Raamaayan Lanka Kaand - 14 Types of Living Dead
14 TYPES OF LIVING DEAD
(LANKA KAAND ; 1st Chowpaaee after Dohaa 52)
कौल कामवश कृपण विमूढ़ा * अति दरिद्र अयशी अति बूढ़ा ।
सदा रोगवश सन्तत क्रोधी * विष्णु विमुख श्रुतिसन्त विरोधी ॥
तनुपोषक निन्दक अघखानी * जीवत शवसम चौदह प्राणी ।
Transliteration :
Kowla Kaama-vasha Kripana Vimoodhaa * Ati Daridra Ayashee Ati Boodhaa /
Sadaa Roga-vasha Santata Krodhee * Vishnu Vimukha Shruti-Sant Virodhee //
Tanu-Poshaka Nindak Agha-Khaanee * Jeewata shava-sama chowdaha praanee /
Translation :
Practitioners of unsanctioned religious acts, those under the sway of lust, a miser, a very stupid person, an extremely poor individual , one whose dynasty carries a stain, a very old person, a person who is continually plagued by illnesses, one who is easily angered, those who are averse to God, people who rebuke the Holy Texts as well as the Saints and Sages, a selfish individual, those who are given to slandering, and those who are a hotbed of sinful acts, (says Angad), such people are the 14 types of living dead.
Interpretation :
(Angad was the Prince Regent of the Kingdom known as Kishkindhaa which provided Shree Raam with the powerful army that helped to subdue Raavana s forces. He was equal to the task of countering Raavana s might, being the son of Baali. Acknowledging, though, that was not his role but was assigned to convey Shree Raam s message, Angad had this to say to Raavana. He equated Raavana to the 14 types of living dead.)
1) Kowla people who get involved in practices that contravene Hinduism, e.g., sacrificing animals.
2) Kaamavash one who is overcome with lust, sometimes leading into engaging in relationships outside of a shared bond with a single partner.
3) Kripan a miser, only looking after the basic needs of self and family, although in a position to provide recreational/entertainment activities for family and self.
4) Vimoodha stupid to the point that neither can the individual make informed decisions nor add value to meaningful discussions.
5) Ati Daridra both materially and spiritually poor. If that individual is unable to provide bare necessities (food, shelter, clothing), his/her focus is limited in range. Spiritual poverty will prevent him/her from accessing recipes to hurdle challenges.
6) Ayashee that person who has an unenviable stigma attached to his/her name. Many times, that stain on the dynasty s name may have been assigned to a predecessor.
7) Ati Boodhaa advanced in age to the point where one is dependent on others to move from one location to another; unable to look after one own s welfare meals, hygiene, etc.
8) Sadaa Rogavash when morbidity takes over life or when a person is obsessed with talking about failing health. This conversation finds difficulty in engaging an audience.
9) Santata Krodhee a person who is easily angered. The casualty of some utterances/actions borne of anger is the nullifying of one s collective Dharmic practices.
10) Vishnu vimukha averse to God who provides the recipes for hurdling life s challenges, thereby making the journey a joyful one.
11) Shruti Sant virodhee neither adhering to the studied declarations of the Authoritative Texts nor acknowledging the sage advice of the spiritually developed.
12) Tanuposhaka selfish people who are not minded to help those in need.
13) Nindak he/she who dampens the spirit of others by making derogatory remarks and staining their character.
14) Agha-khaanee A person whose life reflects that he/she is a hotbed of sins. The words and actions of such people hurt others intentionally and/or also create harm to the environment.