Shloka 21

Adhyaya 14 — The Messenger of Yama Explains Karmic Retribution and the Causes of Naraka Torments

Sanskrit

व्यालकुञ्जरदुर्गाणि सर्पचौरभयानि तु ।

हताः पापेन गच्छन्ति पापिनः किमतः परम् ॥

Transliteration

vyālakuñjaradurgāṇi sarpacaurabhayāni tu / hatāḥ pāpena gacchanti pāpinaḥ kimataḥ param

Translation

穿越猛兽与象群之险，穿越艰难之地，穿越蛇与盗贼之惧——罪人如是而行，为自身之罪所击倒。除此之外，还须多言吗？

Word by Word

• व्यालकुञ्जरदुर्गाणि: (various) dangers: beasts, elephants, strongholds
• व्यालकुञ्जरदुर्गाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याल + कुञ्जर + दुर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective: 'wild beasts, elephants, and forts/strongholds' as a set), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), बहुवचन (plural)

• सर्पचौरभयानि: fears from snakes and thieves
• सर्पचौरभयानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प + चौर + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective: 'snake- and thief-fears'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), बहुवचन (plural)

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक अव्यय (particle: 'but/indeed')

• हताः: struck down, afflicted
• हताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु) → हत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• पापेन: by sin
• पापेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• गच्छन्ति: go, proceed
• गच्छन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• पापिनः: sinners
• पापिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (singular); प्रश्नवाचक (interrogative)

• अतः: therefore, from this
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): हेतौ/तस्मात्-अर्थे (therefore/from this)

• परम्: beyond, further
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (singular)

Speakers

• Dialogue setting (speaker not specified in the provided excerpt)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "bhayanaka", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Pāpa
• Consequences
• Fear
• Danger
• Moral causality

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Adharma externalizes as insecurity: the sinful life is depicted as moving through a landscape of threats. The teaching motivates restraint and ethical repair to avoid self-created peril.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ethical instruction (Dharma/karma-phala) embedded in the narrative; not a core Pancalakṣaṇa unit.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘beasts, snakes, thieves’ can symbolize inner predators—anger, craving, deceit—that ‘kill’ clarity. Pāpa is both outer misfortune and inner fragmentation.