Vamana Purana — Sukesha's Boon & Twelve Dharmas, Shloka 23

Sukesha’s Boon, the Twelve Dharmas of Beings, and the Cosmography of the Seven Dvipas with the Twenty-One Hells

Devanagari script

स्वाध्यायं ब्रह्मचर्यं च दानं यजनमेव च अकार्पण्यमनायासं दयाहिंसा क्षमा दमः

Transliteration

svādhyāyaṃ brahmacaryaṃ ca dānaṃ yajanameva ca akārpaṇyamanāyāsaṃ dayāhiṃsā kṣamā damaḥ

Translation

സ്വാധ്യായം, ബ്രഹ്മചര്യം, ദാനം, യജ്ഞം; കഞ്ഞുഷത്വമില്ലായ്മ, ക്ലേശമില്ലാത്ത പരിശ്രമം, ദയ, അഹിംസ, ക്ഷമ, ദമം (ആത്മനിയന്ത്രണം).

Word by Word

• स्वाध्यायम्: self-study; Vedic recitation
• स्वाध्यायम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (masc nom/acc sg)

• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: celibacy
• ब्रह्मचर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg)

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

• दानम्: gift; charity
• दानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg)

• यजनम्: sacrificing; worship
• यजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज् (धातु) + अन (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (अन-प्रत्ययान्त भाववाचक), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (act of worship/sacrifice)

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle ‘indeed/only’)

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

• अकार्पण्यम्: non-miserliness; generosity
• अकार्पण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + कार्पण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg); नञ्-पूर्वक (negation)

• अनायासम्: effortless; without strain
• अनायासम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + आयास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (nom/acc sg); नञ्-पूर्वक; विशेषण (qualifier)

• दया: compassion
• दया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (nominative singular)

• अहिंसा: non-violence
• अहिंसा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + हिंसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (nominative singular); नञ्-पूर्वक

• क्षमा: forbearance; forgiveness
• क्षमा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (nominative singular)

• दमः: self-control
• दमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (nominative singular)

Speakers

• Not specified in input (likely within Pulastya–Nārada discourse framework)

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Svādhyāya
• Dāna
• Yajña
• Ahiṃsā
• Kṣamā
• Dama

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse presents dharma as a composite of knowledge-practice (svādhyāya), bodily/sexual discipline (brahmacarya), social duty (dāna), ritual responsibility (yajña), and universal virtues (dayā, ahiṃsā, kṣamā). It is an integrated ethic: learning, worship, and compassion are mutually reinforcing.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

Like the previous verse, it is ancillary dharma-ācāra instruction rather than a direct treatment of sarga/pratisarga/vaṃśa/manvantara/vaṃśānucarita. It functions as normative guidance embedded within the Purāṇic narrative frame.

What is the symbolic significance?

The sequence links inner cultivation (study, restraint) to outward expression (charity, sacrifice) and finally to universalized ethics (non-violence, forgiveness). Symbolically, dharma ‘flows’ from disciplined consciousness into benevolent action.