Shloka 68

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

Devanagari script

मूषको धान्यहारी स्याद्यानमुष्ट्रः फलं कपिः / निर्मन्त्रभोजनात्काको गृध्रो हृत्वा ह्युपस्करम्

Transliteration

mūṣako dhānyahārī syādyānamuṣṭraḥ phalaṃ kapiḥ / nirmantrabhojanātkāko gṛdhro hṛtvā hyupaskaram

Translation

穀物を盗む者は鼠となり、乗り物を盗む者は駱駝となり、果実を盗む者は猿となる。真言と作法により清められていない食を口にする者は烏となり、家財を盗む者は禿鷲となる。

Word by Word

• mūṣakaḥ: a mouse/rat
• mūṣakaḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūṣaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

• dhānya-hārī: grain-stealer
• dhānya-hārī: Karta (Predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhānya (प्रातिपदिक) + hārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (dhānyasya hārī)

• syāt: would be/become
• syāt: Kriyā (Copula)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• yānam: a vehicle
• yānam: Karma/Upapada (Object in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन (Nom./Acc. Singular); समासपूर्वपद

• uṣṭraḥ: a camel
• uṣṭraḥ: Karta (Predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uṣṭra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

• phalam: fruit
• phalam: Karma/Upapada (Object in ellipsis)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन

• kapiḥ: a monkey
• kapiḥ: Karta (Predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

• nirmantra-bhojanāt: from eating without mantra/ritual
• nirmantra-bhojanāt: Apādāna (Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirmantra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-एकवचन (Ablative Singular); कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषः—'निर्मन्त्रं भोजनम्'

• kākaḥ: a crow
• kākaḥ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

• gṛdhraḥ: a vulture
• gṛdhraḥ: Karta (Predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛdhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

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

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha/Emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/indeed)

• upaskaram: equipment/utensils
• upaskaram: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upaskara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Accusative Singular)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viśeṣa-phala: specific acts (stealing grain/vehicle/fruit/household goods; eating unmantrita food) yield corresponding animal births (mouse/camel/monkey/crow/vulture).

Vedantic Theme: Karmic imprint of desire and appropriation; ritual mindfulness (mantra/saṃskāra) supports sattva, negligence feeds tamas.

Application: Maintain honesty in commerce and household; respect ritual norms around food (gratitude, offering, sanctification); avoid taking even small items.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2.67, 2.2.69 (continuation of theft-to-result series)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of describing animal rebirth for specific sins in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links particular unethical acts—especially theft and improper eating—to specific lower rebirths, reinforcing that karma operates with precise consequences and discouraging harmful conduct.

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

It indicates that after death the jīva may be propelled into non-human births according to its dominant misdeeds, showing a karmic pathway where actions shape the next embodiment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid taking what is not given (even small items like food or household goods), and treat food as sacred—eat with gratitude and proper observance—so conduct remains aligned with dharma.