Shloka 25

Saṃsāra-cakra, Preta’s 12-day Transit to Yama, Re-embodiment, and Karma-Vipāka Catalog of Sins and Rebirths

Devanagari script

हृत्वाज्यञ्चैव मार्जारस्तिलहृच्चैव मूषकः / घृतं हृत्वा च नकुलः काको मद्भुरमामिषम्

Transliteration

hṛtvājyañcaiva mārjārastilahṛccaiva mūṣakaḥ / ghṛtaṃ hṛtvā ca nakulaḥ kāko madbhuramāmiṣam

Translation

Pencuri ghee dikenal sebagai kucing; pencuri biji bijan sebagai tikus; pencuri mentega jernih sebagai musang luwak (mongoose); dan pencuri daging serta persembahan manis sebagai gagak.

Word by Word

• हृत्वा: having stolen/taken away
• हृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हृ (धातु) + क्त्वा (अव्यय-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• आज्यम्: ghee/clarified butter
• आज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphasis)

• मार्जारः: cat
• मार्जारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्जार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तिलहृत्: sesame-stealer
• तिलहृत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक) + हृत् (हृ-धातु, क्त/कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; 'one who has taken')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तिलान् हरति/हृतवान्)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• एव: indeed
• एव: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात

• मूषकः: mouse/rat
• मूषकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूषक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• घृतम्: ghee
• घृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• हृत्वा: having stolen
• हृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हृ (धातु) + क्त्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• नकुलः: mongoose
• नकुलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• काकः: crow
• काकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मद्भुरम्: sweet/honeyed
• मद्भुरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद्भुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (आमिषम्)

• आमिषम्: meat/flesh
• आमिषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आमिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Theft of specific substances is associated with specific animal identities/rebirth markers (cat/mouse/mongoose/crow).

Vedantic Theme: Karma shapes embodiment (deha) and tendencies (vāsanā); repeated theft imprints a ‘thieving’ yoni disposition.

Application: Maintain honesty in shared resources and ritual goods; treat offerings and household staples as entrusted, not exploitable.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: domestic and ritual space (kitchen/altar)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.225.26–27: continued mapping of theft items to rebirth forms; Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: steya-doṣa and its vipāka (theme-level)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Animals (cat, mouse, mongoose, crow)
• Ritual offerings (ajya/ghrita, tila, amisha)

FAQs

What is the importance of theft of offerings (ghee, sesame, food) in Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that stealing items used as food or ritual offerings (like ghee and sesame) is a recognizable form of adharma, implying karmic fault connected to disrespect of sustenance and sacred provisions.

How does this verse explain karma through symbolic examples?

By mapping specific acts of stealing to common creatures, the text uses vivid, everyday symbols to teach that actions leave identifiable karmic impressions and consequences, even in seemingly small misdeeds involving food and offerings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not take what is not given—especially food, temple items, or offerings meant for worship or charity; cultivate honesty in handling shared resources at home, in community kitchens, and in religious spaces.