Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

हृते काष्ठे च हारीतः कपोतो वा प्रजायते / हृत्वा तु काञ्चनं भाण्डं कृमियोनौ प्रजायते

Transliteration

hṛte kāṣṭhe ca hārītaḥ kapoto vā prajāyate / hṛtvā tu kāñcanaṃ bhāṇḍaṃ kṛmiyonau prajāyate

Translation

Wer Holz stiehlt, wird als grüner Vogel oder als Taube wiedergeboren. Wer aber ein goldenes Gefäß stiehlt, wird im Schoß der Würmer geboren, als wurmgleiches Wesen.

Word by Word

• हृते: when (it) has been stolen
• हृते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → हृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचन (Locative singular) कृदन्त-प्रयोगः; सति-सप्तमी (when/after it has been stolen)

• काष्ठे: in/with respect to wood
• काष्ठे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• हारीतः: green parrot (hārīta)
• हारीतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हारीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कपोतः: pigeon/dove
• कपोतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपोत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Connector (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• प्रजायते: is born/becomes
• प्रजायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• हृत्वा: having stolen
• हृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हृ (धातु) + क्त्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• काञ्चनम्: gold
• काञ्चनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• भाण्डम्: vessel/utensil
• भाण्डम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कृमियोनौ: in a worm-womb/species
• कृमियोनौ: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृमि (प्रातिपदिक) + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कृमेः योनि = worm-womb/species)

• प्रजायते: is born
• प्रजायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating karmic consequences to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Different theft objects yield different rebirths: wood theft leads to bird births; stealing a golden vessel leads to worm-womb birth.

Vedantic Theme: Gradation of pāpa by object/value/sacrality; karma’s ‘fit’ (yathākarma) determines embodiment.

Application: Respect property, especially sacred/valuable vessels; avoid rationalizing ‘minor’ theft; cultivate contentment (santoṣa) and non-covetousness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: resource domain (wood) and wealth/ritual property (golden vessel)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.225.23–26: preceding theft/violence vipāka list; Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: steya gradations and yoni outcomes (theme-level)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of karma-phala (results of actions) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse illustrates precise karmic mapping: specific acts of theft lead to specific lower rebirths, reinforcing dharma through clear consequences.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after sinful actions?

It teaches that harmful actions like theft condition the jīva’s next embodiment; the soul may fall into lower yonis (bird or worm births) according to the gravity of the act.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid taking what is not given—whether small items (like wood/resources) or valuables (like gold/wealth)—and cultivate honest livelihood to prevent negative karmic outcomes.