Shloka 26

अष्टत्रिंशः सर्गः — मारीचोपदेशः

Maricha’s Warning and the Memory of Rama’s Power

Devanagari script

अकुर्वन्तोऽपि पापानि शुचयः पापसंश्रयात्।परपापैर्विनश्यन्ति मत्स्या नागह्रदे यथा।।3.38.26।।

Transliteration

akurvanto 'pi pāpāni śucayaḥ pāpasaṃśrayāt | parapāpair vinaśyanti matsyā nāgahrade yathā || 3.38.26 ||

Translation

Dẫu tự mình không làm điều ác, người thanh tịnh nếu nương náu nơi kẻ tội lỗi cũng bị tội của kẻ khác làm tiêu vong—như cá chết trong hồ đầy rắn.

Word by Word

• akurvantaḥ: even while not committing
• akurvantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (of 'vinaśyanti')
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकर्तरि कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle) with नञ्-प्रत्यय (a-), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'not doing'

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावन/अपि-निपात (concessive particle: 'even')

• pāpāni: sins
• pāpāni: Karma (कर्म) (object of 'akurvantaḥ')
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• śucayaḥ: the pure (people)
• śucayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• pāpa-saṃśrayāt: from association with sinners
• pāpa-saṃśrayāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: 'contact/association with sin/sinners'; पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; ablative of cause/source

• para-pāpaiḥ: by others' sins
• para-pāpaiḥ: Hetu/Karana (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: 'sins of others'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; instrumental of cause/means

• vinaśyanti: perish/are destroyed
• vinaśyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-naś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• matsyāḥ: fish
• matsyāḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: matsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; upamāna (standard of comparison)

• nāga-hrade: in a serpent-pool
• nāga-hrade: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāga (प्रातिपदिक) + hrada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: 'pool of serpents'; पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• yathā: as/like
• yathā: Upamādyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle: 'as/like')

Context

You will see the demons who smear their limbs with sandal paste and unguents, who are adorned with excellent ornaments slain and laid on the ground for your mistakes.

Characters & Entities

• Rāvaṇa
• matsya (fish)
• nāga (serpents)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Moral environment matters: association with adharma endangers even the innocent; Dharma advises discerning company (saṅga).

What is the narrative situation?

Kabandha cautions that Rāvaṇa’s wrongdoing will destroy even those around him, using a vivid simile.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment and moral vigilance—choosing righteous association to preserve integrity and life.