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Shloka 54

Sat-saṅga, Dharma-Nīti, Karma-Phala, Śauca, and Vairāgya

Overcoming Grief

Devanagari script

भूतपूर्वं कृतं कर्म कर्तारमनुतिष्ठति / यथा धेनुसहस्रेषु वत्सो विन्दन्ति मातरम्

Transliteration

bhūtapūrvaṃ kṛtaṃ karma kartāramanutiṣṭhati / yathā dhenusahasreṣu vatso vindanti mātaram

Translation

Karma yang dilakukan pada masa lampau pasti mengikuti pelakunya; sebagaimana anak lembu, di antara ribuan ekor lembu, tetap menemukan ibunya sendiri.

Word by Word
भूतपूर्वम्formerly, in the past
भूतपूर्वम्:
Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootभूत + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्ययीभाव-समास; कालवाचक-अव्यय (formerly, in the past)
कृतम्done
कृतम्:
Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootकृ (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; (Past passive participle, Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular)
कर्मdeed, action
कर्म:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; (Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular)
कर्तारम्the doer, agent
कर्तारम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)
अनुतिष्ठतिfollows, attends, pursues
अनुतिष्ठति:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअनु + स्था (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; (Present indicative, Active, 3rd person singular)
यथाas
यथा:
Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा (अव्यय)
Formउपमानार्थक-अव्यय (as, just as)
धेनुसहस्रेषुamong thousands of cows
धेनुसहस्रेषु:
Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootधेनु + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धेनूनां सहस्रेषु); (Neuter, Locative, Plural)
वत्सःcalf
वत्सः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootवत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)
विन्दन्तिfind
विन्दन्ति:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootविद् (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; (Present indicative, Active, 3rd person plural)
मातरम्mother
मातरम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootमातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; (Feminine, Accusative, Singular)
Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Past karma inevitably ‘finds’ its doer; moral causality is as specific and unmistakable as a calf recognizing its mother among thousands.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as an unseen but exact causal chain (adṛṣṭa) that individuates experience; continuity of the jīva’s account across time.

Application: Own consequences without scapegoating; cultivate wholesome actions knowing they will return specifically to you, not randomly.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: pastoral setting (metaphoric)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.113.56 (karma follows into another birth)

FAQs

This verse states that karma is inescapable: past deeds ‘follow’ the doer unfailingly, meaning one’s experiences are shaped by one’s own actions rather than chance.

It highlights moral continuity: as the soul moves onward, the momentum of previously performed actions accompanies it, directing the kinds of results it must face.

Act with restraint and integrity—because consequences are personal and certain—cultivating dharma, charity, and self-control while avoiding harmful actions.

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