Shloka 7

The Legend of Hemakuṇḍala: Charity, Decline of the Sons, and Yama’s Judgment

Devanagari script

एवं महाधनः सोथ हाकर्णपलितोभवत् । पश्चाद्विचार्य संसारक्षणिकत्वं स्वचेतसि

Transliteration

evaṃ mahādhanaḥ sotha hākarṇapalitobhavat | paścādvicārya saṃsārakṣaṇikatvaṃ svacetasi

Translation

Demikianlah, walaupun dia menjadi amat kaya, rambutnya memutih hingga ke telinga. Kemudian, dengan merenung dalam hati tentang kefanaan samsara, dia menilai semula haluan hidupnya.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Prakāra (प्रकार/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

• महा-धनः: very wealthy
• महा-धनः: Karta (कर्ता) (विशेषण-रूपेण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: ‘having great wealth’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), sequence/transition

• आ-कर्ण-पलितः: grey up to the ears (completely grey)
• आ-कर्ण-पलितः: Karta (कर्ता) (विशेषण-रूपेण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + पलित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); avyayībhāva: ‘up to the ears’ (आकर्ण) + palita ‘grey-haired’

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्/Imperfect past), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• विचार्य: having reflected
• विचार्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि + चर् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त), indeclinable; sense: ‘having reflected/considered’

• संसार-क्षणिकत्वम्: the transience of worldly existence
• संसार-क्षणिकत्वम्: Karma (कर्म) (विचार्यस्य विषयः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षणिकत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘संसारस्य क्षणिकत्वम्’

• स्व-चेतसि: in his own mind
• स्व-चेतसि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: ‘in his own mind’ (स्वस्य चेतसि)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual; specific speaker not identifiable from this single verse alone)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: सोथ → सः + अथ; हाकर्णपलितोभवत् → आ-कर्ण-पलितः + अभवत्; पश्चाद्विचार्य → पश्चात् + विचार्य.

FAQs

What is the central teaching of this verse?

It highlights impermanence: even great wealth ends in aging, prompting reflection on the fleeting nature of saṃsāra and the rise of detachment (vairāgya).

How does the verse connect wealth with spiritual reflection?

It shows that material success does not prevent time and decay; realizing this can trigger inner inquiry and a shift toward spiritual priorities.

What ethical lesson does this verse suggest for daily life?

Use prosperity wisely and cultivate awareness of life’s transience, so that one’s choices are guided by lasting values rather than temporary gains.