Shloka 4

Yamavākya

The Words of Yama

Devanagari script

योऽश्नाति लोभाद्वित्तानि प्रजाभ्यो वा महीपतेः । नियोगी नरकं याति यावत्कल्पशतत्रयम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

yo'śnāti lobhādvittāni prajābhyo vā mahīpateḥ | niyogī narakaṃ yāti yāvatkalpaśatatrayam || 4 ||

Translation

നിയോഗിയായിട്ടും ലോഭത്താൽ പ്രജകളുടെയോ രാജാവിന്റെയോ ധനം അപഹരിച്ച്/ഉപഭോഗിക്കുന്നവൻ മൂന്നു നൂറ് കല്പങ്ങൾ വരെ നരകത്തെ പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു ॥൪॥

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; relative pronoun

• अश्नाति: eats/appropriates
• अश्नाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश् (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• लोभात्: from greed / out of greed
• लोभात्: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; cause/source sense (हेतु)

• वित्तानि: wealths, monies
• वित्तानि: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• प्रजाभ्यः: from the subjects/people
• प्रजाभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान/from whom taken)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी) Plural (बहुवचन); also possible Dative (4th) by form—here Ablative with 'appropriates from subjects'

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; disjunctive particle (विकल्प)

• महीपतेः: of the king
• महीपतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• नियोगी: the appointed officer
• नियोगी: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• नरकम्: hell
• नरकम्: Karma (कर्म/goal as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• याति: goes
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• यावत्: as long as / up to
• यावत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/extent)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; limit/extent marker (परिमाणार्थे)

• कल्प-शत-त्रयम्: for three hundred kalpas
• कल्प-शत-त्रयम्: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण/temporal extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; द्विगु-समासः: त्रयाणि शतानि कल्पानाम् (three hundreds of kalpas) used as measure of duration

Speaker

Narada (instructional voice within the Purana's dharma teaching context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It frames greed-driven corruption—especially by entrusted officials—as a grave adharma that results in prolonged naraka, emphasizing accountability and the karmic weight of abusing authority.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

While not directly prescribing a bhakti practice, it establishes ethical purity (non-greed, non-theft, protection of subjects) as essential conduct that supports a sattvic mind fit for Vishnu-bhakti and spiritual progress.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedanga (like Vyakarana, Jyotisha, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; it primarily conveys Raja-dharma and karma-phala—practical governance ethics aligned with dharmashastric principles.