Shloka 83

Post-cremation Ripening of Karma and the Principal Narakas

Devanagari script

मानुष्यं प्राप्यते कुब्जो कुत्सितो वामनो ऽपि वा / चण्डालपुक्कसाद्यासु नरयोनिषु जायते

Transliteration

mānuṣyaṃ prāpyate kubjo kutsito vāmano 'pi vā / caṇḍālapukkasādyāsu narayoniṣu jāyate

Translation

Aun habiendo alcanzado nacimiento humano, uno puede nacer jorobado, despreciado o enano; o nacer en vientres humanos como los de los caṇḍālas, pukkasas y otros semejantes.

Word by Word

• मानुष्यं: human state/being human
• मानुष्यं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• प्राप्यते: is attained/obtained
• प्राप्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• कुब्जः: a hunchback
• कुब्जः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुब्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुत्सितः: despised/base
• कुत्सितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुत्सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (कुब्जः इत्यस्य)

• वामनः: a dwarf
• वामनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थे ‘also/even’

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (disjunctive particle) ‘or’

• चण्डालपुक्कसाद्यासु: among (the groups) such as caṇḍālas and pukkasas
• चण्डालपुक्कसाद्यासु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डाल + पुक्कस + आदि (प्रातिपदिक); (आदि-शब्देन समाहार)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; ‘-आद्य’ समासान्त/प्रत्यय-युक्त (etc.)

• नरयोनिषु: in human wombs/births
• नरयोनिषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नरस्य योनि:)

• जायते: is born
• जायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even within human birth, karmic residues shape bodily conditions and birth among marginalized groups.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra under karma; the jīva’s embodiment is upādhi-driven, not the Self’s nature.

Application: Cultivate ethical conduct and devotion to reduce harmful karmic residues; practice compassion and non-contempt toward all embodied beings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: womb/birth-setting (generic)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: discussions of yonis, karma-phala, and rebirth gradations (adjacent verses in 2.3)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of karma-based rebirth in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that even gaining a human birth does not guarantee favorable conditions; past karma can manifest as bodily deformity or marginalized social birth, reinforcing ethical accountability.

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

In the Preta Kanda framework, the soul’s post-death journey culminates in rebirth shaped by accumulated deeds; this verse highlights specific human outcomes that arise from harmful or degrading actions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice dharma—non-harm, truthfulness, charity, and restraint—since the Purana frames present conduct as a direct cause of future life conditions and suffering.