Shloka 17

Saṃsāra-cakra, Preta’s 12-day Transit to Yama, Re-embodiment, and Karma-Vipāka Catalog of Sins and Rebirths

Devanagari script

असूयकश्च नरकान्मुक्तो भवति राक्षसः / विश्वासहर्ता च नरो मीनयोनौ प्रजायते

Transliteration

asūyakaśca narakānmukto bhavati rākṣasaḥ / viśvāsahartā ca naro mīnayonau prajāyate

Translation

One who is maliciously envious is released from hell only to be born as a rākṣasa (demonic being). And a man who steals another’s trust is born in the womb of a fish, as an aquatic creature.

Word by Word

• असूयकः: envious person
• असूयकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असूयक (प्रातिपदिक; असूया + क)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• नरकात्: from hell
• नरकात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Ablative singular

• मुक्तः: freed
• मुक्तः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √मुच् (धातु) → मुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; freed

• भवति: becomes
• भवति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• राक्षसः: demon
• राक्षसः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; predicate nominative

• विश्वासहर्ता: betrayer (stealer of trust)
• विश्वासहर्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वास (प्रातिपदिक) + हर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; √हृ + तृ)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विश्वासस्य हर्ता), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'stealer of trust'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• नरः: man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• मीनयोनौ: in the womb/species of fish
• मीनयोनौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मीन (प्रातिपदिक) + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मीनस्य योनि), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• प्रजायते: is born
• प्रजायते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present middle 3rd sg

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Asūyā transforms character toward demonic disposition; betrayal of trust yields lower aquatic birth—karma shapes both psyche and species.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa transformation: tamas and rajas dominate when envy and betrayal prevail; purification requires opposite virtues (maitrī, satya).

Application: Practice appreciative joy (muditā) and friendship (maitrī); keep promises; repair trust through confession and restitution.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic justice realm and subsequent yoni

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: asūyā and viśvāsa-haraṇa listed among sins with yoni outcomes (contextual series in 1.225)

Characters & Entities

• Naraka
• Rakshasas
• Mina-yoni

FAQs

What is the importance of envy (asūyā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats envy as a serious moral failing with lasting karmic momentum: even after naraka is exhausted, the person’s next embodiment can be degraded into a rākṣasa-like birth, implying a mind shaped by hostility and cruelty.

How does this verse explain karmic results after hell (naraka)?

It shows a two-stage consequence: naraka is not the end-point—after experiencing hellish results, the residue of a sin can still determine the next yoni (species/realm) of birth, such as rākṣasa or mīna-yoni.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid habitual fault-finding and jealousy, and treat others’ confidence as sacred—do not exploit trust. Ethical speech, loyalty, and goodwill are presented as protections against severe post-death and rebirth consequences.