Shloka 3

Yamavākya

The Words of Yama

Devanagari script

नियोगी न नियोगं यः करोति कमलासन । प्रभोर्वित्तं समश्नाति स भवेत्काष्ठकीटकः ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

niyogī na niyogaṃ yaḥ karoti kamalāsana | prabhorvittaṃ samaśnāti sa bhavetkāṣṭhakīṭakaḥ || 3 ||

Translation

Bạch Đấng ngự tòa sen (Brahmā), người được cắt đặt làm kẻ thừa ủy mà không thi hành việc được giao, lại còn tiêu dùng của cải của chủ mình, kẻ ấy sẽ hóa thành loài sâu đục gỗ.

Word by Word

• नियोगी: one appointed to duty (an officer)
• नियोगी: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agent noun (कर्तृवाचक)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle

• नियोगम्: duty/commission
• नियोगम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; relative pronoun

• करोति: does
• करोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• कमल-आसन: O lotus-seated (Brahmā)
• कमल-आसन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमल (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; समासः: कमले आसनं यस्य (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष/बहुव्रीह्यर्थे प्रचलित उपाधि)

• प्रभोः: of the master/lord
• प्रभोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• वित्तम्: wealth
• वित्तम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• समश्नाति: consumes/appropriates
• समश्नाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश् (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular; with preverb सम्- (सम् + अश्नाति)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• काष्ठ-कीटकः: a wood-worm
• काष्ठ-कीटकः: Karta (कर्ता/predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + कीटक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समासः: काष्ठे कीटकः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It teaches niyoga-dharma: accepting responsibility and resources without fulfilling the entrusted duty is a grave ethical lapse that leads to spiritual and karmic degradation.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Bhakti is not mere enjoyment of the Lord’s gifts; it requires faithful service (seva) and integrity—otherwise one commits a form of betrayal of the Lord or one’s patron.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Primarily dharma-nīti (applied ethics) rather than a specific Vedanga; it underscores disciplined conduct in one’s appointed role, a prerequisite for any ritual or spiritual practice to bear fruit.