Shloka 14
Vaitaraṇī: Torments of the Sinful, Sins Enumerated, and the Vaitaraṇī Go-dāna Rite
अग्निदो गरदश्चैव कूटसाक्षी च मद्यपः / यज्ञविध्वंसकश्चैव राज्ञीगामी च पैशुनः
agnido garadaścaiva kūṭasākṣī ca madyapaḥ / yajñavidhvaṃsakaścaiva rājñīgāmī ca paiśunaḥ
Der Brandstifter, der Vergifter, der Falschzeuge und der Trunkenbold; der Zerstörer der Yajña-Riten, der Verführer der Frau eines anderen und der böswillige Verleumder—sie alle werden zu den schweren Sündern gezählt.
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Certain acts—arson, poisoning, perjury, intoxication, disrupting yajña, adultery, slander—are marked as grievous adharma with heavy karmic weight.
Vedantic Theme: Adharma as tamasic/rajasic distortion of right order; karma accrues through body, speech, and mind.
Application: Avoid harm and deceit; maintain sobriety; protect communal religious/civic institutions; practice sexual restraint and truthful speech.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: lists of sinners and corresponding narakas often follow such catalogues
FAQs
This verse categorizes specific acts as grave adharma, warning that such karmas create severe post-death consequences and obstruct a favorable afterlife course.
In the Preta Kanda, moral transgressions are linked to Yama’s judgment and suffering in post-mortem states; this verse identifies deeds that lead to harsh outcomes for the departed.
Avoid harm (arson/poisoning), uphold truth in speech and law (no perjury or slander), maintain sobriety, protect sacred duties (do not disrupt rites), and practice sexual and social ethics.