Shloka 27

Karma-vipāka: Truth, Yama’s Judgment, and the Marks of Sin in Rebirth

Devanagari script

एवमादीनि चिह्नानि अन्यान्यपि खगेश्वर / स्वकर्मविततान्येव? दृश्यन्ते यैस्तु मानवैः

Transliteration

evamādīni cihnāni anyānyapi khageśvara / svakarmavitatānyeva? dṛśyante yaistu mānavaiḥ

Translation

O Lord of birds, Garuda, such signs—and many others besides—are seen by those humans who can perceive them; they are nothing but manifestations spread forth by one’s own karma.

Word by Word

• evamādīni: such and other (signs)
• evamādīni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of cihnāni)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: evam + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka-liṅga (Neuter), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacana (Plural); tatpuruṣa: evam (thus) + ādi (etc.)

• cihnāni: signs, marks
• cihnāni: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cihna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka-liṅga (Neuter), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• anyāni: other
• anyāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of cihnāni)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka-liṅga (Neuter), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacana (Plural)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya/Avadhāraṇa-nipāta (particle: ‘also/even’)

• khageśvara: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• khageśvara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana (Singular); tatpuruṣa: khaga (bird) + īśvara (lord)

• svakarmavitatāni: spread out by one’s own deeds
• svakarmavitatāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of cihnāni)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva + karma + vitata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka-liṅga (Neuter), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacana (Plural); tatpuruṣa: sva-karma (one’s own deeds) + vitata (spread/extended)

• eva: indeed, only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avadhāraṇa-nipāta (restrictive particle)

• dṛśyante: are seen, appear
• dṛśyante: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Bahuvacana (Plural), Ātmanepada; karmaṇi-prayoga (passive sense)

• yaiḥ: by whom
• yaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Agent in passive; instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural); relative pronoun (‘by whom’)

• tu: indeed, but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Viśeṣa/Avadhāraṇa-nipāta (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• mānavaiḥ: by humans
• mānavaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Agent in passive; instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Omens and signs are not random; they are manifestations of one’s own karma, perceived by those with insight.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as the subtle architect of experience; epistemic humility and discernment (viveka) regarding causality; movement toward śānti through understanding.

Application: Respond to signs with introspection rather than panic; examine one’s actions and tendencies; cultivate ethical correction and mental steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic-psychological field of perception

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.46 context: nimitta/cihna catalogues culminating in karmic explanation; Pretakalpa framing where experiences are karma-vistāra (expansion/unfolding of deeds)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Khageshvara)

FAQs

What is the importance of karmic signs (cihna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that such signs are not random; they are expressions of one’s own karma unfolding, and some people are able to perceive them.

How does this verse explain the link between karma and what people perceive?

It directly attributes the appearance of various signs to actions performed earlier—karma ‘spread out’ into perceivable indications, visible to certain humans.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat unusual signs as prompts for self-correction: strengthen ethical conduct, reduce harmful actions, and increase dharmic habits rather than relying on fear or superstition.