Shloka 24

Akrūra in Hastināpura: Kuntī’s Lament and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Moral Instruction

Devanagari script

स्वयं किल्बिषमादाय तैस्त्यक्तो नार्थकोविद: । असिद्धार्थो विशत्यन्धं स्वधर्मविमुखस्तम: ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

svayaṁ kilbiṣam ādāya tais tyakto nārtha-kovidaḥ asiddhārtho viśaty andhaṁ sva-dharma-vimukhas tamaḥ

Translation

Mang theo nghiệp tội của chính mình, bị những kẻ “nương tựa” giả dối bỏ rơi, không biết mục đích chân thật của đời sống và quay lưng với svadharma, kẻ ngu không thành tựu sở nguyện liền rơi vào bóng tối địa ngục.

Synonyms

• svayam: oneself; personally
• svayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable); adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• kilbiṣam: sin; fault
• kilbiṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kilbiṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ādāya: having taken
• ādāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√dā (धाातु) + lyap (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त), expressing prior action; ‘having taken’

• taiḥ: by them
• taiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम); Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tyaktaḥ: abandoned; rejected
• tyaktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tyaj (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्यय), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• artha-kovidaḥ: one who knows what is beneficial (skilled in purpose)
• artha-kovidaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक) + kovida (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘arthaṃ kovidaḥ’; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; adjective qualifying implied person

• asiddha-arthaḥ: one whose aims are unfulfilled
• asiddha-arthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-siddha (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘asiddhaḥ arthaḥ’; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• viśati: enters
• viśati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √viś (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• andham: blind; dark
• andham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: andha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd), Singular; used substantively with tamaḥ

• sva-dharma-vimukhaḥ: turned away from one’s own duty
• sva-dharma-vimukhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + vi-mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘svasya dharmāt vimukhaḥ’; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tamaḥ: darkness; ignorance
• tamaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of viśati

Purport

It is sadly ironic that materialistic persons, who labor so assiduously to accumulate insurance, security, property and family, enter the darkness of hell equipped with nothing but the painful reactions of their sins. On the other hand, those who cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness, spiritual life, while apparently neglecting to accumulate property, a large family and so on, enter the next life enriched with many spiritual assets and thus enjoy the deep pleasures of the soul.

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about abandoning one’s svadharma?

This verse warns that turning away from one’s proper duty leads to failure in life’s true aim and results in entering “blind darkness,” a state of deep ignorance and suffering.

Who is speaking this verse in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.49.24?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this verse while narrating the Bhagavatam to Mahārāja Parīkṣit.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Act with integrity in your responsibilities, avoid taking on sinful actions for temporary gain, and align your work and choices with dharma and devotion—otherwise one risks inner confusion, broken goals, and spiritual decline.