Shloka 39

Adhyaya 35 — Madālasa’s Instruction on Purity, Impurity, and Corrective Rites (Śauca and Aśauca)

Sanskrit

नित्यस्य कर्मणो हानिं न कुर्वोत कदाचन । तस्य त्वकरणे बन्धः केवलं मृतजन्मसु ॥

Transliteration

nityasya karmaṇo hāniṃ na kurvota kadācana / tasya tv akaraṇe bandhaḥ kevalaṃ mṛtajanmasu

Translation

切不可令每日应行之常规祭仪有所阙失。因为不行此者必受系缚——唯显现为如同已死之生（即苦惨而灵性枯竭之再生）。

Word by Word

• nityasya: of the daily
• nityasya: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; qualifies karmaṇaḥ

• karmaṇaḥ: of the duty/rite
• karmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• hānim: loss/neglect
• hānim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hāni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेधार्थक अव्यय)

• kurvīta: should do/make
• kurvīta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• kadācana: ever/at any time
• kadācana: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण: time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadā-cana (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय); 'at any time/ever'

• tasya: of him/of that (person)
• tasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय)

• akaraṇe: in (its) non-performance
• akaraṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a- (निषेध) + karaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; 'in non-performance'

• bandhaḥ: bondage
• bandhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kevalam: only
• kevalam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: Adverbial usage (क्रियाविशेषणवत्); 'only/merely'

• mṛta-janmasu: in (cycles of) death and birth
• mṛta-janmasu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + janman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; समास: मृतं जन्म (karmadhāraya/tatpuruṣa sense: 'death-birth' i.e., repeated dying and being born)

Speakers

• Dharma-instruction voice within the Purāṇic discourse (didactic narration; not Devi Māhātmya)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "dharma", "secondaryRasa": "bhaya", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Nitya-karma (daily duties)
• Karma and rebirth
• Bondage (bandha)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Omission (akaraṇa) is itself karmically consequential. The verse warns that neglect of steady dharma produces a life (and rebirth) lacking vitality and higher purpose.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Ancillary dharma/ācāra instruction.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Dead births’ can be read as lives lived without awakening. Daily rites symbolize daily alignment; their absence binds one to mechanical existence rather than conscious living.