Shloka 10

Adhyaya 28 — Alarka Inquires into Varna and Ashrama Dharma; Madalasa Defines the Fourfold Duties

Sanskrit

यावत्तु नोपनयनं क्रियते वै द्विजन्मनः ।

कामचेष्टोक्तिभक्ष्यश्च तावद् भवति पुत्रक ॥

Transliteration

yāvat tu nopanayanaṃ kriyate vai dvijanmanaḥ | kāmaceṣṭokti bhakṣyaś ca tāvad bhavati putraka ||

Translation

Selagi upanayana (upacara inisiasi) belum dilaksanakan bagi seseorang yang lahir sebagai dvija (dua kali lahir), dia masih bebas bertindak menurut kehendak dalam tingkah laku, pertuturan, dan makanan—wahai anakku.

Word by Word

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम-विशेषण)
• Form: अव्यय (सम्बन्ध-अव्यय), correlative adverb: 'as long as/so long as'

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: None (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात/विरोधार्थक (particle: 'but/indeed')

• न: not
• न: None (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• उपनयनम्: initiation (upanayana)
• उपनयनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upanayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; here as कर्म (object) of 'kriyate'

• क्रियते: is performed
• क्रियते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive): 'is done/performed'

• वै: indeed
• वै: None (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (emphatic particle)

• द्विजन्मनः: of the twice-born (brahmin etc.)
• द्विजन्मनः: Sambandha (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvi-janman (द्वि + जन्मन्; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'द्वे जन्मनी यस्य' (one having two births)

• काम: desire
• काम: None (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप; compound member

• चेष्टा: actions/behavior
• चेष्टा: None (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ceṣṭā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप; compound member

• उक्ति: speech/utterance
• उक्ति: None (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ukti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप; compound member

• भक्ष्यः: (he) is driven by desire, actions, speech (i.e., childish impulses)
• भक्ष्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थ: 'काम-चेष्टा-उक्ति-भक्ष्य' (one who is to be 'fed' by/occupied with desire, actions, speech) i.e., under sense-impulses

• च: and
• च: None (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction 'and')

• तावत्: so long
• तावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम-विशेषण)
• Form: अव्यय (correlative adverb): 'so long/that long'

• भवति: is/becomes
• भवति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद: 'becomes/is'

• पुत्रक: O dear boy
• पुत्रक: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन; diminutive/affectionate address

Speakers

• Not specified in the provided excerpt (teacher/narrator addressing ‘putraka’)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Āśrama-dharma
• Upanayana
• Brahmacarya
• Discipline and eligibility

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Initiation marks a moral threshold: after upanayana, the student is bound to restraint and rule. The verse emphasizes that formal entry into Vedic discipline transforms one’s obligations regarding behavior, speech, and diet.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra/Dharma instruction centered on saṃskāra (rite of passage), not on sarga/pratisarga/vaṃśa/manvantara.

What is the esoteric significance?

Upanayana (‘leading near’) symbolizes turning the mind toward the guru and the inner light of knowledge; restraint of speech/food/action is a practical method for concentrating consciousness.