Vamana Purana — Karmic Causes of Narakas, Shloka 47
Karmic Causes of Narakas and the Irremediability of Ingratitude (Kṛtaghna-doṣa)
यथाश्वमेधः प्रवरः क्रतूनां पुत्रो यथा स्पर्शवतां वरिष्ठः तपोधनानामपि सुम्भयोनिः श्रुतिर्वरा यद्वदिहागमेषु
yathāśvamedhaḥ pravaraḥ kratūnāṃ putro yathā sparśavatāṃ variṣṭhaḥ tapodhanānāmapi sumbhayoniḥ śrutirvarā yadvadihāgameṣu
Kung paanong ang Aśvamedha ang pinakapanguna sa mga handog na sakripisyo (kratu), at kung paanong ang “anak na lalaki” ang pinakamainam sa mga bagay na nahahawakan; kung paanong ang dakilang pantas na isinilang sa angkan ni Sumbha ay namumukod kahit sa mga mayaman sa tapas—gayon din, sa mga Āgama, ang Śruti (kapahayagang Veda) ang pinakadakila.
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FAQs
The verse teaches a hierarchy of authorities: as eminent exemplars exist in ritual and social life, so too Śruti (the Veda) is presented as the highest standard among scriptural sources, implying that later traditions should align with it.
This functions as ancillary didactic material (śāstra-stuti/śruti-prādhānya) rather than a direct pañcalakṣaṇa item; it supports dharma and pramāṇa-discussion that commonly frames Purāṇic instruction.
By stacking ‘best-of’ analogies (Aśvamedha, son, eminent tapasvin), the text symbolically anchors Purāṇic/Āgamic teaching in Vedic revelation, asserting continuity rather than sectarian innovation.