Shloka 40
Dharma-vyādha’s Analysis of Moral Decline and the Mahābhūta–Guṇa Schema (धर्मव्याधोपदेशः)
येषां तटाकानि महोदकानि वाप्यश्च कूपाश्च प्रतिश्रयाश्व अन्नस्य दानं मधुरा च वाणी यमस्य ते निर्वचना भवन्ति,जो लोग अगाध जलसे भरे हुए तालाब और पोखरे खुदवाते हैं, बावली, कुएँ तथा धर्मशालाएँ तैयार कराते हैं, अन्नका दान करते और मीठी बातें बोलते हैं, उन्हें यमराजकी बात भी नहीं सुननी पड़ती है अर्थात् यमराज उसे वचनमात्रसे भी दण्ड नहीं दे सकते
yeṣāṃ taṭākāni mahodakāni vāpyāś ca kūpāś ca pratiśrayāś ca | annasya dānaṃ madhurā ca vāṇī yamasya te nirvacanā bhavanti ||
Wika ni Mārkaṇḍeya: “Yaong nagpapagawa ng malalalim na imbakan ng tubig—kasama ang mga balon na may hagdan (stepwell), mga balon, at mga silungan para sa mga manlalakbay—yaong nagbibigay ng pagkain bilang limos at nagsasalita nang banayad at matamis: para sa kanila, nawawalan ng bisa ang kapangyarihan ni Yama. Ibig sabihin, hindi na nila kailangang marinig man lamang ang panawagan ni Yama, sapagkat inilalagay sila ng gayong kabutihan sa labas ng abot ng kanyang parusa.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Public-benefit gifts (water sources and shelters), food charity, and gentle speech are presented as powerful forms of dharma whose merit protects a person from Yama’s punitive authority—emphasizing that sustaining life, easing travel, and practicing kindness in word and deed are among the highest ethical acts.
Mārkaṇḍeya is instructing his listeners on the fruits of righteous conduct. He lists concrete, socially sustaining actions—building waterworks and shelters, giving food, and speaking kindly—and declares that such people are not subject to Yama’s summons or punishment, highlighting the moral economy of karma and merit.