Vamana Purana — Karmic Causes of Narakas, Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

कन्यामेकस्य दत्त्वा च ददत्यन्यस्य ये ऽधमाः करपत्रेण पाट्यन्ते ते द्विधा यमकिङ्करैः

Transliteration

kanyāmekasya dattvā ca dadatyanyasya ye 'dhamāḥ karapatreṇa pāṭyante te dvidhā yamakiṅkaraiḥ

Translation

Those base persons who, having given a maiden to one man, then give her to another—are torn in two with a hand-knife (or blade) by Yama’s attendants.

Word by Word

• कन्याम्: a maiden/daughter
• कन्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• एकस्य: of one (man)
• एकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; विशेषण (of one person)

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया-अनुबंध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• ददति: they give
• ददति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (पाठानुसारं: ददति)

• अन्यस्य: of another (man)
• अन्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• अधमाः: vile men
• अधमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• करपत्रेण: with a hand-leaf (sharp leaf/knife-like leaf)
• करपत्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (करस्य पत्रम्)

• पाट्यन्ते: are split/cleft
• पाट्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पट्/पाट् (धातु; caus./pass.)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• द्विधा: in two (parts)
• द्विधा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्विधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• यम-किङ्करैः: by Yama's servants
• यम-किङ्करैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक) + किङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यमस्य किङ्कराः)

Speakers

• Not specified in the provided excerpt (often framed as Pulastya → Nārada in the Vāmana Purāṇa)

Primary Deities

• Yama

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Marriage ethics
• Kanyā-dāna integrity
• Karmic/hellish retribution

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Marriage-giving (kanyā-dāna) is treated as a solemn, trust-based dharmic act; violating it by duplicity is condemned as a grave breach of social and moral order, warranting severe consequence.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa?

This is ethical-legal instruction (ācāra/dharma) and an example of Purāṇic karmaphala description (results of actions). It is not a direct instance of the five lakṣaṇas but a didactic insertion.

What is the symbolic significance?

The ‘splitting in two’ mirrors the act of duplicity—attempting to divide a single pledged person between two claims. The imagery externalizes inner moral fracture as an outward, retributive fracture.