Shloka 82

Āhnika-Dharma: Dawn Purification, Sandhyā-Upāsanā, Tarpana, Pañca-Mahāyajñas, and Aśauca Rules

Devanagari script

भुङ्क्ते स याति नरकान्त्सूंकरेष्वेव जायते / अशौचं संप्रवक्ष्यामि अशुचिः पातकी सदा

Transliteration

bhuṅkte sa yāti narakāntsūṃkareṣveva jāyate / aśaucaṃ saṃpravakṣyāmi aśuciḥ pātakī sadā

Translation

നിഷിദ്ധമോ അശുചിയോ ആയ ആഹാരം ഭുജിക്കുന്നവൻ നരകങ്ങളിൽ പോകുകയും തീർച്ചയായും പന്നികളിൽ ജനിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യും. ഇനി ഞാൻ അശൗചം വിശദീകരിക്കുന്നു; അശുചൻ എപ്പോഴും പാതകി.

Word by Word

• bhuṅkte: he experiences/enjoys
• bhuṅkte: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• yāti: goes
• yāti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• narakān: to hells
• narakān: Karma (Goal/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• sūṃkareṣu: among pigs
• sūṃkareṣu: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• eva: indeed; only
• eva: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• jāyate: is born
• jāyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• aśaucam: impurity (ritual)
• aśaucam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśauca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• saṃpravakṣyāmi: I will explain
• saṃpravakṣyāmi: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + vac (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular)

• aśuciḥ: impure
• aśuciḥ: Karta-predicative (Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• pātakī: a sinner
• pātakī: Karta-predicative (Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātakin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Consumption of forbidden/impure substances leads to papa, naraka, and tiryak (animal) rebirth; aśauca is a persistent condition for the transgressor.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandhana through tamasic conduct; necessity of sattva-shuddhi for spiritual progress.

Application: Observe dietary and ritual purity rules appropriate to one’s tradition; avoid knowingly impure/forbidden food; undertake prayaschitta and purification if violated.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: otherworldly region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Naraka descriptions and karma-phala mapping (Preta-khanda thematic parallel); Garuda Purana: aśauca and śuddhi rules in dharma-oriented chapters (thematic)

Characters & Entities

• Naraka

FAQs

What is the importance of aśauca (impurity) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames aśauca as a serious spiritual-ethical condition: impurity is linked with pāpa (sin) and is said to lead to naraka and degraded rebirth, making purity a key discipline.

How does this verse explain karmic consequences after death?

It connects wrongful/impure indulgence with two outcomes: suffering in naraka (hell-realms) and a subsequent low rebirth (here, as a pig), illustrating karma operating across afterlife and reincarnation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain purity in diet and conduct—avoid knowingly impure or prohibited consumption and uphold cleanliness/ritual discipline—treating daily choices as karma-shaping actions.