Shloka 133
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
Devanagari script
सुकृतस्य क्षयाच्चैव स्वलोकादेत्य मेदिनीम्
Transliteration
sukṛtasya kṣayāc caiva svalokād etya medinīm
Translation
毗湿摩说道：“当一个人善行所积之福德耗尽时，他便离开自己的天界居所，再次回到大地。”
Word by Word
सुकृतस्यof (one's) merit / good deed
सुकृतस्य:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootसुकृत
FormNeuter, Genitive, Singular
क्षयात्from the exhaustion/decay
क्षयात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootक्षय
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
एवindeed/just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
स्वलोकात्from one's own world (heavenly realm)
स्वलोकात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootस्वलोक
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
एत्यhaving come/returned
एत्य:
TypeVerb
Rootइ (एति)
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)
मेदिनीम्the earth
मेदिनीम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमेदिनी
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
BhīṣmaS
svaloka (one’s own heavenly realm)M
medinī (earth)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Heavenly enjoyment gained through merit is not permanent; when puṇya is used up, the being must return to earthly existence. The verse underscores the ethical need for deeper, lasting spiritual attainment beyond merely accumulating merit.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction during the Śānti Parva, he explains the karmic mechanism of post-death destinations: ascent to a personal realm through good deeds, followed by an inevitable return to earth once that merit is exhausted.