma
• Yama

FAQs

What is the central teaching of this verse?

It teaches that devotion expressed through worship of Śālagrāma is so spiritually potent that it can override disqualification from Vedic ritual eligibility and even mitigate the consequences that would lead one to Yama’s realm.

Why does the verse mention “ineligible for rites” (anadhikāriṇaḥ)?

It contrasts formal ritual entitlement with devotional practice, implying that bhakti—here, Śālagrāma-arcana—can be accessible and salvific even for those outside strict ritual qualifications.

What ethical lesson does this verse convey?

It encourages sincere devotional worship and moral transformation, suggesting that steadfast devotion can redirect one’s spiritual destiny away from punitive outcomes associated with sinful conduct.