Shloka 5

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

Sanskrit

होमकाले यथा वह्निराज्यपातमवेक्षते ।

ऋतौ प्रजापतिस्तद्वद् बीजपातमवेक्षते ॥

Transliteration

homakāle yathā vahnirājyapātamavekṣate / ṛtau prajāpatistadvad bījapātamavekṣate

Translation

హోమకాలంలో అగ్ని ఘృతాహుతిని ఎలా ఎదురుచూస్తుందో, అలాగే యథోచిత ఋతువులో ప్రజాపతి బీజపాతం (గర్భాధానం) కోసం ఎదురుచూస్తాడు।

Word by Word

• homa-kāle: at the time of the oblation
• homa-kāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: homa (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (homasya kālaḥ)

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (comparative particle)

• vahniḥ: fire
• vahniḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• ājya-pātam: the pouring of ghee
• ājya-pātam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ājya (प्रातिपदिक) + pāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ājyasya pātaḥ)

• avekṣate: observes; awaits
• avekṣate: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• ṛtau: in the proper season/period
• ṛtau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛtu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• prajāpatiḥ: Prajāpati (Lord of creatures)
• prajāpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajāpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• tadvat: likewise
• tadvat: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तुल्यतावाचक (adverb of similarity)

• bīja-pātam: the casting of seed
• bīja-pātam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bīja (प्रातिपदिक) + pāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (bījasya pātaḥ)

• avekṣate: observes; awaits
• avekṣate: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speakers

• Yamakiṅkara continues instruction by ritual analogy

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Agni
• Prajāpati

Key Themes

• Ritual analogy
• Procreative dharma
• Ṛta (cosmic timing)
• Gṛhastha discipline

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse sacralizes procreation by aligning it with yajña: both require right time and right procedure. Sexual conduct is treated as a ritual act with cosmic witnesses and thus moral accountability.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Dharma/ācāra teaching; not one of the five-lakṣaṇa historical-cosmic categories.

What is the esoteric significance?

Agni and Prajāpati represent transformative fire and generative intelligence; the teaching implies that when timing is honored, desire is transmuted into dharmic creation rather than bondage.