Shloka 57

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

दशपाप हरायां च अदत्वा दानकल्मषम् / विरुद्धाचरणं हिंसा परदारोपसेवनम्

Transliteration

daśapāpa harāyāṃ ca adatvā dānakalmaṣam / viruddhācaraṇaṃ hiṃsā paradāropasevanam

Translation

ഇവ പത്ത് പാപങ്ങളായി എണ്ണപ്പെടുന്നു—പരധനം അപഹരിക്കൽ, ദാനം കൊടുക്കാതെയുള്ള ദാനകല്മഷം, ധർമ്മവിരുദ്ധാചരണം, ഹിംസ, പരസ്ത്രീസേവനം।

Word by Word

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याविशेषणम्; (indeclinable-like numeral adjective)

• pāpa: sins
• pāpa: Karma/Viṣaya (Object/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative singular; used as list-heading)

• harāyām: in/at Harā (Ganga/holy place named Harā)
• harāyām: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: harā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (feminine, locative singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• adatvā: without giving
• adatvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: a-dā (धा√दा) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), नकारार्थक उपसर्ग ‘अ-’ सहित; (having not given)

• dāna: of donation/charity
• dāna: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (neuter, genitive singular; first member in compound)

• kalmaṣam: the sin/taint (of not giving charity)
• kalmaṣam: Karma/Viṣaya (Object/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalmaṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: dāna-kalmaṣa (neuter nom/acc sg)

• viruddha: contrary/forbidden
• viruddha: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viruddha (कृदन्त; √rudh/√rudh? ‘to obstruct’ → विरुद्ध)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle) विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg; first member in compound)

• ācaraṇam: wrong conduct
• ācaraṇam: Karma/Viṣaya (Object/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: viruddha-ācaraṇa (neuter nom/acc sg)

• hiṃsā: violence
• hiṃsā: Karma/Viṣaya (Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hiṃsā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (feminine, nominative singular; item in list)

• para: another’s
• para: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; (other’s) प्रथम सदस्य in compound

• dāra: wife/spouse
• dāra: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (बहुवचनप्राय), षष्ठी, एकवचनार्थे (genitive sense in compound: ‘of wife/spouse’)

• upasevanam: consorting with another’s wife
• upasevanam: Karma/Viṣaya (Object/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upasevana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: para-dāra-upasevana (neuter nom/acc sg)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Enumeration of major pāpas (sins) rooted in theft, non-giving, adharma, violence, and sexual misconduct.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandha through adharma; purification begins with viveka (discrimination) and ethical restraint (yama-like virtues).

Application: Adopt non-violence, fidelity, non-stealing, and timely charity; use the list as a daily self-audit before worship and social dealings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.58 (continuation of the ten sins); Garuda Purana 1.213.59–60 (purificatory bathing and remembrance of Hari)

FAQs

What is the importance of the “ten sins” (daśa-pāpa) in Garuda Purana?

They function as a practical dharma checklist—actions like theft, violence, adultery, and refusing rightful charity are flagged as core causes of demerit that lead to suffering and adverse afterlife results.

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

By identifying specific pāpas, it implies that post-death experiences are shaped by karma: such violations become causes for painful consequences described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana’s afterlife and Yama-related teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid harm and exploitation, remain faithful, do not take what isn’t yours, and practice timely charity—aligning daily conduct with dharma to reduce karmic burden.