Shloka 49
Dāna for the Preta: Supreme Gifts, Yama’s Pacification, and Viṣṇu-Smaraṇa at the Time of Death
बालत्वे यच्च कौमारे यच्च परिणतौ च यत् / सर्वावम्थाकृतं पापं यच्च जन्मान्तरेष्वपि
bālatve yacca kaumāre yacca pariṇatau ca yat / sarvāvamthākṛtaṃ pāpaṃ yacca janmāntareṣvapi
Welche Sünde auch immer in der Kindheit begangen wurde, welche in der Jugend und welche in der Reife—wahrlich, jede Sünde, die in irgendeinem Zustand oder Lebensabschnitt getan wurde, ja selbst die in früheren Geburten begangenen, wird zur Rechenschaft gezogen.
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue, instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Karma is cumulative and life-stage independent; deeds from this life and previous births ripen and are brought to account.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandha and saṃskāra continuity across births; the jīva carries latent impressions until fructification.
Application: Practice continuous vigilance (kāya-manas-vāk), daily self-review, and timely prāyaścitta/dāna rather than postponing reform.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: general doctrine of karmic record and Yama’s scrutiny (contextual parallel within 2.30)
FAQs
This verse states that wrongdoing is not limited by age—sins from childhood, youth, and maturity all remain part of one’s karmic record and can bear results after death.
By emphasizing that even past-life sins are included, it frames the post-death journey as governed by cumulative karma, which determines the soul’s experiences in Yama’s domain and subsequent rebirth.
Live with ongoing ethical vigilance, seek correction and expiation when harm is done, and avoid excusing misconduct as “childish” or “from the past,” since karma is portrayed as continuous across stages and lives.