Shloka 129

The Tale of the Vulture and the She-Jackal: The Māhātmya of the Saukarava Sacred Field

Devanagari script

दुर्बलं प्रबलं भूत्वा प्रबलं दुर्बलं भवेत् ॥ पापान्तरं समासाद्य गहना कर्मणो गतिः

Transliteration

durbalaṃ prabalaṃ bhūtvā prabalaṃ durbalaṃ bhavet || pāpāntaraṃ samāsādya gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ

Translation

ദുർബലൻ ശക്തനാകാം; ശക്തനും ദുർബലനാകാം. കൂടുതൽ പാപത്തെ അഭിമുഖീകരിക്കുമ്പോൾ കർമത്തിന്റെ ഗതി ഗഹനവും ഗ്രഹിക്കാൻ ദുഷ്കരവുമാണ്.

Word by Word

• durbalam: weak (state/thing)
• durbalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur-bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; karmadhāraya: dur + bala = weak

• prabalam: strong
• prabalam: Karma-pravṛtti/Predicative (पूरक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; used as predicate complement with bhūtvā

• bhūtvā: having become
• bhūtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु) → bhūtvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable; ‘having become’

• prabalam: the strong
• prabalam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; here as subject-like neuter ‘the strong’ (प्रबलम्)

• durbalam: weak
• durbalam: Karma/Predicative (पूरक)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur-bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; complement with bhavet

• bhavet: may become / would become
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• pāpa-antaram: another sin / a further wrongdoing
• pāpa-antaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; tatpuruṣa: pāpasya antaram (another sin / sin in between)

• samāsādya: having encountered / having reached
• samāsādya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-sad (धातु) → samāsādya (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-प्राय)
• Form: Gerund (ल्यप्/क्त्वार्थक अव्ययकृदन्त) meaning ‘having reached/encountered’

• gahanā: deep / hard to fathom
• gahanā: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gahana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st), Singular; qualifying gatiḥ

• karmaṇaḥ: of action / of karma
• karmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• gatiḥ: course / path / consequence
• gatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular

Speaker

Varāha (default instructor voice in dialogue)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"prayaschitta","instruction_summary":"Karmic outcomes invert worldly strength/weakness; further sin compounds consequences, making karma’s trajectory hard to discern—therefore avoid escalating wrongdoing.","karmic_consequence":"Accumulated pāpa leads to unpredictable reversals and deeper entanglement; restraint and correction stabilize one’s course."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"karma-theory","core_concept":"Karma is subtle (gahanā gatiḥ): apparent power/weakness is unstable; moral compounding intensifies bondage.","practical_application":"Do not infer merit from temporary success; interrupt the chain of wrongdoing early through confession, restraint, and corrective acts."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: शान्त

Secondary Rasa: भयानक

Geographic Context

Type: None

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 137 (karma and ethical reversals)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An allegorical teaching scene: Varāha explains the reversal of fortunes and the deepening maze of karma when sin is compounded.","item_prompts":["Varāha teaching","scales of justice","wheel/spiral symbolizing karma","figures swapping positions (weak/strong)","shadowy path indicating ‘gahanā gatiḥ’"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: symbolic wheel of karma behind Varāha; stylized figures in balanced composition; strong outlines and flat colors.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-leaf halo and ornate frame; central karma-wheel motif; minimal figures showing reversal; jewel-toned palette.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: soft gradations; allegorical background with winding path; Varāha’s calm authoritative gaze.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: lyrical landscape with a winding forest path; small figures on a switchback trail; Varāha as sage-like instructor."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"reflective, cautionary","suggested_raga":"Tōḍi","pace":"slow-medium","voice_tone":"grave, contemplative, admonitory"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Vaishnavism
• Karma Theory
• Moral Philosophy

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It captures a widely attested Sanskrit ethical reflection on contingency and moral causality, useful for comparative study across Purāṇas and Dharma literature.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic marker appears in this verse.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

It cautions against complacency: conditions can reverse, and compounding wrongdoing obscures outcomes and deepens entanglement.