Shloka 80

Āhnika-Dharma: Dawn Purification, Sandhyā-Upāsanā, Tarpana, Pañca-Mahāyajñas, and Aśauca Rules

Devanagari script

भुञ्जते चेत्स मूढात्मा तिर्यग्योनिं च गच्छति / वेदाभ्यासो ऽन्वहं शक्त्या महायज्ञक्रियाक्षमाः

Transliteration

bhuñjate cetsa mūḍhātmā tiryagyoniṃ ca gacchati / vedābhyāso 'nvahaṃ śaktyā mahāyajñakriyākṣamāḥ

Translation

Gibt sich ein Mensch mit verblendetem Herzen solchem verbotenen Genuss hin, so gelangt er in einen tierischen Schoß. Darum übe man nach Kräften täglich das Studium der Veden und werde kundig in den rituellen Handlungen der großen Opfer.

Word by Word

• भुञ्जते: eats/partakes
• भुञ्जते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (Condition marker/शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्त-निपात (conditional ‘if’)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मूढात्मा: one of deluded mind
• मूढात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूढ (कृदन्त, √मुह्) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (मूढः आत्मा यस्य/मूढ आत्मा)

• तिर्यग्योनिम्: an animal birth
• तिर्यग्योनिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिर्यक् (प्रातिपदिक) + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तिर्यग्-योनि = animal womb/state)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• गच्छति: goes/attains
• गच्छति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• वेदाभ्यासः: practice/recitation of the Veda
• वेदाभ्यासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + अभ्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वेदस्य अभ्यासः)

• अन्वहम्: day by day/daily
• अन्वहम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु (अव्यय) + अहन्/अह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययभावे (daily)

• शक्त्या: with (one’s) ability
• शक्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• महायज्ञक्रियाक्षमाः: capable of performing the great-sacrifice rites
• महायज्ञक्रियाक्षमाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महā (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (महायज्ञ-क्रियायां क्षमाः = capable in the rites of the great sacrifices)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda / Vinatā-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Improper indulgence and neglect of prescribed duties lead to animal rebirth; daily Veda-study and great-sacrifice competence protect and elevate.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandhana and samsara; svadharma as a means to chitta-shuddhi preparing for higher knowledge.

Application: Maintain daily svadhyaya; keep basic yajna-related disciplines (or their feasible substitutes) consistent; avoid heedless indulgence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.50.79 (blame for neglect of pancha-mahayajna)

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding sinful indulgence in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that indulgence by a deluded person leads to tiryagyoni—rebirth in an animal womb—showing that unethical enjoyment has direct karmic consequences.

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

It links misconduct to a lower rebirth (animal birth), implying the soul’s journey is shaped by karma, and that disciplined Vedic practice helps prevent such decline.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid harmful or forbidden pleasures, adopt daily disciplined study or recitation of sacred teachings according to capacity, and maintain regular ethical and ritual duties as a stabilizing practice.