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

Gương mặt kẻ ác—cũng như mặt rắn—hai lưỡi, gây kinh hãi, tàn bạo và tuyệt không thương xót, chỉ hiện hữu để làm điều hại.

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.