Vamana Purana — Karmic Causes of Narakas, Shloka 34

Karmic Causes of Narakas and the Irremediability of Ingratitude (Kṛtaghna-doṣa)

Devanagari script

वेदवह्निगुरुत्यागी भार्यापित्रोस्तथैव च/ गिरिशृड्गादधःपातं पात्यन्ते यमकिङ्करैः

Transliteration

vedavahnigurutyāgī bhāryāpitrostathaiva ca/ giriśṛḍgādadhaḥpātaṃ pātyante yamakiṅkaraiḥ

Translation

వేదాన్ని, యజ్ఞాగ్నిని, గురువును విడిచిపెట్టినవాడు, అలాగే భార్యను మరియు తల్లిదండ్రులను కూడా పరిత్యజించినవాడు—యమకింకరుల చేత పర్వతశిఖరం నుండి క్రింద పడవేయబడతాడు।

Word by Word

• वेद-वह्नि-गुरु-त्यागी: one who abandons the Veda, sacred fire, and teacher
• वेद-वह्नि-गुरु-त्यागी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + त्यागिन्/त्यागी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थ-समासः (वेदस्य, वह्नेः, गुरोः त्यागी)

• भार्या-पित्रोः: of (his) wife and father
• भार्या-पित्रोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक) + पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग+पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वः (भार्या च पितरौ/पिता च)

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (particle of emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• गिरि-शृङ्गात्: from a mountain peak
• गिरि-शृङ्गात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक) + शृङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गिरेः शृङ्गम्)

• अधः-पातम्: a downward fall
• अधः-पातम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधः (अव्यय) + पात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (अधः पातः)

• पात्यन्ते: are hurled down
• पात्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पत् (धातु) (णिच् causative: पातयति)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): ‘are made to fall’

• यम-किङ्करैः: by Yama’s servants
• यम-किङ्करैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक) + किङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (यमस्य किङ्कराः)

Speakers

• Pulastya to Nārada (typical Vāmana Purāṇa frame; specific speaker not stated in input)

Primary Deities

• Yama

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Naraka (punishment)
• Śruti authority (Veda)
• Gṛhastha obligations
• Guru-bhakti

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

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

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse treats fidelity to foundational duties—reverence for Veda, maintenance of sacred fire/ritual responsibility, loyalty to the guru, and care for spouse and parents—as pillars of dharma. Abandoning them is framed as a severe moral rupture with correspondingly severe consequences.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

This is best classified under Dharma/ācāra instruction within a Purāṇic teaching segment (often grouped with normative material rather than sarga/pratisarga). It aligns most closely with didactic portions that accompany or supplement vaṃśānucarita narratives, but is not itself a cosmogonic or genealogical unit.

What is the symbolic significance?

Being hurled from a mountain peak symbolizes loss of spiritual ‘height’ gained by discipline and right conduct. The agents of Yama represent the inescapability of karmic consequence when one violates core social and sacred bonds.