Shloka 73

Adhyaya 3 — The Dharmapakshis’ Past-Life Curse and Indra’s Test of Truthfulness

Sanskrit

एवं प्रणष्टबुद्धीनां रागलोभानुवर्तिनाम् ।

जीविते च सलोभानां प्रसादं कुरु सत्तम ॥

Transliteration

evaṃ praṇaṣṭa-buddhīnāṃ rāga-lobhānuvartinām |

jīvite ca sa-lobhānāṃ prasādaṃ kuru sattama ||

Translation

是故，对于失却理解之人——随逐贪著与贪欲，以渴爱执取生命者——噫，众生中最胜者，愿赐以慈恩。

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner (‘thus’)

• praṇaṣṭa-buddhīnām: of those with ruined intellect
• praṇaṣṭa-buddhīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pra-naś (धातु) + kta (क्त) → praṇaṣṭa (कृदन्त) + buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय-भाव: ‘destroyed-intellect’); बहुवचन, षष्ठी (6th), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समूह/जनवाचक); ‘of those whose intellect is ruined’

• rāga-lobha-anuvartinām: of those who follow attachment and greed
• rāga-lobha-anuvartinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rāga (प्रातिपदिक) + lobha (प्रातिपदिक) + anuvartin (अनु-वृत् धातु, शतृ/इन्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; ‘following attachment and greed’; षष्ठी, बहुवचन; qualifies same group

• jīvite: in life
• jīvite: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative ‘in life/with regard to life’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• sa-lobhānām: of the greedy
• sa-lobhānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa- (सह/युक्त, उपसर्गसदृश) + lobha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘with greed’); षष्ठी, बहुवचन; qualifies same group

• prasādam: favor/grace
• prasādam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prasāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• kuru: do/grant
• kuru: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन

• sattama: O best one
• sattama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + tama (तमप् प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; superlative ‘best of the good’

Speakers

• Not explicitly identifiable from the single-verse input (requires surrounding verses for attribution within the frame dialogue).

Shakti Aspects

• Not explicitly named in this verse (general supplication; could be addressed to a supreme being/deity depending on context).

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics (control of desire and greed)
• Grace (prasāda) as remedy for delusion
• Human frailty and spiritual ignorance

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse frames rāga (attachment) and lobha (greed) as forces that eclipse buddhi (discernment). The ethical lesson is that craving-driven life leads to loss of right judgment; restoration comes not merely from effort but from prasāda—grace that reorients the mind toward clarity and dharmic choice.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This verse is best classified under Dharma/Upadeśa (instructional-ethical material) rather than the core pañcalakṣaṇa items (sarga, pratisarga, vaṃśa, manvantara, vaṃśānucarita). It functions as a moral-psychological observation within the narrative frame.

What is the esoteric significance?

Esoterically, 'lost intellect' signifies the obscuration of sattva by rajas (rāga) and tamas (delusion sustaining greed). 'Prasāda' implies both divine favor and inner lucidity—an awakened state where the mind becomes transparent, enabling liberation from compulsive clinging (abhiniveśa) to life and possession.