Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

कृतघ्नः कृमिकः कीटः पतङ्गो वृश्चिकस्तथा / अशस्त्रं पुरुषं हर्ता नरः सञ्जायते खरः

Transliteration

kṛtaghnaḥ kṛmikaḥ kīṭaḥ pataṅgo vṛścikastathā / aśastraṃ puruṣaṃ hartā naraḥ sañjāyate kharaḥ

Translation

The ungrateful is born as a worm or insect—such as a moth or a scorpion; and the man who slays an unarmed person is reborn as a donkey.

Word by Word

• कृतघ्नः: ingrate (one who harms a benefactor)
• कृतघ्नः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृतघ्न (प्रातिपदिक) < कृत (कृ-धातु, क्त) + घ्न (हन्-धातु, घ्निन्/घ्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कृतस्य घ्नः = उपकारघातकः)

• कृमिकः: a worm-like creature
• कृमिकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृमिक (प्रातिपदिक) < कृमि + क (तद्धित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कीटः: insect
• कीटः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पतङ्गः: moth/winged insect
• पतङ्गः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वृश्चिकः: scorpion
• वृश्चिकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृश्चिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha/Discourse particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/उपसंहारार्थक-अव्यय ("and likewise")

• अशस्त्रम्: unarmed
• अशस्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) < शस्त्र + नञ् (अ-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम् (पुरुषम्)

• पुरुषम्: a man/person
• पुरुषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• हर्ता: stealer/robber
• हर्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृ (धातु) + तृच् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय) → हर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तृच्-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक-नाम (agent noun)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सञ्जायते: is born/comes to be
• सञ्जायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• खरः: donkey/ass
• खरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific sins (ingratitude; killing the unarmed) yield specific lower rebirths (worms/insects; donkey).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and saṃsāra; adharma veils sattva and drives descent into tamasic yonis.

Application: Cultivate gratitude and non-violence; protect the defenseless; avoid exploiting power over the unarmed.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic moral court / karmic domain

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: karma-vipāka lists of yoni/animal rebirth for specific pāpas (adjacent verses 1.225.24–27); Garuda Purana: Yama-dharma expositions on hiṃsā and kṛtaghnatā (theme-level parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of gratitude (kṛtajñatā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats ingratitude (kṛtaghnatā) as a serious adharma that degrades one’s future birth, indicating gratitude is a core ethical duty that supports right conduct and social harmony.

How does this verse explain karmic results after death?

It states a direct karmic linkage: specific moral failures (ingratitude; killing the unarmed) lead to specific lower rebirths, illustrating the Garuda Purana’s framework of precise cause-and-effect across lives.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate gratitude toward parents, teachers, helpers, and benefactors, and uphold non-violence—especially refusing harm against the defenseless—since the text frames these as decisive factors shaping one’s future destiny.