दुःखखण्डकमस्थूलं विपन्नवलतामधुः । राम दूरे परित्याज्यो निर्विवेको नराधमः ॥ १८ ॥
duḥkhakhaṇḍakamasthūlaṁ vipannavalatāmadhuḥ | rāma dūrē parityājyō nirvivēkō narādhamaḥ || 18 ||
Translation
The worst of men, without discrimination, is a great granary of the seeds of sorrow, a spring for the young creepers of misfortune. Rāma, he is to be left far away.
Word by word
- duḥkha
- of sorrow
- khaṇḍaka
- of the seeds
- masthūlaṁ
- a great granary
- vipan
- (vipad) of misfortune
- nava
- young
- latā
- for the creepers
- madhuḥ
- a spring
- rāma
- Rāma
- dūrē
- far away
- parityājyō
- (parityājyaḥ) is to be left
- nirvivēkō
- (nirvivekaḥ) without discrimination
- nara
- of men
- adhamaḥ
- the worst
Meaning
Both commentaries read the first phrase as a huge granary in which the seeds of sorrow are stored. Sorrow is kept in him for later sowing, and misfortune comes into leaf around him as creepers do in spring. The advice is not contempt but caution: such company spreads what it holds.