Shloka 74

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

Devanagari script

शय्याहर्ता क्षपणकः पतङ्गो वस्त्रहारकः / मात्सर्यादपि जात्यन्धो कपाली दीपहारकः

Transliteration

śayyāhartā kṣapaṇakaḥ pataṅgo vastrahārakaḥ / mātsaryādapi jātyandho kapālī dīpahārakaḥ

Translation

ശയ്യ മോഷ്ടിക്കുന്നവൻ ക്ഷപണകനാകും; വസ്ത്രം മോഷ്ടിക്കുന്നവൻ പതംഗമായി ജന്മിക്കും. മാത്സര്യത്താൽ പോലും ജന്മാന്ധത വരാം; ദീപം മോഷ്ടിക്കുന്നവൻ കപാലി (കപാലധാരി) ആകും.

Word by Word

• शय्याहर्ता: stealer of a bed
• शय्याहर्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शय्या (प्रातिपदिक) + हर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक; √हृ (धातु) + तृच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शय्यायाः हर्ता)

• क्षपणकः: a mendicant/ascetic (kṣapaṇaka)
• क्षपणकः: Karta-predicate (Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षपणक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पतङ्गः: a moth/insect
• पतङ्गः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वस्त्रहारकः: stealer of clothes
• वस्त्रहारकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + हारक (प्रातिपदिक; √हृ (धातु) + अक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वस्त्रस्य हारकः)

• मात्सर्यात्: from jealousy
• मात्सर्यात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मात्सर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; हेतौ (ablative of cause)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-भाव

• जात्यन्धः: blind from birth
• जात्यन्धः: Karta-predicate (Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाति (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (जात्या अन्धः)

• कपाली: skull-bearer (kapālī)
• कपाली: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपालिन् (प्रातिपदिक; कपाल + इन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• दीपहारकः: stealer of a lamp
• दीपहारकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक) + हारक (प्रातिपदिक; √हृ (धातु) + अक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दीपस्य हारकः)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even seemingly ‘small’ thefts and inner vices like envy have concrete karmic outcomes, including low-status rebirths and congenital blindness; stealing light (lamp) is symbolically stealing dharma-illumination.

Vedantic Theme: Inner dispositions (mātsarya) are causal seeds; karma operates through both action and intention (bhāva).

Application: Practice non-stealing in all forms; uproot envy through contentment (santoṣa) and generosity; respect others’ necessities and sources of light/learning.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2 (theft categories and corresponding rebirths; envy as karmic seed)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of karma for theft and envy in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links specific unethical acts—stealing essentials and harboring envy—to specific degraded outcomes, stressing that even “small” wrongs have karmic consequences.

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

It teaches that after death the jīva carries karmic impressions that can lead to painful or inferior rebirths, showing a moral continuity between actions and future embodiment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid taking what supports others’ dignity and daily life (bed, clothing, light) and actively counter envy with contentment and generosity to prevent harmful karmic patterns.