Shloka 58

Adhyaya 50 — Mind-Born Progeny, Svayambhuva Manu’s Lineage, and Brahmā’s Ordinance to Duḥsaha (Alakṣmī’s Retinue)

Sanskrit

वृथोपवासिनो मर्त्या द्यूतस्त्रीषु सदा रताः ।

त्वद्भाषणोपकर्तारो वैडालव्रतिकाश्च ये ॥

Transliteration

vṛthopavāsino martyā dyūtastrīṣu sadā ratāḥ | tvadbhāṣaṇopakartāro vaiḍālavratikāś ca ye ||

Translation

வீணாக நோன்பு இருப்பவர்கள், எப்போதும் சூதாட்டமும் பெண்களும் மீது ஆசை கொண்டவர்கள், புகழ்ச்சி மொழியால் அருள் பெற முயல்வோர், மேலும் ‘பூனை-விரதம்’ போன்ற வஞ்சக ஒழுக்கம் கடைப்பிடிப்போர்—அவர்களின் நடத்தை கண்டிக்கத்தக்கது।

Word by Word

• vṛthā: in vain, uselessly
• vṛthā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vṛthā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• upavāsinaḥ: fasters, those who observe fasts
• upavāsinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upavāsin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• martyāḥ: mortals, men
• martyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: martya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• dyūta: gambling
• dyūta: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dyūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); समासपूर्वपद (as first member in compound)

• strīṣu: among women
• strīṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• ratāḥ: attached, devoted
• ratāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rata (प्रातिपदिक; √ram धातु से क्त participle)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle used adjectivally)

• tvad: your
• tvad: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (genitival relation) in compound; अव्यक्त-रूप (stem used in samāsa)

• bhāṣaṇa: speech, talk
• bhāṣaṇa: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• upakartāraḥ: helpers, benefactors
• upakartāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upakartṛ (प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ धातु से तृच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तृच्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun)

• vaiḍāla: cat (feline)
• vaiḍāla: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiḍāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग (member of compound)

• vratikāḥ: vow-observers, ascetics of a vow
• vratikāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vratika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

Speakers

• Unspecified in input; verse addresses a ‘Yakṣa’
• indicating a counsel-giver speaking to a Yakṣa within the chapter’s dialogue

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics
• Householder standards
• Hypocrisy vs true austerity
• Merit (puṇya) and conduct

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

External religiosity (fasts, vows) is condemned when it is ‘vṛthā’—not aligned with self-restraint and truth. The verse targets common moral failures: addiction (gambling, sensuality) and social deceit (flattery), culminating in ‘vaiḍālavrata’, a stock image for hypocrisy.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Primarily ‘Vṛtti/Ācāra’ style material (practical dharma instruction) rather than sarga/pratisarga/manvantara/vaṃśa/vaṃśānucarita. It functions as ethical guidance embedded in narrative.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘cat-vow’ symbolizes the mind that appears still and pious but is driven by predatory desire. The teaching cautions against tamasic spirituality—ritual used as a mask for craving and manipulation.