Shloka 56

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

Sanskrit

एकसार्थप्रयातं ये निः स्वमर्थार्थिनं नरम् ।

अपास्य स्वान्नमश्नन्ति त इमे श्लेष्मभोजिनः ॥

Transliteration

ekasārthaprayātaṃ ye niḥ svamarthārthinaṃ naram / apāsya svānnamaśnanti ta ime śleṣmabhojinaḥ

Translation

ਜੋ ਇੱਕੋ ਕਾਫ਼ਲੇ ਨਾਲ ਤੁਰ ਕੇ, ਬੇਸਹਾਰਾ ਤੇ ਮਦਦ ਮੰਗਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਨੂੰ ਛੱਡ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਫਿਰ ਆਪਣਾ ਹੀ ਭੋਜਨ ਖਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ—ਉਹ ਬਲਗ਼ਮ ਦੇ ਭੱਖੀ ਬਣਦੇ ਹਨ।

Word by Word

• एक-सार्थ-प्रयातम्: one who has traveled with the same caravan
• एक-सार्थ-प्रयातम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + सार्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रयात (कृदन्त; √या धातु, प्र+√या)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: एकेन सार्थेन प्रयातम् = ‘having set out with one caravan/company’; ‘प्रयात’ = क्त (past participle)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• निः: without
• निः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निः (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्ग/निपात (privative/intensifier)

• स्वम्: his own
• स्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (own)

• अर्थ-अर्थिनम्: a seeker of gain
• अर्थ-अर्थिनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: अर्थम् अर्थयते इति/अर्थस्य अर्थी = ‘one seeking benefit/wealth’

• नरम्: man
• नरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अपास्य: having abandoned
• अपास्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अप + √अस्/√आस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘having cast aside/abandoned’; अव्ययभाव (gerund functioning as indeclinable)

• स्व-अन्नम्: their own food
• स्व-अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य अन्नम्)

• अश्नन्ति: they eat
• अश्नन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• इमे: these
• इमे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• श्लेष्म-भोजिनः: mucus-eaters
• श्लेष्म-भोजिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्लेष्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + भोजिन् (प्रातिपदिक; √भुज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (श्लेष्मणः भोजिनः = ‘mucus-eaters’)

Speakers

• Not specified in input; didactic narration on compassion and travel-ethics.

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Compassion
• Social solidarity
• Karmaphala

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Shared journey implies shared responsibility. Refusing aid to a vulnerable companion while enjoying one’s own comfort is framed as a serious social sin with degrading consequences.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Dharma/karmaphala instruction; not pañcalakṣaṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

Phlegm symbolizes stagnation and coldness of heart. The one who ‘withholds warmth’ from the needy experiences a cold, viscous form of nourishment in return.