Shloka 17
Vaitaraṇī: Torments of the Sinful, Sins Enumerated, and the Vaitaraṇī Go-dāna Rite
कन्याविदूषकश्चैव दानं दत्त्वानुतापकः / शूबद्रस्तु कपिलापायी ब्राह्मणो मांसभोजनः
kanyāvidūṣakaścaiva dānaṃ dattvānutāpakaḥ / śūbadrastu kapilāpāyī brāhmaṇo māṃsabhojanaḥ
കന്യയെ അപമാനിച്ച് കലുഷിതമാക്കുന്നവൻ, ദാനം നൽകി പിന്നെ അനുതപിക്കുന്നവൻ, ദുഷ്ടാചാരിയ്, കപിലാ പശുവിന്റെ പാൽ കുടിക്കുന്നവൻ, മാംസം ഭക്ഷിക്കുന്ന ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ—ഇവരും പാപികൾ; പരലോകത്തിൽ ദുഃഖം അനുഭവിക്കും।
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Concept: Harming the vulnerable, hypocrisy in giving, cruelty, and breaches of brāhmaṇa conduct generate pāpa with painful results.
Vedantic Theme: Ethical purification (citta-śuddhi) as prerequisite for higher knowledge; karma binds when rooted in harm, hypocrisy, and tamas.
Application: Uphold sexual ethics and protection of minors/vulnerable; give without regret; cultivate compassion; follow one’s dharma-consistent diet and conduct.
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: sin-lists and their destinations (context around 2.47.16–20)
FAQs
This verse functions as a dharma-checklist: it names specific actions considered adharma and warns that such deeds bring painful post-death consequences, urging ethical restraint and purity.
By identifying concrete sinful acts, the text implies that the soul’s post-death experience is shaped by karma; harmful deeds lead to suffering in Yama’s domain rather than a peaceful transition.
Maintain sexual ethics, give charity without later resentment, avoid cruelty, and follow one’s dharmic dietary/behavioral codes—so actions support a calmer conscience and better karmic outcomes.