Vamana Purana — Karmic Causes of Narakas, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

गुरुदेवद्विजातीनां वेदानां च नराधमैः निन्दा निशामिता यैस्तु पापानामिति कुर्वताम्

Transliteration

gurudevadvijātīnāṃ vedānāṃ ca narādhamaiḥ nindā niśāmitā yaistu pāpānāmiti kurvatām

Translation

ഗുരു, ദേവൻ, ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ, വേദങ്ങൾ എന്നിവരെ നിന്ദിക്കുന്നത് കേൾക്കുന്ന (അതിൽ പങ്കുചേരുന്ന) അധമന്മാർ പാപികളായി കണക്കാക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• गुरुदेवद्विजातीनाम्: of gurus, gods, and twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• गुरुदेवद्विजातीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + द्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (गुरवः च देवाः च द्विजातयः च), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वेदानाम्: of the Vedas
• वेदानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• नराधमैः: by the lowest of men
• नराधमैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नराणाम् अधमाः), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• निन्दा: censure / abuse
• निन्दा: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निशामिता: was heard
• निशामिता: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-शम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘heard/observed’ (agreeing with निन्दा)

• यैः: by whom
• यैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; relative pronoun

• तु: indeed / but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोधार्थक (particle: but/indeed)

• पापानाम्: of sins / of sinners
• पापानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण-चिह्न (quotative particle)

• कुर्वताम्: of those who do (so)
• कुर्वताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘of those doing’

Speakers

• Narrative frame likely Pulastya → Nārada; specific speaker not explicit in the excerpt

Primary Deities

• Devas (generic reference)

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Respect for scripture
• Guru-bhakti (reverence to teacher)
• Social-religious ethics
• Karmaphala

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma is sustained by śruti (Veda), teachers, and sacred exemplars; reviling them (or even indulging in such talk) corrodes one’s moral compass and community order. The verse cautions that complicity can include listening and normalizing slander.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Primarily didactic dharma material attached to cosmological-ethical narration (naraka/karmavipāka). It is not genealogy-focused (vamśa/vamśānucarita) but belongs to the Purāṇic function of teaching right conduct through consequence.

What is the symbolic significance?

‘Nindā’ of guru, deva, and Veda symbolizes rejection of pramāṇa (valid means of knowledge) and guidance. In Purāṇic ethics, such rejection is not mere speech-act but a severing from the sources of dharma, leading to spiritual disorientation.