Shloka 18

Saṃsāra-cakra, Preta’s 12-day Transit to Yama, Re-embodiment, and Karma-Vipāka Catalog of Sins and Rebirths

Devanagari script

यवधान्यानि संहृत्य जायते मूषको मृतः / परदाराभिमर्शात्तु वृको घोरो ऽभिजायते

Transliteration

yavadhānyāni saṃhṛtya jāyate mūṣako mṛtaḥ / paradārābhimarśāttu vṛko ghoro 'bhijāyate

Translation

Wer Gerste und andere Körner stiehlt, wird nach dem Tod als Maus geboren; wer aber die Frau eines anderen schändet, wird als schrecklicher Wolf wiedergeboren.

Word by Word

• यवधान्यानि: barley and grains
• यवधान्यानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यव + धान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective copulative)

• संहृत्य: having gathered/collected
• संहृत्य: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-√हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having collected)

• जायते: is born/arises
• जायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मूषकः: a mouse/rat
• मूषकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूषक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• मृतः: dead
• मृतः: Karta (Subject-complement/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying मूषकः)

• परदाराभिमर्शात्: from touching another’s wife (illicit contact)
• परदाराभिमर्शात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + दार + अभिमर्श (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case/ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (paradārāṇām abhimarśaḥ)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/विरोधार्थ (emphasis/contrast)

• वृकः: a wolf
• वृकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• घोरः: terrible/fierce
• घोरः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying वृकः)

• अभिजायते: is born (as)/comes into being
• अभिजायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific sins yield specific yonis (species) as karmaphala; adharma contracts consciousness into fearful, predatory or furtive forms.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandha and saṃsāra: actions shape future embodiment; tamasic/rajasic impulses lead to lower births.

Application: Practice asteya (non-stealing) and brahmacarya/sexual restraint; cultivate contentment and fidelity to avoid karmic downfall.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa/Preta-khaṇḍa sections on yoni-bhramaṇa (species rebirth) and karmic correspondences; Adjacent verses 1.225.19–22 continuing illicit-sex and social-sin rebirth mapping

FAQs

What is the importance of linking specific sins to specific rebirths in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses vivid, concrete outcomes (mouse, wolf) to teach moral causality—showing that specific harmful actions shape future embodiment and suffering, reinforcing dharma through karmic accountability.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It implies that after death the jiva’s karmic imprint determines the next birth; acts like theft and sexual violation condition the next embodiment into lower, fear-driven animal forms.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice strict honesty with others’ property (especially essential food resources) and uphold sexual ethics and consent; these are presented as foundational restraints to prevent severe karmic decline.