Adhyaya 14 — The Messenger of Yama Explains Karmic Retribution and the Causes of Naraka Torments
वृकैर्भयङ्करैः पृष्ठं नित्यमस्योपभुज्यते ।
पृष्ठमांसं नृपैतॆन यतो लोकस्य भक्षितम् ॥
vṛkair bhayaṅkaraiḥ pṛṣṭhaṃ nityam asyopabhujyate | pṛṣṭha-māṃsaṃ nṛpaitena yato lokasya bhakṣitam ||
แผ่นหลังของเขาถูกหมาป่าที่น่าสะพรึงกลัวกัดกินอยู่เสมอ—เพราะกษัตริย์ผู้นั้นได้กินเนื้อของประชาชน โดยเฉพาะ ‘เนื้อหลัง’ ซึ่งควรคุ้มครอง
{ "primaryRasa": "raudra", "secondaryRasa": "bhayanaka", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
A ruler exists to protect, not prey upon subjects. Exploitation is framed as cannibalizing one’s own people; the punishment returns the predatory act upon the predator.
Dharma (especially rājadharma) taught through karmaphala imagery; ancillary to the fivefold Purāṇic markers.
‘Back’ suggests those who cannot face power directly (the vulnerable). Wolves externalize the ruler’s own rapacity, turning inner predation into outer torment.