Shloka 14

विश्वामित्रस्य शरणागति-प्रशंसा तथा वासिष्ठपुत्र-शापः

Visvamitra grants refuge; the curse upon Vasishta’s sons

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणा वा महात्मानो भुक्त्वा चण्डालभोजनम्।कथं स्वर्गं गमिष्यन्ति विश्वामित्रेण पालिता:।।1.59.14।।

Transliteration

brāhmaṇā vā mahātmāno bhuktvā caṇḍāla-bhojanam | kathaṃ svargaṃ gamiṣyanti viśvāmitreṇa pālitāḥ || 1.59.14 ||

Translation

ຫຼືແມ່ນແຕ່ເປັນພຣາຫມະນະຜູ້ມີມະຫາອາດມາ ແຕ່ເມື່ອໄດ້ກິນອາຫານຂອງຈັນດາລະແລ້ວ ຜູ້ທີ່ຢູ່ຝ່າຍແລະຢູ່ໃນການອຸປະຖຳນຳພາຂອງວິສວາມິດຣະ ຈະໄປເຖິງສະຫວັນໄດ້ແນວໃດ?

Word by Word

• brāhmaṇāḥ: brahmins
• brāhmaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-avyaya (Alternative particle/विकल्पार्थक)

• mahātmānaḥ: great-souled ones
• mahātmānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to brāhmaṇāḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

• bhuktvā: having eaten
• bhuktvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (भुज् धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-pratyaya (Absolutive/Gerund/क्त्वान्त), Pūrvakāla-kriyā (prior action)

• caṇḍāla-bhojanam: food of a caṇḍāla
• caṇḍāla-bhojanam: Karma (कर्म/Object of bhuktvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caṇḍāla (प्रातिपदिक) + bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष; caṇḍālasya bhojanam), Napuṃsakaliṅga (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• katham: how
• katham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Interrogative manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Praśna-avyaya (Interrogative adverb/प्रश्नार्थक)

• svargam: heaven
• svargam: Karma (कर्म/Goal-object with gam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• gamiṣyanti: will go/attain
• gamiṣyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (Simple future/लुट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• viśvāmitreṇa: by Viśvāmitra
• viśvāmitreṇa: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument; agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/तृतीया), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन)

• pālitāḥ: protected/ruled
• pālitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement; ‘being protected/ruled’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pāl (पाल् धातु)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya (Past passive participle/क्त), Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन); karmavācya-bhāva (passive sense)

Context

O Best among ascetics! all the sons of Vasishta along with Mahodaya with their eyes reddened in anger spoke these harsh words":

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇas
• Caṇḍāla
• Viśvāmitra
• Svarga

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

It interrogates the link between conduct, association, and spiritual outcome; at the same time, it illustrates how dharma can be argued through social stigma rather than through inner truth (satya) and intent.

What is the narrative situation?

The angry Vāsiṣṭhas continue their critique, claiming that participation under Viśvāmitra and acceptance of stigmatized food obstructs heavenly merit.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse implicitly calls for impartiality and truthfulness in moral reasoning, rather than condemnation based on birth-status labels.