Shloka 67

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

Devanagari script

हीनजातौ प्रजायेत रत्नानामपहारकः / पत्रं च शाखिनो हृत्वा गन्धांश्छुच्छुन्दरी पुमान्

Transliteration

hīnajātau prajāyeta ratnānāmapahārakaḥ / patraṃ ca śākhino hṛtvā gandhāṃśchucchundarī pumān

Translation

宝玉を盗む者は卑しい生まれに落ちる。さらに木の葉をむしり取り、香りを盗む男は、麝香鼠（チュッチュンダリー）として再生する。

Word by Word

• hīna: low, inferior
• hīna: Adhikaraṇa (Location/condition qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-एकवचन; विशेषणम् (jātau)

• jātau: in a birth/caste
• jātau: Adhikaraṇa (Condition/State)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-एकवचन (Locative Singular)

• prajāyeta: would be born
• prajāyeta: Kriyā (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√jan (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ratnānām: of jewels
• ratnānām: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-बहुवचन (Genitive Plural)

• apahārakaḥ: a thief/stealer
• apahārakaḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apa-√hṛ (धातु) + -aka (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; कृदन्त-नाम (कर्तृवाचक)

• patram: a leaf
• patram: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Accusative Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• śākhinaḥ: of a tree (branch-bearing one)
• śākhinaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śākhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-एकवचन (Genitive Singular)

• hṛtvā: having taken
• hṛtvā: Kriyā (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund) अव्ययभावः

• gandhān: fragrances/scents
• gandhān: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-बहुवचन (Accusative Plural)

• chucchundarī: a shrew/musk-rat (chucchundarī)
• chucchundarī: Karta (Predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chucchundarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (Nominative Singular); जातिवाचक

• pumān: a man
• pumān: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (Nominative Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific thefts yield correspondingly degraded rebirths: gem theft leads to low birth; stealing leaves/fragrance leads to rebirth as chucchundarī (musk-rat).

Vedantic Theme: Karma’s specificity (viśeṣa-phala) and the binding power of desire/appropriation; tamasic tendencies lead to animal embodiments.

Application: Practice asteya (non-stealing) even in small matters; respect others’ property and shared natural resources; cultivate contentment and generosity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2.68–69 (further theft-to-rebirth mappings)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of theft-karma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links specific acts of theft (gems, leaves, fragrances) to specific rebirth outcomes, emphasizing that karma is precise and ethically consequential.

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

It presents rebirth (a future embodiment) as a karmic result: wrongdoing conditions the next birth, including lower social birth or even an animal form tied symbolically to the act (fragrance-theft leading to a scent-associated creature).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid all forms of theft—including exploiting natural resources for selfish gain—and practice honest livelihood and reverence for what belongs to others and to nature.