Shloka 58

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

Sanskrit

सूर्येन्दुतारका दृष्टा यैरुच्छिष्टैस्तु कामतः ।

तेषां याम्यैर्नरैर्नेत्रे न्यस्तो वह्निः समेध्यते ॥

Transliteration

sūryendutārakā dṛṣṭā yairucchiṣṭaistu kāmataḥ / teṣāṃ yāmyairnarairnetre nyasto vahniḥ samedhyate

Translation

ఉచ్ఛిష్ట స్థితిలో ఉండి జాగ్రత్తగా సూర్యుడు, చంద్రుడు, నక్షత్రాలను తిలకించువారు—వారి కళ్లలో యమదూతలు అగ్నిని ఉంచి దానిని ప్రజ్వలింపజేస్తారు।

Word by Word

• सूर्य-इन्दु-तारकाः: sun, moon, and stars
• सूर्य-इन्दु-तारकाः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + तारका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (सूर्यः च इन्दुः च तारकाः च)

• दृष्टाः: seen
• दृष्टाः: Karma (कर्म/Object predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृष्ट (कृदन्त; √दृश् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग (contextually plural), प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘seen’

• यैः: by whom
• यैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• उच्छिष्टैः: with impurity/leftovers
• उच्छिष्टैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उच्छिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (or पुंलिङ्ग), तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘with leftovers/impurity’

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• कामतः: deliberately/at will
• कामतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause-Motive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कामतः (अव्यय; काम (प्रातिपदिक) + तस्)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘at will/from desire’

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• याम्यैः: by Yama-like (infernal)
• याम्यैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: याम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण ‘southern/pertaining to Yama’

• नरैः: by men
• नरैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• नेत्रे: in the eye
• नेत्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन (or द्विवचन in some readings; here locative sg)

• न्यस्तः: placed
• न्यस्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न्यस्त (कृदन्त; नि + √अस्/√स्था/√सद्?; standard: नि + √अस् ‘to place’ as ‘न्यस्’ in usage)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘placed’

• वह्निः: fire
• वह्निः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• समेध्यते: is kindled/burns up
• समेध्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √इध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (passive sense) ‘is kindled/burns’

Speakers

• Not specified in input; didactic narration on purity and reverence toward cosmic luminaries.

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Sūrya
• Candra
• Yama
• Agni

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Ritual purity
• Reverence for celestial deities
• Karmaphala
• Naraka imagery

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The cosmos is approached as sacred presence. Deliberate irreverence while impure is treated as an affront to the divine order, with punishment targeting perception itself (the eyes).

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Dharma/karmaphala instruction; not pañcalakṣaṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

Eyes represent cognition and intention. Fire in the eyes symbolizes distorted perception caused by impurity and willful disregard; what should illumine (sun/moon/stars) becomes inner burning when approached without discipline.