Shloka 37

Adhyaya 14 — The Messenger of Yama Explains Karmic Retribution and the Causes of Naraka Torments

Sanskrit

गन्धर्वसिद्धाप्सरसां गीताद्यैरुपभुञ्जते ।

देवत्‍वे मानुषत्वे च तिर्यक्त्वे च शुभाशुभम् ॥

Transliteration

gandharvasiddhāpsarasāṃ gītādyair upabhuñjate / devatve mānuṣatve ca tiryaktve ca śubhāśubham

Translation

ଗନ୍ଧର୍ବ, ସିଦ୍ଧ ଓ ଅପ୍ସରାମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଗୀତାଦି ଦ୍ୱାରା ସେମାନେ ନିଜ ପୁଣ୍ୟ ଭୋଗ କରନ୍ତି। ଦେବତ୍ୱରେ, ମନୁଷ୍ୟତ୍ୱରେ ଏବଂ ତିର୍ୟକ୍-ଯୋନିରେ (ପଶୁଜନ୍ମରେ) ମଧ୍ୟ ସେମାନେ ଶୁଭାଶୁଭ ଅନୁଭବ କରନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• gandharva-siddha-apsarasām: of Gandharvas, Siddhas, and Apsarases
• gandharva-siddha-apsarasām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandharva (प्रातिपदिक) + siddha (प्रातिपदिक) + apsaras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine, governed by apsaras), षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural); द्वन्द्व-समास (enumerative): 'of Gandharvas, Siddhas, and Apsarases'

• gīta-ādyaiḥ: by songs and the like
• gīta-ādyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gīta (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष (ādi as 'etc.'): 'gītāni ādayaḥ' = songs and the like

• upabhuñjate: they enjoy
• upabhuñjate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upabhuj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), आत्मनेपद

• devatve: in godhood (as a god)
• devatve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• mānuṣatve: in human state
• mānuṣatve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānuṣatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (and)

• tiryaktve: in animal state
• tiryaktve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tiryaktva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (and)

• śubha-aśubham: good and evil (results)
• śubha-aśubham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक) + aśubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); द्वन्द्व: 'śubhaṃ ca aśubhaṃ ca' (good and bad)

Speakers

• Sage/narrator addressing a king (continued context)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Svarga enjoyment
• Rebirth across realms
• Karma
• Three destinies

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Rebirth spans multiple modes of existence; karmic fruits manifest as refined pleasures in heaven and as mixed outcomes across divine, human, and animal births.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

General dharma/karma doctrine; not a genealogical or manvantara enumeration.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘song’ motif points to subtle enjoyment (sūkṣma-bhoga): even pleasure is a binding experience that consumes merit and keeps the cycle turning.