Shloka 14

Sevaka-parīkṣā (Testing and Appointment of Servants) and Rājadharma Outcomes

Devanagari script

द्विजिह्वमुद्वेगकरं क्रूरमेकान्तदारुणम् / खलस्याहेश्च वदनमपकाराय केवलम्

Transliteration

dvijihvamudvegakaraṃ krūramekāntadāruṇam / khalasyāheśca vadanamapakārāya kevalam

Translation

بدکار آدمی اور سانپ کا چہرہ—دو زبانی، خوف پیدا کرنے والا، سنگدل اور نہایت بےرحم—صرف نقصان پہنچانے کے لیے ہی ہے۔

Word by Word

• द्वि-जिह्वम्: two-tongued
• द्वि-जिह्वम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (द्वे जिह्वे यस्य/द्विजिह्वः; अत्र नपुंसकं विशेषणरूपेण)

• उद्वेग-करम्: causing agitation
• उद्वेग-करम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्वेग (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (उद्वेगं करोति इति)

• क्रूरम्: cruel
• क्रूरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एकान्त-दारुणम्: utterly dreadful
• एकान्त-दारुणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (एकान्तं दारुणम्)

• खलस्य: of a wicked person
• खलस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अहेः: of a snake
• अहेः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• वदनम्: mouth/face
• वदनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (अत्र प्रथमा—विषयः)

• अपकाराय: for harm
• अपकाराय: Sampradana (Purpose/Dative/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• केवलम्: only/merely
• केवलम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थ (adverbial ‘only/merely’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu to Garuda (Inferred typical dialogue frame; needs confirmation from surrounding text)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: दुर्जन-वाणी/मुख is intrinsically harmful; duplicity (dvi-jihva) and cruelty are to be recognized as adharma and avoided.

Vedantic Theme: Asat-saṅga as bondage; tamasic cruelty and deceit obscure sattva and lead to suffering.

Application: Treat persistent deceit and cruelty as red flags; maintain boundaries; prefer sat-saṅga and truthful communication.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: moral landscape (allegorical)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (nīti/dharma passages): condemnation of दुर्जन, praise of satya and ahiṃsā

FAQs

What is the importance of controlling speech in the Garuda Purana?

This verse condemns “two-tongued” (duplicitous) speech and frames harmful words as a mark of wickedness that leads to negative karma.

How does this verse relate to karma and moral consequences?

By equating the wicked person’s mouth with a serpent’s, the verse implies that cruelty and deceit are inherently harmful actions that generate adverse karmic outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid duplicity, gossip, and manipulative speech; practice truthful, beneficial, and compassionate communication to uphold dharma.