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Shloka 16

Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and Dāna as the Soul’s True Companion on the Path to Yama

Devanagari script

त्यक्त्वा स्वकर्माणि मदेन सुस्थितं मया सुतीर्थे स्ववपुर्न चोज्झितम् / धर्मोर्जितो नैव न देवपूजनं कृतं मया चैव विमुक्तिहेतवे

Transliteration

tyaktvā svakarmāṇi madena susthitaṃ mayā sutīrthe svavapurna cojjhitam / dharmorjito naiva na devapūjanaṃ kṛtaṃ mayā caiva vimuktihetave

Translation

“గర్వమదంతో నేను నా స్వధర్మకర్మలను విడిచిపెట్టాను. సుస్థితిలో ఉన్నప్పటికీ సుతీర్థంలో శుద్ధాచార-తపస్సుతో దేహాన్ని సమర్పించలేదు. ధర్మాన్ని సంపాదించలేదు, దేవపూజ చేయలేదు; ముక్తికి కారణమయ్యే ఏ కర్మనూ చేయలేదు।”

Word by Word
त्यक्त्वाhaving abandoned
त्यक्त्वा:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeVerb
Rootत्यज् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), from √त्यज्; ‘having abandoned’
स्वकर्माणिone's own actions
स्वकर्माणि:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootस्व + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘स्वस्य कर्माणि’
मदेनby pride/intoxication
मदेन:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootमद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; instrumental ‘by/with intoxication (pride)’
सुस्थितम्well-established
सुस्थितम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootसु + स्थित (√स्था) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally ‘well-established/firm’
मयाby me
मया:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘by me’
सुतीर्थेat a holy place
सुतीर्थे:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootसु + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘सु-तीर्थम्’ = good sacred ford/place; locative ‘in/at’
स्ववपुःone's own body
स्ववपुः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootस्व + वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘स्वस्य वपुः’
नnot
न:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)
चand
च:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)
उज्झितम्abandoned (cast off)
उज्झितम्:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय)
TypeAdjective
Rootउत् + √झा/हā (धातु) → उज्झित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त PPP ‘abandoned/cast off’; here predicative with ‘स्ववपुः’ (not cast off)
धर्मःdharma/righteousness
धर्मः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
ऊर्जितःstrengthened
ऊर्जितः:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootऊर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त PPP used adjectivally ‘strengthened/augmented’
नnot
न:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-अव्यय
एवindeed/just
एव:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)
नnot
न:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-अव्यय
देवपूजनम्worship of the gods
देवपूजनम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootदेव + पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘देवानां पूजनम्’
कृतम्done/performed
कृतम्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootकृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त PPP ‘done’; used predicatively ‘was done’
मयाby me
मया:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, तृतीया, एकवचन
चand
च:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय
एवindeed
एव:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअवधारण-अव्यय
विमुक्तिहेतवेfor the cause of liberation
विमुक्तिहेतवे:
Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootविमुक्ति + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘विमुक्तेः हेतु’ (cause of liberation); dative ‘for’
Speaker

A repentant departed soul (preta) expressing regret (as cited within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue framework of the Preta Kanda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pride (mada) leads to abandonment of svadharma; without dharma, deva-pūjā, and liberative orientation, life’s favorable conditions are squandered.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā expressed as ahaṅkāra; purification through dharma and upāsanā prepares for mokṣa; human birth as rare opportunity.

Application: Counter pride with humility and daily discipline; maintain svadharma; integrate worship and sādhana aimed at liberation rather than mere prosperity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana teachings on svadharma, tīrtha, and the necessity of worship and dharma for auspicious post-mortem outcomes (general internal parallels)

Characters & Entities
D
Devas
T
Tirtha

FAQs

This verse presents svadharma as a foundational safeguard: abandoning prescribed duties out of pride leaves one without the merit and inner purification that support a favorable after-death journey and spiritual progress.

It frames the after-death condition as one of regret and self-assessment: the soul recalls missed opportunities—dharma, worship, and liberation-oriented practice—implying that post-death states reflect one’s neglected or cultivated actions while alive.

Avoid pride-driven neglect of responsibilities; consistently practice dharma, maintain devotion (devapūjanā), and pursue liberation-oriented disciplines so life is not later remembered as wasted.

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