Shloka 7

Karma-vipāka: Rebirths and Bodily Marks Resulting from Specific Sins

Devanagari script

मांसं गृध्रः पटं श्वित्री चीरी लवणहारकः / यथाकर्म फलं प्राप्य तिर्यक्त्वं कालपर्ययात्

Transliteration

māṃsaṃ gṛdhraḥ paṭaṃ śvitrī cīrī lavaṇahārakaḥ / yathākarma phalaṃ prāpya tiryaktvaṃ kālaparyayāt

Translation

肉を盗む者は禿鷲に生まれ、布を盗む者は癩病の身となる。衣を奪う者はぼろを纏う者となり、塩を盗む者は塩盗人となる。自らの業の果を受け、時の推移のうちに、各々カルマに応じて畜生など非人の生を得る。

Word by Word

• मांसम्: meat
• मांसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• गृध्रः: a vulture
• गृध्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृध्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• पटम्: cloth/garment
• पटम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• श्वित्री: a female with white patches; (as a being/creature)
• श्वित्री: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वित्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• चीरी: a rag-wearer/one with torn cloth (as read)
• चीरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चीरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; (दुर्लभ-शब्दः)

• लवणहारकः: salt-stealer
• लवणहारकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक) + हारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘लवणस्य हारकः’ = salt-stealer)

• यथाकर्म: according to (their) karma
• यथाकर्म: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय; ‘कर्मानुसारम्’ (according to one’s deeds)

• फलम्: result/fruit
• फलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• प्राप्य: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive), ‘having obtained’

• तिर्यक्त्वम्: animal state/being an animal
• तिर्यक्त्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिर्यक्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• कालपर्ययात्: from/through the passage of time
• कालपर्ययात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘कालस्य पर्ययः’), ‘-आत्’ = ‘from/through’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yathākarma: actions ripen over time into corresponding births/conditions (animal birth, disease, poverty markers).

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra driven by karma and vāsanā; kāla (time) as the ripener of karma-phala.

Application: Adopt ethical livelihood (avoid theft and exploitation), purify conduct through confession, restitution, and disciplined restraint; cultivate compassion to counter predatory tendencies.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.104 (continuation of theft-to-yoni mapping)

FAQs

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

This verse frames punishment as karmic fruition: specific unethical acts mature into corresponding forms of suffering, including lower births (tiryaktva), reinforcing moral restraint.

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

It indicates that after death, the jīva’s accumulated actions can ripen into non-human embodiments over time, showing rebirth as a consequence-driven continuation of the soul’s journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid harm and theft—especially exploiting essentials like food and clothing—and cultivate honest livelihood, compassion, and respect for others’ property to prevent harmful karmic outcomes.