Shloka 74

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

Sanskrit

क्षुत्क्षामास्तृट्पतज्जिह्वातालवो वेदनातुराः ।

दिवामैथुनिनः पापाḥ परदारभुजश्च ये ॥

Transliteration

kṣutkṣāmās tṛṭpatajjihvā-tālavo vedanāturāḥ / divāmaithuninaḥ pāpāḥ paradārabhujaś ca ye

Translation

Изнуренные голодом, с пересохшими от жажды языками и небом, терзаемые болью — эти грешники, предающиеся дневному соитию, и те, кто наслаждается чужой женой, подвергаются здесь наказанию.

Word by Word

• क्षुत्-क्षामाः: emaciated by hunger
• क्षुत्-क्षामाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुत् (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (क्षुधया क्षामाः = hunger-emaciated)

• तृट्-पतत्-जिह्वा-तालवः: whose tongue and palate droop from thirst
• तृट्-पतत्-जिह्वा-तालवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृट् (प्रातिपदिक) + पतत् (कृदन्त, पत्-धातु) + जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक) + तालु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समासः (येषां तृष्णया पतन्ती जिह्वा-तालू स्तः)

• वेदना-आतुराः: afflicted with pain
• वेदना-आतुराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेदना (प्रातिपदिक) + आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वेदनया आतुराः)

• दिवा-मैथुनिनः: those who have intercourse by day
• दिवा-मैथुनिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय) + मैथुनिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सप्तमी/अव्यय-तत्पुरुषवत् (दिवा = by day)

• पापाः: sinful
• पापाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• पर-दार-भुजः: enjoyers of others’ wives
• पर-दार-भुजः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + दार (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज् (प्रातिपदिक; from √भुज् ‘to enjoy/eat’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (परस्य दारान् भुङ्क्ते इति)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

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

Speakers

• Not specified in the provided excerpt.

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Sexual ethics
• Adultery
• Karmaphala
• Naraka (hell) imagery

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Sexual conduct is framed as a dharmic responsibility affecting families and social order. Adultery is condemned as harm to another’s household; the imagery underscores desire leading to suffering.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Dharma/karmaphala instruction rather than cosmological lakṣaṇas.

What is the esoteric significance?

Hunger and thirst symbolize insatiable craving (tṛṣṇā). The ‘dry tongue/palate’ indicates pleasure turning into aridity—desire that cannot truly satisfy.