Vamana Purana — Karmic Causes of Narakas, Shloka 41

Karmic Causes of Narakas and the Irremediability of Ingratitude (Kṛtaghna-doṣa)

Devanagari script

दशवर्ष सहस्राणि तावत् तामिस्रके स्थिताः तावच्चैवान्धतामिस्रे असिपत्रवने ततः

Transliteration

daśavarṣa sahasrāṇi tāvat tāmisrake sthitāḥ tāvaccaivāndhatāmisre asipatravane tataḥ

Translation

وہ دس ہزار برس تک ‘تامِسْر’ میں رہتے ہیں؛ اتنی ہی مدت ‘اَندھَتامِسْر’ میں؛ اور اس کے بعد تلوار جیسے پتّوں والے جنگل ‘اَسی پترون’ میں جاتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• दशवर्ष: of ten years
• दशवर्ष: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश-वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; समासः—द्विगु (दश वर्षाणि) विशेषण (of सहस्राणि)

• सहस्राणि: thousands
• सहस्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन

• तावत्: so much/that long
• तावत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/quantifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाणवाचक (adverb of extent)

• तामिस्रके: in Tāmisraka (hell)
• तामिस्रके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तामिस्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; नरकनाम

• स्थिताः: remain/are placed
• स्थिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तावत्: for that same duration
• तावत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/quantifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाणवाचक

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• अन्धतामिस्रे: in Andhatāmisra (hell)
• अन्धतामिस्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्ध-तामिस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (अन्धं तामिस्रम्) नरकनाम

• असिपत्रवने: in the forest of sword-leaves
• असिपत्रवने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि-पत्र-वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (असिपत्राणां वनम्)

• ततः: thereafter/from there
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverb) क्रम/अनन्तर (thereafter/from there)

Speakers

• Dialogue framework not stated in input (commonly Pulastya → Nārada in Vāmana Purāṇa; uncertain here)

Key Themes

• Afterlife cosmology
• Naraka taxonomy
• Karmic duration (time-based retribution)
• Deterrence ethics

Verse Rasa (Emotional Flavour)

{ "primaryRasa": "bhayanaka", "secondaryRasa": "karuna", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Actions that undermine truth and ritual order are portrayed as generating extended, sequential suffering—emphasizing that karmic consequences can be prolonged and multi-staged rather than immediate or singular.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana?

As with many purāṇas, naraka descriptions function as dharma-upadeśa (ethical instruction) rather than the five primary marks; it is a didactic insertion supporting right conduct.

What is the symbolic significance?

Tāmisra/Andhatāmisra symbolize moral and cognitive darkness produced by deliberate deception; Asipatravana symbolizes the cutting, self-wounding nature of lies—harm returning upon the agent.