Shloka 61
Post-cremation Ripening of Karma and the Principal Narakas
विमोहे पतते शूरे मर्यादां यो भिनत्ति वै / दुरिष्टं कुरुते यस्तु कृमिभक्षं प्रपद्यते
vimohe patate śūre maryādāṃ yo bhinatti vai / duriṣṭaṃ kurute yastu kṛmibhakṣaṃ prapadyate
حتى الشجاعُ ذو المقدرة قد يسقطُ في الوهم؛ ومن يكسرُ حقًّا حدودَ الدارما، ومن يرتكبُ الأفعالَ الشريرة، ينالُ مصيرَ أن يكونَ طعامًا للديدان.
Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Concept: Even the strong can fall into moha; breaking dharmic boundaries and doing evil yields degrading karmaphala (krimi-bhakṣya).
Vedantic Theme: Moha (avidyā) destabilizes discernment; tamasic acts precipitate lower states; guarding maryādā supports sattva and spiritual progress.
Application: Maintain clear personal ethical boundaries; avoid rationalizing wrongdoing; cultivate mindfulness, good company (satsanga), and self-audit to prevent moral drift.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: degradative punishments and rebirths for papa (contextual)
FAQs
This verse warns that violating maryādā—basic restraints of dharma—leads to severe post-death consequences, emphasizing self-control and righteous limits as protection from downfall.
It links adharma and deliberate evil action to painful outcomes in the after-death journey under Yama’s order, portraying karmic retribution as an inevitable destination for such conduct.
Maintain ethical boundaries (truthfulness, non-harm, restraint) and avoid knowingly harmful actions; the verse frames this as the most direct way to prevent suffering and degradation after death.