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Shloka 25

Kapila’s Analysis of Materialistic Life, Death, and the Path to Hell

Kāla, Karma, and Yamadūtas

आदीपनं स्वगात्राणां वेष्टयित्वोल्मुकादिभि: । आत्ममांसादनं क्‍वापि स्वकृत्तं परतोऽपि वा ॥ २५ ॥

ādīpanaṁ sva-gātrāṇāṁ veṣṭayitvolmukādibhiḥ ātma-māṁsādanaṁ kvāpi sva-kṛttaṁ parato ’pi vā

គេត្រូវបានដាក់នៅកណ្តាលអុសដែលកំពុងឆេះ ហើយអវយវៈរបស់គេត្រូវបានដុត។ ក្នុងករណីខ្លះ គេត្រូវបានបង្ខំឱ្យស៊ីសាច់របស់ខ្លួនឯង ឬត្រូវបានអ្នកដទៃស៊ី។

आदीपनम्kindling/setting on fire
आदीपनम्:
कर्म (Karma/Object; item of suffering)
TypeNoun
Rootआदीपन (प्रातिपदिक; √दीप् (धातु) caus/णिच् भाव)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक (act of kindling)
स्वगात्राणाम्of one’s own limbs
स्वगात्राणाम्:
सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
TypeNoun
Rootस्व-गात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन
वेष्टयित्वाhaving wrapped
वेष्टयित्वा:
पूर्वकाल (Prior action)
TypeVerb
Root√वेष्ट् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (Gerund/absolutive), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)
उल्मुकादिभिःwith firebrands and the like
उल्मुकादिभिः:
करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootउल्मुक-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; आदि-शब्देन समाहार (with firebrands etc.)
आत्ममांसादनम्eating of one’s own flesh
आत्ममांसादनम्:
कर्म (Karma/Object; item of suffering)
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मन्-मांस-अदन (प्रातिपदिक; अदन < √अद् (धातु))
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन
क्वापिsomewhere
क्वापि:
क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootक्व + अपि (अव्यय)
Formदेश/अनिश्चितता-बोधक अव्यय (somewhere/at some time)
स्वकृत्तम्cut by oneself
स्वकृत्तम्:
विशेषण (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootस्व-कृत्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृत्त < √कृद्/√कृत् (धातु) 'to cut')
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ātma-māṁsādanaṁ)
परतःby another/from others
परतः:
क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपरतः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; परस्मात्/अन्यतः-अर्थे (from another/ by others)
अपिalso/even
अपि:
निपात (Particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle), 'also/even'
वाor
वा:
विकल्प (Disjunction)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formविकल्पबोधक-अव्यय (or)

From this verse through the next three verses the description of punishment will be narrated. The first description is that the criminal has to eat his own flesh, burning with fire, or allow others like himself who are present there to eat. In the last great war, people in concentration camps sometimes ate their own stool, so there is no wonder that in the Yamasādana, the abode of Yamarāja, one who had a very enjoyable life eating others’ flesh has to eat his own flesh.

K
Kapila-deva

FAQs

In Canto 3, Kapila-deva describes severe torments in naraka—such as being burned and forced to consume one’s own flesh—to show the terrifying reactions that follow adharma and to inspire repentance and spiritual reform.

Kapila teaches Devahuti the law of karma and its consequences so she (and listeners) develop detachment from sin and material enjoyment, and take up the path of purification and devotion that leads beyond repeated suffering.

Use it as a sober reminder to avoid harmful, exploitative, or addictive behaviors; cultivate self-control, ethical living (dharma), and sincere bhakti practices that cleanse karma and redirect life toward liberation.