Vamana Purana — Karmic Causes of Narakas, Shloka 15

Karmic Causes of Narakas and the Irremediability of Ingratitude (Kṛtaghna-doṣa)

Devanagari script

एकसार्थप्रयातं ये पश्यन्तश्चार्थिनं नराः असंविभज्य भुञ्जन्ति ते यान्ति श्लेष्मभोजनम्

Transliteration

ekasārthaprayātaṃ ye paśyantaścārthinaṃ narāḥ asaṃvibhajya bhuñjanti te yānti śleṣmabhojanam

Translation

Те люди, что, идя в одном караване, видят нуждающегося и всё же едят, не разделив пищи, — попадают в ад, именуемый Śleṣmabhojana (ад «поедания слизи»).

Word by Word

• eka-sārtha-prayātam: one who has set out with a single caravan/company
• eka-sārtha-prayātam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + sārtha (प्रातिपदिक) + prayāta (कृदन्त, √yā प्र + क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; past passive participle used adjectivally; समासः—एकसार्थे प्रयातम् (determinative)

• ye: who (those who)
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; relative pronoun

• paśyantaḥ: seeing
• paśyantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु) → paśyat (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; present active participle (शतृ), agreeing with ye/narāḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चय)

• arthinam: a supplicant/beggar (one who seeks)
• arthinam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arthin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• narāḥ: men/people
• narāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• a-saṃvibhajya: without sharing/distributing
• a-saṃvibhajya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय) + saṃ-√vibhaj (धातु) → saṃvibhajya (कृदन्त, ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (ल्यप्), with privative a-; adverbial to bhuñjanti

• bhuñjanti: they eat/enjoy
• bhuñjanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhuj (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; demonstrative pronoun

• yānti: they go
• yānti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (Present/लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural

• śleṣma-bhojanam: the eating of phlegm (a hellish food)
• śleṣma-bhojanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śleṣman (प्रातिपदिक) + bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः—श्लेष्मणः भोजनम् (genitive tatpuruṣa)

Speakers

• Not specified in input (likely within the Purāṇa’s standard narrator-to-inquirer dialogue)

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Karma-phala
• Naraka (hells)
• Dāna (charity)
• Traveler/guest ethics

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Need encountered on the road creates an immediate duty of compassion: to eat in front of a supplicant without sharing violates dāna-dharma and the broader obligation to protect life through sustenance.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is dharma-upadeśa expressed through naraka-phala (results in hell). It supplements pancalakṣaṇa material by prescribing social/ethical conduct rather than describing creation, lineages, or manvantaras.

What is the symbolic significance?

‘Śleṣmabhojana’ (mucus as food) symbolizes the moral disgust of selfish consumption: food, meant to sustain and be shared, becomes a repulsive substitute when one refuses compassion.