Shloka 70

The Extent of Questions: Deathbed Rites, Kāla (Time), and Karma-Vipāka Rebirths

Devanagari script

कांस्यहारी तु हंसः स्यात्परस्वस्य च हारकः / अपस्मारी गुरोर्हन्ता क्रूरकृद्वामनो भवेत्

Transliteration

kāṃsyahārī tu haṃsaḥ syātparasvasya ca hārakaḥ / apasmārī gurorhantā krūrakṛdvāmano bhavet

Translation

കാംസ്യം മോഷ്ടിക്കുന്നവൻ ഹംസയോണി പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു; പരധനം അപഹരിക്കുന്നവൻ സ്വയം അപഹരണഭോഗ്യനാകും. അപസ്മാരം വരുത്തുന്നവൻ അപസ്മാരിയാകും; ഗുരുഹന്തകൻ വികലാംഗനാകും; ക്രൂരകർമ്മി വാമനജന്മം പ്രാപിക്കും.

Word by Word

• कांस्यहारी: stealer of bronze (vessels)
• कांस्यहारी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कांस्य (प्रातिपदिक) + हारिन् (कृदन्त, √हृ (धातु) + णिनि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कांस्यस्य हारी)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• हंसः: a swan
• हंसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• स्यात्: would become/may be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• परस्वस्य: of another's property
• परस्वस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परस्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• हारकः: a thief/robber
• हारकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हारक (प्रातिपदिक; √हृ (धातु) + ण्वुल्/अक प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अपस्मारी: an epileptic (one with apasmāra)
• अपस्मारी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपस्मारिन् (प्रातिपदिक; अपस्मार + इन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• गुरोः: of the teacher
• गुरोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• हन्ता: killer
• हन्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हन्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; √हन् (धातु) + तृच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• क्रूरकृत्: one who does cruel acts
• क्रूरकृत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रूर (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृदन्त; √कृ (धातु) + क्विप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषभावः (क्रूरं करोति)

• वामनः: a dwarf
• वामनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific sinful acts (especially theft, cruelty, guru-himsa) yield correspondingly specific rebirths and bodily conditions.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyati (lawful causation of results) operating through samsara; ethical order (ṛta/dharma) reflected in embodiment.

Application: Avoid theft and cruelty; treat the guru as inviolable; cultivate ahiṃsā and integrity to prevent future suffering.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2 (karma-vipaka/rebirth consequences section); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa themes: yama-niyama and karma-phala mapping (general)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Guru

FAQs

What is the importance of karma-based rebirth forms in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows the Garuda Purana’s principle that specific harmful actions (theft, cruelty, violence toward a guru) mature into correspondingly specific bodily conditions or births, reinforcing ethical restraint through clear karmic cause-and-effect.

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

By linking deeds to future embodiment, it implies that the jīva carries karmic impressions beyond death, which then shape the next birth—either as an animal form or as a human life marked by particular afflictions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid taking what is not given, refrain from cruelty, and uphold reverence toward teachers and elders; the text frames these as safeguards against severe karmic consequences affecting future life and wellbeing.