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Shloka 21

Jīva-yonis (84 Lakhs), Rarity of Human Birth, Sense-Restraint, Craving, and Śraddhā-based Dharma

Devanagari script

एकः करोति पापानि फलं भुङ्क्ते महाजनः / भोक्तारो विप्रयुज्यन्ते कर्ता दोषेण लिप्यते

Transliteration

ekaḥ karoti pāpāni phalaṃ bhuṅkte mahājanaḥ / bhoktāro viprayujyante kartā doṣeṇa lipyate

Translation

Einer begeht die Sünden, doch die Frucht wird oft von der großen Menge getragen. Die Genießenden des Ergebnisses trennen sich, während allein der Täter vom Makel der Schuld befleckt bleibt.

Word by Word
एकःone (person)
एकः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootएक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
करोतिdoes/commits
करोति:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootकृ (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
पापानिsins
पापानि:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootपाप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन
फलम्fruit/result
फलम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootफल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
भुङ्क्तेenjoys/experiences
भुङ्क्ते:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootभुज् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
महाजनःthe great man / the person (himself)
महाजनः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमहा (प्रातिपदिक) + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् जनः)
भोक्तारःenjoyers/experiencers
भोक्तारः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootभुज् (धातु) + तृ (कृत् प्रत्यय)
Formकर्तरि कृदन्त (तृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
विप्रयुज्यन्तेare separated
विप्रयुज्यन्ते:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootयुज् (धातु) उपसर्गः वि- प्र-
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘are separated/disunited’
कर्ताthe doer
कर्ता:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootकृ (धातु) + तृ (कृत् प्रत्यय)
Formकर्तरि कृदन्त (तृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
दोषेणby/with fault (sin)
दोषेण:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootदोष (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन
लिप्यतेis tainted/smeared
लिप्यते:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootलिप् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karma-doership and moral stain adhere to the agent; even if many share outcomes, the doer bears the fault.

Vedantic Theme: Kartṛtva-bhāva binds; purification requires right action and inner rectitude; karma’s moral dimension is in intention and agency.

Application: Take responsibility for actions; avoid rationalizing harm by distributing benefits; adopt transparent ethics in leadership, business, and family decisions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana karma-phala discussions emphasizing individual responsibility beyond social entanglements

Characters & Entities
G
Garuda
V
Vishnu
K
Karma (as moral causality)

FAQs

This verse emphasizes that the moral stain (doṣa) adheres to the actual doer of sin; benefits or outcomes shared by many do not remove the doer’s accountability.

In the Preta Kanda context, it supports the doctrine that post-death consequences follow one’s own actions; companionship and shared enjoyment in life do not accompany the soul, but karmic fault does.

Avoid unethical acts done “for others” or “for the group”; even if others profit or later separate, the doer remains accountable for the wrongdoing.

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