Shloka 29

Dietary Rules & Purification — Dietary Rules, Purification (Śauca), and the Duties of the Householder and Forest-Dweller

Devanagari script

दम्भार्थं जपते यश्च तप्यते यजते तथा न परत्रार्थमुद्यक्तो स मार्जारः प्रकीर्तितिः

Transliteration

dambhārthaṃ japate yaśca tapyate yajate tathā na paratrārthamudyakto sa mārjāraḥ prakīrtitiḥ

Translation

ദംഭത്തിനായി മാത്രം ജപിക്കുകയും തപസ്സും യാഗവും ചെയ്യുകയും, പരലോകത്തിന്റെ സത്യലക്ഷ്യത്തിൽ ഉത്സുകനല്ലാതെയും ഇരിക്കുന്നവൻ ‘മാർജാര’ (പൂച്ചപോലെ മറവുകപടി) എന്നു പ്രസിദ്ധനാകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• दम्भार्थम्: for the sake of hypocrisy/show
• दम्भार्थम्: हेतु/प्रयोजन (प्रयोजनम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम्भ + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दम्भस्य अर्थः)

• जपते: chants/mutters
• जपते: क्रिया (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सूचक (relative pronoun)

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

• तप्यते: performs austerity/does penance
• तप्यते: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यजते: sacrifices/worships
• यजते: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• न: not
• न: निषेध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• परत्रार्थम्: the other-worldly purpose/benefit hereafter
• परत्रार्थम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परत्र + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुष-समासार्थः: परत्र (परलोक/अत्रोत्तर) इति अव्ययेन सह अर्थः

• उद्यक्तः: engaged/intent
• उद्यक्तः: कर्ता-विशेषण (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + यज्/युज्? → उद्यक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), ‘उद्यक्त’ = उद्यतः/प्रवृत्तः (engaged)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मार्जारः: a cat
• मार्जारः: प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध (उपमान/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्जार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रकीर्तितिः: is proclaimed/called
• प्रकीर्तितिः: विधेय (predicate/नाम)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कीर्त् (धातु) → प्रकीर्तित (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘प्रकीर्तिता’ इत्यर्थः; पाठभेद/लिप्यन्तर-सम्भावना: ‘प्रकीर्तितः’ (पुं. प्रथ. एक.) अपेक्षितम्

Speakers

• Ṛṣis (sages) speaking (broader frame not provided in input; often within Purāṇic dialogue such as Pulastya–Nārada)

Key Themes

• Anti-hypocrisy (dambha-nindā)
• Right intention in worship
• Tapas and yajña ethics
• Inner vs outer religiosity

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Religious acts gain value through intention (bhāva). When japa, tapas, and yajña are performed for reputation rather than spiritual ends, they are ethically hollow and even blameworthy.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is ācāra/śīla instruction embedded within Purāṇic teaching, not a direct instance of sarga/pratisarga/vamśa/manvantara/vamśānucarita.

What is the symbolic significance?

‘Mārjāra’ (cat) suggests stealth and predation: outwardly calm, inwardly self-serving. The metaphor critiques performative spirituality that ‘hunts’ social honor rather than seeking dharma or liberation.