Shloka 17

Vaitaraṇī: Torments of the Sinful, Sins Enumerated, and the Vaitaraṇī Go-dāna Rite

Devanagari script

कन्याविदूषकश्चैव दानं दत्त्वानुतापकः / शूबद्रस्तु कपिलापायी ब्राह्मणो मांसभोजनः

Transliteration

kanyāvidūṣakaścaiva dānaṃ dattvānutāpakaḥ / śūbadrastu kapilāpāyī brāhmaṇo māṃsabhojanaḥ

Translation

また同様に、乙女を辱める者、施しを与えた後に悔いる者、行いが残酷な者、カピラー（黄褐色の牝牛）の乳を飲む者、そして肉を食するバラモン——これらも罪人に数えられ、死後に痛ましい報いを受ける。

Word by Word

• kanyā-vidūṣakaḥ: defiler of a maiden
• kanyā-vidūṣakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā + vidūṣaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘kanyāyāḥ vidūṣakaḥ’ (defiler/violator of a maiden)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (Conjunction)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (Emphatic particle)

• dānam: a gift/charity
• dānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• dattvā: having given
• dattvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √dā (दा) (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having given’

• anutāpakaḥ: one who regrets (after giving)
• anutāpakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anutāpaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (agent noun) ‘one who causes regret/repents’ (context: one who regrets after giving)

• śūbadraḥ: a wicked person (term śūbadra)
• śūbadraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūbadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (rare/unclear lexeme; taken as a person of bad conduct)

• tu: and/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ

• kapilā-pāyī: one who drinks kapilā (cow’s milk)
• kapilā-pāyī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapilā + pāyin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘kapilāṃ pibati’ (drinks milk of a tawny cow / drinks kapilā)

• brāhmaṇaḥ: a Brahmin
• brāhmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• māṃsa-bhojanaḥ: meat-eater
• māṃsa-bhojanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māṃsa + bhojana (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘māṃsaṃ bhojanam asya’/‘māṃsaṃ bhuṅkte’ (meat-eater)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Harming the vulnerable, hypocrisy in giving, cruelty, and breaches of brāhmaṇa conduct generate pāpa with painful results.

Vedantic Theme: Ethical purification (citta-śuddhi) as prerequisite for higher knowledge; karma binds when rooted in harm, hypocrisy, and tamas.

Application: Uphold sexual ethics and protection of minors/vulnerable; give without regret; cultivate compassion; follow one’s dharma-consistent diet and conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: sin-lists and their destinations (context around 2.47.16–20)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana

FAQs

What is the importance of listing sins in the Garuda Purana (Preta Kanda)?

This verse functions as a dharma-checklist: it names specific actions considered adharma and warns that such deeds bring painful post-death consequences, urging ethical restraint and purity.

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

By identifying concrete sinful acts, the text implies that the soul’s post-death experience is shaped by karma; harmful deeds lead to suffering in Yama’s domain rather than a peaceful transition.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain sexual ethics, give charity without later resentment, avoid cruelty, and follow one’s dharmic dietary/behavioral codes—so actions support a calmer conscience and better karmic outcomes.