Shloka 8

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

Sanskrit

राजोवाच यास्यामि देवानुचर यत्र त्वं मां नयिष्यसि ।

किञ्चित्पृच्छामि तन्मे त्वं यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि ॥

Transliteration

rājovāca yāsyāmi devānucara yatra tvaṃ māṃ nayiṣyasi / kiñcit pṛcchāmi tan me tvaṃ yathāvad vaktum arhasi //

Translation

రాజు పలికెను: 'ఓ దేవదూతా, నీవు నన్ను ఎక్కడికి తీసుకువెళతావో అక్కడికి నేను వస్తాను. కానీ నేను ఒకటి అడుగుతున్నాను—దయచేసి ఉన్నది ఉన్నట్లుగా నాకు నిజం చెప్పు.'

Word by Word

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• yāsyāmi: I shall go
• yāsyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• deva-anucara: O attendant of the gods
• deva-anucara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + anucara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: देवानाम् अनुचरः), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सम्बन्धबोधक-देशवाचक (relative adverb: 'where')

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, मध्यमपुरुष, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तमपुरुष, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• nayiṣyasi: you will lead
• nayiṣyasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nī (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• kiñcit: something
• kiñcit: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kiñcit (अव्यय/सर्वनाम)
• Form: अव्यय, परिमाणवाचक/अनिश्चित (indefinite: 'something/a little')

• pṛcchāmi: I ask
• pṛcchāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prach (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• me: for me / my
• me: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/for me)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (enclitic)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, मध्यमपुरुष, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• yathāvat: properly
• yathāvat: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'properly/accurately')

• vaktum: to speak
• vaktum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable infinitive)

• arhasi: you ought / are fit
• arhasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speakers

• King (rājā) speaking to a Yama-kiṅkara (messenger/attendant of Yama)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Yama

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Karma
• Afterlife
• Naraka (hell) imagery

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Inquiry is framed as a dharmic act: before accepting fate or consequence, one seeks truthful understanding of causes (karma) and results (phala).

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily Dharma/Karmaphala instruction rather than strict pañcalakṣaṇa categories; it most closely serves as didactic material supporting right conduct (anushāsana) within Purāṇic teaching.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘leading’ signifies the soul being carried by its karmic momentum; the request for ‘yathāvat’ knowledge points to discernment (viveka) as the first step toward release from repetitive suffering.