Shloka 50
The Extent of Questions: Deathbed Rites, Kāla (Time), and Karma-Vipāka Rebirths
मोहज्ञानप्रदातारः प्राप्नुवन्ति महत्तमः / कूटसाक्षी मृषावादी ये च विश्वासघातकाः
mohajñānapradātāraḥ prāpnuvanti mahattamaḥ / kūṭasākṣī mṛṣāvādī ye ca viśvāsaghātakāḥ
O Bester unter den Großen: Wer trügerisches und falsches „Wissen“ verbreitet, ebenso falsche Zeugen, gewohnheitsmäßige Lügner und jene, die Vertrauen verraten, erlangen nach dem Tod schwerste Folgen.
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Concept: Mithyā-jñāna-pracāra (spreading delusive ‘knowledge’), perjury, habitual lying, and trust-betrayal generate severe karmic consequences after death.
Vedantic Theme: Avidyā and adharma obscure satya; violation of satya-dharma binds the jīva to painful phala.
Application: Cultivate satya in speech and testimony; avoid manipulating others through pseudo-knowledge; repair breaches of trust and practice accountability.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: themes of Yama’s judgment and punishments for false speech and betrayal (adjacent verses in 2.2)
FAQs
This verse groups lying, false testimony, and betrayal of trust as grave adharma that leads to harsh post-death consequences under Yama’s judgment.
It indicates that specific moral violations—deception, perjury, and trust-breaking—shape the soul’s experience after death, resulting in severe outcomes in the afterlife order overseen by Yama.
Avoid spreading misleading ‘knowledge,’ never give false testimony, speak truthfully, and honor trust—especially in counsel, teaching, business, and relationships.