Shloka 77

Adhyaya 15 — Karmic Retribution: Rebirths After Naraka and the King’s Compassion in Hell

Sanskrit

इन्द्र उवाच एवमूर्ध्वतरं स्थानं त्वयावाप्तं महीपते ।

एतांश्च नरकात् पश्य विमुक्तान् पापकॄणः ॥

Transliteration

indra uvāca evam ūrdhvataraṃ sthānaṃ tvayāvāptaṃ mahīpate | etāṃś ca narakāt paśya vimuktān pāpakāriṇaḥ ||

Translation

因陀罗说道：“如此，哦大地之主，你已获得更高的位阶。且看这些罪人——已从地狱得释。”

Word by Word

• indraḥ: Indra
• indraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्/perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Singular; Parasmaipada

• evam: thus/so
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• ūrdhva-taram: higher
• ūrdhva-taram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūrdhva (प्रातिपदिक) + tara (प्रत्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; comparative degree (तर) qualifying sthānam

• sthānam: place/state
• sthānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• avāptam: attained
• avāptam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava+āp (धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त), Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with sthānam

• mahī-pate: O lord of the earth (king)
• mahī-pate: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: ‘पती मह्याः’

• etān: these (ones)
• etān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• narakāt: from hell
• narakāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• paśya: see/behold
• paśya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्/imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa, Singular; Parasmaipada

• vimuktān: freed/released
• vimuktān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi+muc (धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; qualifies etān

• pāpa-kṛṇaḥ: evil-doers/sinful ones
• pāpa-kṛṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; tatpuruṣa: ‘पापं कुर्वन्ति’ (agent noun)

Speakers

• Indra to the king

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Indra

Key Themes

• Fruit of compassion
• Heavenly ascent
• Release from hell
• Divine validation

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Compassion becomes a multiplier of merit: the king’s aspiration to free others elevates his own spiritual status. Purāṇic ethics often present kingship as validated by protection and benevolence, extending even to the unfortunate.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Dharma teaching through exemplary conduct (a king as moral exemplar), adjacent to vaṃśānucarita-style ideals though not a dynastic list.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Higher station’ indicates ascent in consciousness (ūrdhva-gati). The freeing of sinners signifies that sattvic intention can catalyze karmic resolution for a collective, not merely an individual.