Shloka 9

Karma-vipāka: Rebirths and Bodily Marks Resulting from Specific Sins

Devanagari script

जायन्ते लक्षणोपेता धनधान्यसमन्विताः

Transliteration

jāyante lakṣaṇopetā dhanadhānyasamanvitāḥ

Translation

Sie werden mit glückverheißenden Zeichen geboren, ausgestattet mit Reichtum und Fülle an Korn.

Word by Word

• जायन्ते: are born
• जायन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• लक्षणोपेताः: endowed with auspicious marks
• लक्षणोपेताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + उपेत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (‘लक्षणैः उपेताः’ = endowed with marks)

• धनधान्यसमन्विताः: possessed of wealth and grain
• धनधान्यसमन्विताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक) + धान्य (प्रातिपदिक) + समन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद (धन-धान्य) + तत्पुरुष (‘धनधान्येन समन्विताः’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Meritorious karma yields auspicious bodily/social marks and material abundance (dhana-dhānya).

Vedantic Theme: Punya as a supportive condition (sādhana-sāmagri) though not final liberation; prosperity as a karmic fruit.

Application: Use prosperity dharmically—charity, hospitality, support of learning and worship—so wealth becomes a means for purification rather than attachment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.104 (graded rebirth outcomes; this verse as punya-phala counterpart)

FAQs

What is the importance of auspicious lakṣaṇas (marks) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links auspicious bodily/character signs with prior merit (puṇya), indicating favorable karmic fruition at birth.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It implies continuity of karma across lives: accumulated merit manifests as a fortunate rebirth marked by prosperity and auspicious traits.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate dharma and generosity so that one’s actions mature into well-being and stability for oneself and dependents.