Shloka 1
Yamavākya
The Words of Yama
यम उवाच । श्रृणु मे वचनं नाथ पितामह पितामह । मरणादधिकं देव यत्प्रतापस्य खंडनम् ॥ १ ॥
yama uvāca | śrṛṇu me vacanaṃ nātha pitāmaha pitāmaha | maraṇādadhikaṃ deva yatpratāpasya khaṃḍanam || 1 ||
阎摩说道：噢主宰，噢祖父——噢祖父，请听我之言。噢天神，比死亡更为沉痛的，是自身威严、荣誉与灵力（苦行之光）的破碎。
Yama
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
The verse elevates inner dignity and dharmic “pratāpa” (moral-spiritual radiance) as a value that can be harmed more painfully than physical death, implying that safeguarding dharma and integrity is central to spiritual life.
While not explicitly naming bhakti, it supports a bhakti-aligned ethic: devotion is protected by humility and steadfastness in dharma, and the devotee avoids actions that fracture one’s spiritual strength and reputation for righteousness.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught in this line; the practical takeaway is nīti-dharma—guarding one’s conduct so that one’s pratāpa (earned moral authority) is not diminished.