Shloka 47

Devotpatti-nirūpaṇa — Hari’s Pūrṇatva

Completeness) and the Ritual Doctrine of Sāra (Essence

Devanagari script

आस्वादनं कारयति स्वयं नास्वादते हरिः / असारभोजनं चैव जीवानां कर्मजं फलम्

Transliteration

āsvādanaṃ kārayati svayaṃ nāsvādate hariḥ / asārabhojanaṃ caiva jīvānāṃ karmajaṃ phalam

Translation

Hari causes beings to taste the fruits of their actions, yet He Himself does not partake of that taste. Likewise, the eating of tasteless, insubstantial food is a karmic result that living beings must undergo.

Word by Word

• āsvādanam: tasting
• āsvādanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ā + svād (धातु) + ana (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त-भाववाचक; ‘āsvādana’ नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (object)

• kārayati: causes (others) to do
• kārayati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + ṇic (णिच् causative)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative) ‘causes to do’

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मनः-प्रयोग

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• āsvādate: tastes/enjoys
• āsvādate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + svād (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• hariḥ: Hari
• hariḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• asāra-bhojanam: eating of what is worthless
• asāra-bhojanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-sāra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (asārasya bhojanam)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय

• jīvānām: of living beings
• jīvānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• karmajam: born of karma
• karmajam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karma-ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (karmataḥ jātaṃ)

• phalam: fruit/result
• phalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Hari) speaking to Garuda (Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Īśvara orchestrates the fruition of karma (bhoga) without being an enjoyer; jīva alone undergoes taste/experience.

Vedantic Theme: Distinction between sākṣin/Īśvara and bhoktṛ-jīva; non-attachment of the Supreme; karma as experiential necessity for the bound self.

Application: Cultivate vairāgya: recognize pleasures/pains as karma-taste; reduce craving/aversion; choose actions that yield sattvic, ‘sāra’ outcomes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana karma-phala explanations where the jīva ‘eats’ results while the Lord remains untouched; Sections describing bhoga in subtle states as karmically compelled

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Jivas

FAQs

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

This verse states that beings must experience the results of their own karma, while Hari remains untouched—highlighting personal responsibility for post-death outcomes described in the Preta Kanda.

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

It frames after-death experiences as the soul’s compelled “tasting” of karma-phala; the conditions encountered (including deprivation like tasteless food) are presented as consequences shaped by prior deeds.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Act ethically with awareness that consequences must be personally endured; cultivate devotion and detachment, understanding that the Divine is the witness who administers order but does not ‘consume’ your actions for you.