Shloka 71
देवद्रव्यं च ब्रह्मस्वं गुरुद्रव्यं तथैव च / कन्यां ददाति शुल्केन स प्रेतो जायते नरः
devadravyaṃ ca brahmasvaṃ gurudravyaṃ tathaiva ca / kanyāṃ dadāti śulkena sa preto jāyate naraḥ
A man who misappropriates wealth belonging to the Devas, property meant for Brahmins, or the possessions of one’s guru—and who gives a maiden in marriage for a price—becomes a preta, a restless departed spirit.
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Concept: Appropriating sacred/teacher property and treating a maiden as a commodity (śulka) are grave adharma leading to preta-bhava.
Vedantic Theme: Aparādha against the sacred (deva/guru) intensifies karmic bondage; dharma protects social and spiritual order.
Application: Respect trust property and institutional funds; honor teacher-student ethics; reject commodification in marriage; practice transparent, consent-based social customs.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sins involving deva-dravya and guru-droha leading to severe post-death states (Pretakalpa/Dharma sections)
FAQs
This verse treats wealth dedicated to Devas (devadravya) and sacred/Brahmin-associated property (brahmasva) as highly protected; violating them is said to lead to the preta condition after death.
It links specific unethical acts—especially misuse of sacred/guru wealth and monetizing a daughter’s marriage—to karmic results that can obstruct a peaceful transition, resulting in becoming a preta (a restless, unsettled departed being).
Avoid misusing religious/charitable funds, respect teachers’ property, and treat marriage as a dharmic sacrament rather than a transaction—choices framed here as preventing severe post-death karmic consequences.