Shloka 9
Adhyāya 262: Śabda-brahman, Para-brahman, and the Ethics of Tyāga
Kapila–Syūmaraśmi Saṃvāda
Devanagari script
इष्टापूर्तादसाधूनां विगुणा जायते प्रजा
Transliteration
iṣṭāpūrtād asādhūnāṃ viguṇā jāyate prajā
Translation
不义之人所行的祭祀与公共施惠，所生之嗣多乏德少善。外在仪式所得之福，若根植于恶行，既不能成就高贵后裔，也难结出健全的道德之果。
Word by Word
इष्टापूर्तात्from sacrifices and charitable works (iṣṭa and pūrta)
इष्टापूर्तात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootइष्टापूर्त
FormNeuter, Ablative, Singular
असाधूनाम्of the wicked / of the non-virtuous
असाधूनाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootअसाधु
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
विगुणाdefective; lacking good qualities
विगुणा:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootविगुण
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
जायतेis born / arises
जायते:
TypeVerb
Rootजन्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Atmanepada
प्रजाoffspring; progeny
प्रजा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootप्रजा
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
चुलाधार उवाच
Characters & Entities
च
चुलाधार (Tulādhāra)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Ritual sacrifice (iṣṭa) and charitable public works (āpūrta) do not by themselves guarantee good outcomes; when performed by the unrighteous, they fail to generate virtuous results and are said to produce morally deficient progeny. Inner character and right conduct are primary.
In the Śānti Parva’s discourse, Tulādhāra speaks as a moral instructor, critiquing reliance on external religious acts. He emphasizes that dharma depends on genuine virtue, not merely on performing sacrifices or acts of charity.