Shloka 17

Vasiṣṭhasya śokaḥ, Vipāśā–Śatadrū-nāmākaraṇam, Kalmāṣapādasya bhaya-prasaṅgaḥ (Ādi Parva 167)

Devanagari script

दृष्टवा फलस्य नापश्यद्‌ दोषान्‌ पापानुबन्धकान्‌ | विविनक्ति न शौचं य: सोअन्यत्रापि कथं भवेत्‌

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā phalasya nāpaśyad doṣān pāpānubandhakān | vivinakti na śaucaṃ yaḥ so 'nyatrāpi kathaṃ bhavet ||

Translation

ଲାଭର ଲୋଭ ଦେଖି ସେ ଫଳ ସହିତ ଲାଗିଥିବା ପାପାନୁବନ୍ଧୀ ଦୋଷଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ଦେଖିଲା ନାହିଁ। ଯେ ଗ୍ରହଣ ସମୟରେ ଶୁଦ୍ଧି-ଅଶୁଦ୍ଧିର ବିବେକ କରେ ନାହିଁ, ସେ ଅନ୍ୟ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟରେ କିପରି ସଠିକ୍ ଆଚରଣ କରିବ? କହିବା ଦୁର୍ଲଭ।

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• फलस्य: of the fruit/result
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अपश्यत्: saw
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• दोषान्: faults/defects
• दोषान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• पापानुबन्धकान्: leading to sin; having sinful consequences
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप-अनुबन्धक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विविनक्ति: distinguishes/discriminates
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-विच्
• Form: Present (Laṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• शौचम्: purity/cleanliness (right conduct)
• शौचम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अन्यत्र: elsewhere/in other matters
• अन्यत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यत्र

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• कथम्: how
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम्

• भवेत्: would be/might be
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Optative (Liṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

ब्राह्मण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• ब्राह्मण (a Brahmin speaker)
• फल (fruit/result, gain)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Do not be blinded by immediate gain; one must examine the hidden moral faults and sin-producing consequences. A person who ignores purity/impurity in accepting things cannot be trusted to behave ethically in other actions.

What is happening in the narrative?

A Brahmin speaker delivers a cautionary reflection: people may see only the attractive ‘fruit’ of an act while overlooking the sinful defects attached to it, and he questions the reliability of such people in broader conduct.