Shloka 23
The Glory of Plastering/Smearing (and Maintaining) Hari’s Temple
यम उवाच । अनेन किं कृतं कर्म पापं वा पुण्यमेव वा । समूलं वद हे प्राज्ञ चित्रगुप्त ममाग्रतः
yama uvāca | anena kiṃ kṛtaṃ karma pāpaṃ vā puṇyameva vā | samūlaṃ vada he prājña citragupta mamāgrataḥ
யமன் கூறினான்—இவன் செய்த செயல் எது? பாவமா அல்லது புண்ணியமா? ஹே ஞானமிகு சித்ரகுப்தா, என் முன்னிலையில் மூலக் காரணத்துடன் முழுதும் கூறு।
Yama
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: celestial_realm
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यम उवाच = यमः + उवाच; पुण्यमेव = पुण्यम् + एव; ममाग्रतः = मम + अग्रतः.
FAQs
Chitragupta is traditionally the cosmic record-keeper of actions; Yama, as judge of dharma, asks him to state whether the person’s karma is sinful or meritorious.
“Samūlam” means “with the root,” i.e., not only the outward act but also its underlying cause, intention, and context that generate the karmic result.
Actions are evaluated as pāpa or puṇya with attention to their deeper motivations and causes, highlighting moral responsibility beyond mere external behavior.