Shloka 21

Jīva-yonis (84 Lakhs), Rarity of Human Birth, Sense-Restraint, Craving, and Śraddhā-based Dharma

Devanagari script

एकः करोति पापानि फलं भुङ्क्ते महाजनः / भोक्तारो विप्रयुज्यन्ते कर्ता दोषेण लिप्यते

Transliteration

ekaḥ karoti pāpāni phalaṃ bhuṅkte mahājanaḥ / bhoktāro viprayujyante kartā doṣeṇa lipyate

Translation

പാപം ചെയ്യുന്നത് ഒരാളാണ്; എന്നാൽ ഫലം പലരും അനുഭവിക്കേണ്ടിവരും. അനുഭവിക്കുന്നവർ വേർപിരിയുന്നു; ദോഷത്തിൽ ലിപ്തനാകുന്നത് കർത്താവു മാത്രമാണ്.

Word by Word

• एकः: one (person)
• एकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• करोति: does/commits
• करोति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पापानि: sins
• पापानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भुङ्क्ते: enjoys/experiences
• भुङ्क्ते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• महाजनः: the great man / the person (himself)
• महाजनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् जनः)

• भोक्तारः: enjoyers/experiencers
• भोक्तारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज् (धातु) + तृ (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कर्तरि कृदन्त (तृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• विप्रयुज्यन्ते: are separated
• विप्रयुज्यन्ते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु) उपसर्गः वि- प्र-
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘are separated/disunited’

• कर्ता: the doer
• कर्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तृ (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कर्तरि कृदन्त (तृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दोषेण: by/with fault (sin)
• दोषेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• लिप्यते: is tainted/smeared
• लिप्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karma-doership and moral stain adhere to the agent; even if many share outcomes, the doer bears the fault.

Vedantic Theme: Kartṛtva-bhāva binds; purification requires right action and inner rectitude; karma’s moral dimension is in intention and agency.

Application: Take responsibility for actions; avoid rationalizing harm by distributing benefits; adopt transparent ethics in leadership, business, and family decisions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana karma-phala discussions emphasizing individual responsibility beyond social entanglements

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Karma (as moral causality)

FAQs

What is the importance of personal responsibility (kartṛtva) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that the moral stain (doṣa) adheres to the actual doer of sin; benefits or outcomes shared by many do not remove the doer’s accountability.

How does this verse relate to afterlife judgment in Yama’s realm?

In the Preta Kanda context, it supports the doctrine that post-death consequences follow one’s own actions; companionship and shared enjoyment in life do not accompany the soul, but karmic fault does.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid unethical acts done “for others” or “for the group”; even if others profit or later separate, the doer remains accountable for the wrongdoing.