Shloka 14

Saṃsāra-cakra, Preta’s 12-day Transit to Yama, Re-embodiment, and Karma-Vipāka Catalog of Sins and Rebirths

Devanagari script

तज्जायां मनसा वाञ्छंस्तद्द्रव्यं वाप्यसंशयम् / गर्दभोजायते जन्तुर्मित्रस्यैवापमानकृत्

Transliteration

tajjāyāṃ manasā vāñchaṃstaddravyaṃ vāpyasaṃśayam / gardabhojāyate janturmitrasyaivāpamānakṛt

Translation

മനസ്സിൽ പരസ്ത്രീയെ കാമിക്കുന്നവനോ അവളുടെ ധനം മോഹിക്കുന്നവനോ നിശ്ചയമായി കഴുതയായി ജനിക്കുന്നു; സുഹൃത്തിനെ അപമാനിക്കുന്നവനും അതേ ഗതി പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (his)
• तत्: Sambandha (Genitival sense/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (referring to 'his')

• जायाम्: wife
• जायाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• मनसा: with the mind
• मनसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• वाञ्छन्: desiring
• वाञ्छन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वाञ्छ् (धातु) → वाञ्छत् (शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Present active participle: 'desiring'

• तत्: that (his)
• तत्: Sambandha (Genitival sense/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• द्रव्यम्: property/wealth
• द्रव्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-भावे; also/even

• असंशयम्: undoubtedly
• असंशयम्: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: असंशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्यय (adverbial accusative); without doubt

• गर्दभः: donkey
• गर्दभः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्दभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• जायते: is born
• जायते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present middle 3rd sg: 'is born/becomes'

• जन्तुः: creature
• जन्तुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• मित्रस्य: of a friend
• मित्रस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• अपमानकृत्: one who insults
• अपमानकृत्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपमान (प्रातिपदिक) + √कृ (धातु) → कृत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयभाव: अपमानं करोति इति; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; agent noun

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Manasa-doṣa (mental lust/greed) and social offenses (friend humiliation) mature into degrading rebirth.

Vedantic Theme: Saṅkalpa as seed of karma; inner purity (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi) as foundation for dharma and higher realization.

Application: Practice sense-restraint and contentment; guard thoughts; honor friendships; avoid humiliating speech and social cruelty.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: human society and subsequent yoni

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: lists of rebirths for kāma/lobha and social betrayals (surrounding verses)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of controlling desire in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats even mental craving for another’s spouse or wealth as karmically potent, leading to a degrading rebirth, emphasizing inner restraint as part of dharma.

How does this verse explain karmic consequence and rebirth?

It links specific unethical tendencies—lust, greed, and betraying friendship through humiliation—to a concrete rebirth outcome (as a donkey), illustrating the Purana’s cause-and-effect moral cosmology.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice fidelity, non-covetousness, and respectful speech—especially toward friends—by checking thoughts before they become actions and cultivating contentment and gratitude.