Shloka 5
Karma-vipāka: Rebirths and Bodily Marks Resulting from Specific Sins
ब्रह्मस्वं कन्यकां क्रीत्वा वने रक्षो भवेद्वृषः / रत्नहृद्धीनजातः स्यात्पत्रशाकहरः शिखी
brahmasvaṃ kanyakāṃ krītvā vane rakṣo bhavedvṛṣaḥ / ratnahṛddhīnajātaḥ syātpatraśākaharaḥ śikhī
ബ്രാഹ്മണസ്വം അപഹരിക്കുന്നവനും കന്യയെ വസ്തുവെന്നപോലെ വാങ്ങുന്നവനും വനത്തിൽ വൃഷസദൃശനായ രാക്ഷസനായി പിറക്കുന്നു। രത്നം കവർന്നവൻ മന്ദബുദ്ധിയായി ജനിക്കുന്നു; ഇലക്കറികൾ ഹരിച്ചവൻ മയിൽയോനിയിൽ പിറക്കുന്നു।
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Concept: Misappropriating brahmin property or commodifying a maiden leads to rākṣasa-like forest existence; gem theft dulls intellect; stealing leafy greens leads to peacock rebirth.
Vedantic Theme: Desecration of dharma (especially brahminical trust and human dignity) intensifies tamas; karma shapes buddhi (intellect) and yoni.
Application: Respect sacred/entrusted property, uphold consent and dignity (no commodification of persons), avoid theft; cultivate dana and ethical commerce.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: forest/liminal zone and rebirth outcome
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: brahmasva-apaharaṇa condemned; lists of theft consequences; Garuda Purana: sections praising dana and condemning exploitation
FAQs
This verse shows the Garuda Purana’s principle that specific unethical acts (theft, exploitation) produce correspondingly specific rebirth outcomes, reinforcing dharma through karmic consequence.
It implies that after death the jīva carries karmic impressions that shape its next embodiment, here described as lower births or demonic states aligned with the nature of the wrongdoing.
Respect others’ property and dignity—avoid theft, exploitation, and coercive transactions—since the text frames these as heavy adharma with severe karmic results.