Shloka 51

The Extent of Questions: Deathbed Rites, Kāla (Time), and Karma-Vipāka Rebirths

Devanagari script

ते मोहं मृत्युमृच्छन्ति तथा ये वेदनिन्दकाः / विभीषकाः पूतिगन्धा यष्टिमुद्गरपाणयः

Transliteration

te mohaṃ mṛtyumṛcchanti tathā ye vedanindakāḥ / vibhīṣakāḥ pūtigandhā yaṣṭimudgarapāṇayaḥ

Translation

また、ヴェーダを誹謗する者も迷妄に堕ち、死に等しい破滅に至る。彼らは恐るべき、悪臭を放つ存在となり、手に棍棒と槌を携える。

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; अन्वय-निर्देशक (demonstrative pronoun)

• मोहम्: delusion
• मोहम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मृत्युम्: death
• मृत्युम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ऋच्छन्ति: go to / reach
• ऋच्छन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ऋच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• वेद-निन्दकाः: revilers of the Veda
• वेद-निन्दकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + निन्दक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वेदस्य निन्दकाः)

• विभीषकाः: terrifying
• विभीषकाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभीषक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• पूति-गन्धाः: foul-smelling
• पूति-गन्धाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूति (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (पूतिः गन्धः येषाम्)

• यष्टि-मुद्गर-पाणयः: those whose hands hold staffs and mallets
• यष्टि-मुद्गर-पाणयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + मुद्गर (प्रातिपदिक) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहिः (यष्टिमुद्गरौ पाण्योः येषाम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Veda-nindā (reviling the Vedas) and allied adharma lead to moha and ruin; inner contempt for śruti manifests as degraded, frightening embodiment.

Vedantic Theme: Śruti as pramāṇa: contempt for revelatory knowledge deepens avidyā and binds one to tamasic outcomes.

Application: Maintain reverence for sources of dharma/śruti; critique with humility and rigor rather than contempt; avoid speech that corrodes sacred learning and communal trust.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of sinful beings becoming foul/terrifying and bearing weapons (nearby 2.2 verses)

Characters & Entities

• Vedas

FAQs

What is the importance of condemning Veda-ninda in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats reviling the Vedas as a grave adharma that leads to moha (spiritual delusion) and a degraded post-death condition, emphasizing reverence for śāstra as a safeguard for right conduct.

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

It indicates that certain sins shape the post-death experience and form: the reviler of the Vedas falls into delusion and attains a frightening, impure state, suggesting karmic transformation into a painful, distorted condition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid contempt for sacred texts and ethical traditions; cultivate humility, study with discernment, and practice dharma—speech and attitude toward scripture are treated as karmically significant.