Shloka 51

The Extent of Questions: Deathbed Rites, Kāla (Time), and Karma-Vipāka Rebirths

Devanagari script

ते मोहं मृत्युमृच्छन्ति तथा ये वेदनिन्दकाः / विभीषकाः पूतिगन्धा यष्टिमुद्गरपाणयः

Transliteration

te mohaṃ mṛtyumṛcchanti tathā ye vedanindakāḥ / vibhīṣakāḥ pūtigandhā yaṣṭimudgarapāṇayaḥ

Translation

Ebenso stürzen jene, die die Veden schmähen, in Verblendung und in einen todgleichen Untergang. Sie werden zu schrecklichen, übelriechenden Wesen, die Keulen und Hämmer in den Händen tragen.

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; अन्वय-निर्देशक (demonstrative pronoun)

• मोहम्: delusion
• मोहम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मृत्युम्: death
• मृत्युम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ऋच्छन्ति: go to / reach
• ऋच्छन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ऋच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• वेद-निन्दकाः: revilers of the Veda
• वेद-निन्दकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + निन्दक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वेदस्य निन्दकाः)

• विभीषकाः: terrifying
• विभीषकाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभीषक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• पूति-गन्धाः: foul-smelling
• पूति-गन्धाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूति (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (पूतिः गन्धः येषाम्)

• यष्टि-मुद्गर-पाणयः: those whose hands hold staffs and mallets
• यष्टि-मुद्गर-पाणयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + मुद्गर (प्रातिपदिक) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहिः (यष्टिमुद्गरौ पाण्योः येषाम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Veda-nindā (reviling the Vedas) and allied adharma lead to moha and ruin; inner contempt for śruti manifests as degraded, frightening embodiment.

Vedantic Theme: Śruti as pramāṇa: contempt for revelatory knowledge deepens avidyā and binds one to tamasic outcomes.

Application: Maintain reverence for sources of dharma/śruti; critique with humility and rigor rather than contempt; avoid speech that corrodes sacred learning and communal trust.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of sinful beings becoming foul/terrifying and bearing weapons (nearby 2.2 verses)

Characters & Entities

• Vedas

FAQs

What is the importance of condemning Veda-ninda in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats reviling the Vedas as a grave adharma that leads to moha (spiritual delusion) and a degraded post-death condition, emphasizing reverence for śāstra as a safeguard for right conduct.

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

It indicates that certain sins shape the post-death experience and form: the reviler of the Vedas falls into delusion and attains a frightening, impure state, suggesting karmic transformation into a painful, distorted condition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid contempt for sacred texts and ethical traditions; cultivate humility, study with discernment, and practice dharma—speech and attitude toward scripture are treated as karmically significant.