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Shloka 69

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

Devanagari script

मधुदंशः फलं गृध्रो गां गोधाग्निं बकस्तथा / स्याच्छ्वेतकुष्ठी स्त्रीवस्त्र ह्यरुची रसहारकः

Transliteration

madhudaṃśaḥ phalaṃ gṛdhro gāṃ godhāgniṃ bakastathā / syācchvetakuṣṭhī strīvastra hyarucī rasahārakaḥ

Translation

蜜を盗む者は刺す虫として生まれ、果実を盗む者は禿鷲として生まれ、牛を盗む者は蜥蜴として生まれ、火を盗む者は鶴として生まれる。女の衣を盗む者は白癩に悩まされ、味と滋養を奪う者は食欲を失う苦しみを受ける。

Word by Word
madhudaṃśaḥa honey-biter (bee/wasp)
madhudaṃśaḥ:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootmadhu (प्रातिपदिक) + daṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (madhuno daṃśaḥ)
phalamfruit
phalam:
Karma/Upapada
TypeNoun
Rootphala (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन
gṛdhraḥa vulture
gṛdhraḥ:
Karta (Predicate-noun)
TypeNoun
Rootgṛdhra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन
gāma cow
gām:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootgo (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Accusative Singular)
godhāan iguana/lizard
godhā:
Karma/Upapada
TypeNoun
Rootgodhā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद
agnimfire
agnim:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootagni (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Accusative Singular)
bakaḥa crane/heron
bakaḥ:
Karta (Predicate-noun)
TypeNoun
Rootbaka (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन
tathālikewise/also
tathā:
Samuccaya/Adverbial
TypeIndeclinable
Roottathā (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (adverb) समानार्थक/समुच्चयार्थे
syātwould be/become
syāt:
Kriyā (Copula)
TypeVerb
Root√as (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
śveta-kuṣṭhīone with white leprosy
śveta-kuṣṭhī:
Karta (Predicate-noun)
TypeNoun
Rootśveta (प्रातिपदिक) + kuṣṭhin (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (śvetaḥ kuṣṭhī)
strī-vastrama woman's garment
strī-vastram:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootstrī (प्रातिपदिक) + vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Accusative Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (striyāḥ vastram)
hiindeed
hi:
Emphasis
TypeIndeclinable
Roothi (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (emphatic/indeed)
arucīone without taste/appetite (dyspeptic)
arucī:
Karta (Predicate-noun)
TypeNoun
Rootarucin (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; गुणवाचक-नाम
rasa-hārakaḥstealer of taste/essence
rasa-hārakaḥ:
Karta (Predicate-noun)
TypeNoun
Rootrasa (प्रातिपदिक) + hāraka (प्रातिपदिक; √hṛ)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (rasasya hārakaḥ)
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Theft/deprivation yields specific karmaphala: honey→stinging insect; fruit→vulture; cow→lizard; fire→crane; women’s clothing→white leprosy; stealing taste/nourishment→loss of appetite.

Vedantic Theme: Karma manifests as both future embodiment and present bodily affliction; harm to others’ sustenance/comfort rebounds as deprivation in one’s own body.

Application: Protect others’ livelihood and dignity (especially women’s garments as honor/privacy); do not deprive others of food/joy; practice restitution and compassionate giving.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2.67–68 (same karmaphala series)

Characters & Entities
V
Vishnu
G
Garuda

FAQs

This verse teaches that specific acts of theft produce specific karmic fruits—rebirth in lower forms or painful disease—emphasizing that Yama’s moral law is precise and action-specific.

By linking theft to degraded rebirth and illness, the verse frames sin (pāpa) as shaping the jīva’s post-death trajectory through suffering and unfavorable embodiment before further progress is possible.

Practice strict honesty in possessions and essentials (food, resources, clothing, livelihood); avoid even “small” theft, and cultivate restitution and charity to reduce harm and strengthen dharma.

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