Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

भ्रातृभार्याप्रसंगेन कोकिलो जायते नरः / गुर्वादिभार्यागमनाच्छूकरो जायते नरः

Transliteration

bhrātṛbhāryāprasaṃgena kokilo jāyate naraḥ / gurvādibhāryāgamanācchūkaro jāyate naraḥ

Translation

Through illicit involvement with a brother’s wife, a man is born as a cuckoo; and by going to the wives of one’s guru and other revered elders, a man is born as a pig.

Word by Word

• भ्रातृभार्याप्रसङ्गेन: by/through involvement with one’s brother’s wife
• भ्रातृभार्याप्रसङ्गेन: Hetu (Cause/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ + भार्या + प्रसङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (bhrātṛ-bhāryāyāḥ prasaṅgaḥ)

• कोकिलः: a cuckoo
• कोकिलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोकिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जायते: is born
• जायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नरः: a man (the person)
• नरः: Karta (Underlying agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गुर्वादिभार्यागमनात्: from going to the wives of one’s teacher and others
• गुर्वादिभार्यागमनात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु + आदि + भार्या + गमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case/ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (gurv-ādi-bhāryāṇām gamanam)

• शूकरः: a boar/pig
• शूकरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जायते: is born
• जायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नरः: a man (the person)
• नरः: Karta (Underlying agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sexual misconduct differentiated by relational gravity yields differentiated yonis; betrayal of kin and guru intensifies karmic fall.

Vedantic Theme: Adharma strengthens tamas and binds jīva to lower embodiments; guru-droha is especially binding due to violation of śraddhā and dharma-root.

Application: Maintain boundaries with relatives’ spouses; treat guru/elders’ households as inviolable; practice self-restraint and reverence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana lists of yoni outcomes for specific pāpas in the same chapter sequence; Nearby verse 1.225.18 on parastrī and 1.225.22 on varṇa-saṅkara themes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Guru

FAQs

What is the importance of karma-phala (results of actions) in Garuda Purana?

This verse exemplifies the Purana’s teaching that specific adharma—especially violations of family and guru-boundaries—ripens into specific forms of suffering, including lower rebirths.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It frames post-death destiny through moral causality: grave sexual transgressions create karmic impressions that propel the jīva toward animal rebirths rather than a favorable human continuation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain strict ethical boundaries in relationships—especially regarding family and teachers/mentors—since dharma in conduct is presented as a direct safeguard of one’s future wellbeing.