Shloka 35
Karma-vipāka: Truth, Yama’s Judgment, and the Marks of Sin in Rebirth
स्वधर्मेणैवोर्ध्वगतिरधर्मेणाप्यधोगतिः / जायते सर्ववर्णानां स्वधर्मचलनात् खग
svadharmeṇaivordhvagatiradharmeṇāpyadhogatiḥ / jāyate sarvavarṇānāṃ svadharmacalanāt khaga
بالسفادهارما—الواجب المعيَّن لكلٍّ بحسبه—تكون حقًّا السُّرى إلى العلو؛ وبالأدهارما يكون أيضًا السقوط إلى السفل. ولجميع الفَرْنات، يا أيها الطائر (غارودا)، تنشأ هذه النتائج من الانحراف عن الواجب الخاص.
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Svarga
Concept: Adherence to svadharma leads upward; adharma and deviation from one’s duty lead downward for all varṇas.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: right action in one’s station purifies and supports higher gati; adharma intensifies bondage.
Application: Identify your responsibilities (family, work, society) and fulfill them ethically; avoid rationalizing shortcuts that violate core duties.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: gati (higher/lower) determined by dharma/adharma in preta and naraka discussions
FAQs
This verse states that svadharma is the cause of “upward movement” (ūrdhvagati)—better destiny and higher states—while abandoning it leads toward decline; it frames afterlife outcomes as directly linked to living one’s rightful duty.
It summarizes the moral mechanism behind post-death trajectories: dharma supports upliftment, whereas adharma and especially straying from one’s ordained responsibilities generate a downward course into lower conditions.
Choose actions aligned with your responsibilities (family, work, vows, ethical conduct) and avoid rationalizing adharma; the text treats consistent integrity in one’s duty as the simplest safeguard for one’s future well-being.