Shloka 8

Devanagari script

गुरुस्त्रीगमनाच्चन्द्र अहल्यायां गतो हरिः / सुरापानाच्च शुक्रस्तु सुवर्णहरणाद्बलिः

Transliteration

gurustrīgamanāccandra ahalyāyāṃ gato hariḥ / surāpānācca śukrastu suvarṇaharaṇādbaliḥ

Translation

Candra (the Moon) fell by approaching his guru’s wife; Hari (Indra) fell through his transgression with Ahalyā. Śukra (Venus) fell for drinking intoxicants, and Bali fell for stealing gold.

Word by Word

• गुरु-स्त्री-गमनात्: from (the sin of) going to the guru’s wife
• गुरु-स्त्री-गमनात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + गमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case, ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (गुरोः स्त्रियाः गमनम् = ‘going to/with the guru’s wife’)

• चन्द्रः: the Moon (Chandra)
• चन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अहल्यायाम्: in/with Ahalyā
• अहल्यायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहल्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative), एकवचन

• गतः: went/was involved
• गतः: Kriya (क्रिया/भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate)

• हरिः: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सुरा-पानात्: from drinking liquor
• सुरा-पानात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरा (प्रातिपदिक) + पान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सुरायाः पानम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• शुक्रः: Shukra
• शुक्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/contrast)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषण-अव्यय (particle: 'but/indeed')

• सुवर्ण-हरणात्: from stealing gold
• सुवर्ण-हरणात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + हरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सुवर्णस्य हरणम्)

• बलिः: Bali
• बलिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even powerful figures incur downfall through guru-patnī-gamana, adultery, intoxication, and theft; dharma is impartial.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-niyati (moral causality) and the binding power of rāga-dveṣa; necessity of self-mastery for spiritual progress.

Application: Guard against sexual misconduct, intoxication, and theft; cultivate accountability (guru-respect), sobriety, and integrity; adopt prāyaścitta when lapses occur.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: catalogues of pāpa and their consequences; tīrtha/prāyaścitta as remedies (general internal alignment)

Characters & Entities

• Candra
• Ahalyā
• Hari (Indra)
• Śukra
• Bali

FAQs

What is the importance of listing famous figures’ downfalls in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses well-known names to show that specific sins (sexual transgression, intoxication, theft) bring karmic downfall regardless of status, reinforcing dharma through memorable examples.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s teaching on karma and punishment?

It functions as a moral proof-text: actions generate consequences, and even celestial or renowned beings are shown as subject to karmic law—supporting the Purana’s broader discussions of sin-classification and post-death results.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain strict boundaries in teacher–student relations, avoid intoxicants that impair judgment, and practice financial integrity—these are presented as core safeguards against karmic decline.