Shloka 3

Yamavākya

The Words of Yama

Devanagari script

नियोगी न नियोगं यः करोति कमलासन । प्रभोर्वित्तं समश्नाति स भवेत्काष्ठकीटकः ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

niyogī na niyogaṃ yaḥ karoti kamalāsana | prabhorvittaṃ samaśnāti sa bhavetkāṣṭhakīṭakaḥ || 3 ||

Translation

ข้าแต่ผู้ประทับบนดอกบัว (พรหมา) ผู้ที่เป็นผู้รับมอบหมายแต่ไม่ทำหน้าที่ตามที่มอบไว้ ยังกลับบริโภคทรัพย์ของนาย ผู้นั้นย่อมกลายเป็นหนอนเจาะไม้ ॥๓॥

Word by Word

• नियोगी: one appointed to duty (an officer)
• नियोगी: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agent noun (कर्तृवाचक)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle

• नियोगम्: duty/commission
• नियोगम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; relative pronoun

• करोति: does
• करोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• कमल-आसन: O lotus-seated (Brahmā)
• कमल-आसन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमल (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; समासः: कमले आसनं यस्य (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष/बहुव्रीह्यर्थे प्रचलित उपाधि)

• प्रभोः: of the master/lord
• प्रभोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• वित्तम्: wealth
• वित्तम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• समश्नाति: consumes/appropriates
• समश्नाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश् (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular; with preverb सम्- (सम् + अश्नाति)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• काष्ठ-कीटकः: a wood-worm
• काष्ठ-कीटकः: Karta (कर्ता/predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + कीटक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समासः: काष्ठे कीटकः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It teaches niyoga-dharma: accepting responsibility and resources without fulfilling the entrusted duty is a grave ethical lapse that leads to spiritual and karmic degradation.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Bhakti is not mere enjoyment of the Lord’s gifts; it requires faithful service (seva) and integrity—otherwise one commits a form of betrayal of the Lord or one’s patron.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily dharma-nīti (applied ethics) rather than a specific Vedanga; it underscores disciplined conduct in one’s appointed role, a prerequisite for any ritual or spiritual practice to bear fruit.