Shloka 84

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

Devanagari script

दुर्भगः फलविक्रेता वृकश्च वृषलीपतिः / मार्जारो ऽग्निं पदा स्पृष्ट्वा रोगवान्परमांसभुक्

Transliteration

durbhagaḥ phalavikretā vṛkaśca vṛṣalīpatiḥ / mārjāro 'gniṃ padā spṛṣṭvā rogavānparamāṃsabhuk

Translation

Ein unglückseliger Obstverkäufer wird ein Wolf; ebenso der Ehemann einer Frau niederer Kaste. Wer Feuer mit dem Fuß berührt, wird als kranke Katze geboren.

Word by Word

• durbhagaḥ: unfortunate
• durbhagaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + bhaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नञ्/दुर्-पूर्वक विशेषण—‘दुर्भाग्ययुक्तः’

• phalavikretā: seller of fruits
• phalavikretā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक) + vikretṛ (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘फलस्य विक्रेता’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• vṛkaḥ: wolf
• vṛkaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• vṛṣalīpatiḥ: husband of a śūdra woman
• vṛṣalīpatiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣalī (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘वृषल्याः पतिः’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• mārjāraḥ: cat
• mārjāraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārjāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• agnim: fire
• agnim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• padā: with the foot
• padā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• spṛṣṭvā: having touched
• spṛṣṭvā: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: spṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); ‘having touched’

• rogavān: diseased
• rogavān: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: roga (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘रोगयुक्तः’

• paramāṃsabhuk: eater of others' flesh
• paramāṃsabhuk: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + māṃsa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhuj (धातु) → bhuk (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘परमांसं भुङ्क्ते’ इति—उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयप्राय; भुक् = भुज्-धातोः कर्तरि क्विप्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Unethical livelihood/relations and disrespect to agni lead to animal births, social misfortune, and disease with compulsive appetites.

Vedantic Theme: Tamas-driven actions yield tamasic embodiments; agni as witness (sākṣin) of karma—dishonor rebounds as suffering.

Application: Maintain honest trade; uphold dharmic relationships; treat fire/ritual elements with reverence and care; avoid cruelty and addictive consumption.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2 (karma-vipāka: livelihood faults, sexual/social transgressions, agni-apacāra)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of karma-based rebirth in the Garuda Purana?

This verse illustrates that specific harmful or improper actions can mature into specific forms of rebirth (lower yonis) and suffering (such as disease), reinforcing moral accountability.

How does this verse explain the soul’s path after death?

It presents a post-death karmic outcome: the jīva, propelled by its deeds, can take non-human births and experience embodied consequences like illness and compulsive tendencies.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid actions that harm or degrade oneself and others, cultivate restraint and purity in conduct, and live with dharmic awareness that choices shape future suffering or well-being.