Shloka 56

Adhyaya 14 — The Messenger of Yama Explains Karmic Retribution and the Causes of Naraka Torments

Sanskrit

एकसार्थप्रयातं ये निः स्वमर्थार्थिनं नरम् ।

अपास्य स्वान्नमश्नन्ति त इमे श्लेष्मभोजिनः ॥

Transliteration

ekasārthaprayātaṃ ye niḥ svamarthārthinaṃ naram / apāsya svānnamaśnanti ta ime śleṣmabhojinaḥ

Translation

ഒരേ കാരവാനായി പുറപ്പെട്ടിട്ട്, സഹായം തേടുന്ന സമ്പത്തില്ലാത്ത മനുഷ്യനെ ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച് പിന്നെ സ്വന്തം ഭക്ഷണം മാത്രം കഴിക്കുന്നവർ—അവർ ശ്ലേഷ്മഭക്ഷകരാകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• एक-सार्थ-प्रयातम्: one who has traveled with the same caravan
• एक-सार्थ-प्रयातम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + सार्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रयात (कृदन्त; √या धातु, प्र+√या)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: एकेन सार्थेन प्रयातम् = ‘having set out with one caravan/company’; ‘प्रयात’ = क्त (past participle)

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

• निः: without
• निः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निः (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्ग/निपात (privative/intensifier)

• स्वम्: his own
• स्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (own)

• अर्थ-अर्थिनम्: a seeker of gain
• अर्थ-अर्थिनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: अर्थम् अर्थयते इति/अर्थस्य अर्थी = ‘one seeking benefit/wealth’

• नरम्: man
• नरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अपास्य: having abandoned
• अपास्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अप + √अस्/√आस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘having cast aside/abandoned’; अव्ययभाव (gerund functioning as indeclinable)

• स्व-अन्नम्: their own food
• स्व-अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य अन्नम्)

• अश्नन्ति: they eat
• अश्नन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• इमे: these
• इमे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• श्लेष्म-भोजिनः: mucus-eaters
• श्लेष्म-भोजिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्लेष्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + भोजिन् (प्रातिपदिक; √भुज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (श्लेष्मणः भोजिनः = ‘mucus-eaters’)

Speakers

• Not specified in input; didactic narration on compassion and travel-ethics.

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "dharma", "secondaryRasa": "bibhatsa", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Compassion
• Social solidarity
• Karmaphala

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Shared journey implies shared responsibility. Refusing aid to a vulnerable companion while enjoying one’s own comfort is framed as a serious social sin with degrading consequences.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Dharma/karmaphala instruction; not pañcalakṣaṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

Phlegm symbolizes stagnation and coldness of heart. The one who ‘withholds warmth’ from the needy experiences a cold, viscous form of nourishment in return.