Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 15

Karma-vipāka: Truth, Yama’s Judgment, and the Marks of Sin in Rebirth

Devanagari script

अपरीक्षितभोक्तारो व्याघ्राः स्युर्निर्जने वने / बहुतर्जको मार्जरः खद्योतः कक्षदाहकः

Transliteration

aparīkṣitabhoktāro vyāghrāḥ syurnirjane vane / bahutarjako mārjaraḥ khadyotaḥ kakṣadāhakaḥ

Translation

Im einsamen Wald werden jene, die ohne Unterscheidung essen, wie Tiger. Wer ständig droht, wird zur Katze; und wer wie ein Glühwürmchen (khadyota) klein ist, doch das Gestrüpp verbrennt, wird zum Brandstifter der Dickichte—und richtet Schaden weit über seine geringe Größe hinaus an.

Word by Word

• अपरीक्षित-भोक्तारः: unexamined eaters (those who eat without scrutiny)
• अपरीक्षित-भोक्तारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-परि-ईक्षित (√ईक्ष्, धातु) + भोक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अपरीक्षितस्य भोक्तारः)

• व्याघ्राः: tigers
• व्याघ्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• स्युः: would become / may be
• स्युः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• निर्जने: in a lonely (deserted)
• निर्जने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वने)

• वने: in the forest
• वने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• बहु-तर्जकः: one who threatens much
• बहु-तर्जकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + तर्जक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (बहु तर्जकः)

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

• खद्योतः: firefly
• खद्योतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खद्योत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कक्ष-दाहकः: armpit-burner (one causing burning in the armpit)
• कक्ष-दाहकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + दाहक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कक्षस्य दाहकः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Undiscerning consumption and harmful speech/behavior cultivate animalistic tendencies that ripen as corresponding births and destructive capacities.

Vedantic Theme: Vāsanā (habit-impressions) shaping future embodiment; speech and appetite as karmic drivers.

Application: Practice विवेक (discernment) in what one consumes; restrain threats/harsh speech; recognize that minor malice can cause major damage.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: forest

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.46 (behavior-to-rebirth correspondences)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of discernment in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links indiscriminate consumption and behavior to degrading karmic outcomes, using animal forms as moral-symbolic results of unchecked impulses.

How does this verse explain karmic consequences after death?

It portrays tendencies—undiscerning indulgence, intimidation, and small but harmful malice—as seeds that mature into corresponding states of existence, illustrating how character shapes post-death destiny and rebirth.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice mindful consumption, restrain threatening speech, and avoid “small” harmful acts that can spread damage—cultivating restraint and responsibility as daily dharma.