Shloka 18

Jīva-yonis (84 Lakhs), Rarity of Human Birth, Sense-Restraint, Craving, and Śraddhā-based Dharma

Devanagari script

कुरङ्गमताङ्गपतङ्गभृङ्गमीना हताः पञ्चभिरेव पञ्च / एकः प्रमादी स कथं न हन्यते यः सेवते पञ्चभिरेव पञ्च

Transliteration

kuraṅgamatāṅgapataṅgabhṛṅgamīnā hatāḥ pañcabhireva pañca / ekaḥ pramādī sa kathaṃ na hanyate yaḥ sevate pañcabhireva pañca

Translation

Rusa, gajah, rama-rama malam, lebah dan ikan—lima ini masing-masing binasa hanya oleh satu daripada lima objek pancaindera. Maka bagaimana orang yang lalai tidak musnah, jika dia menuruti kelima-lima objek pancaindera sekaligus?

Word by Word

• कुरङ्ग: deer
• कुरङ्ग: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समाहार-निर्देशे सूची-शब्दः

• मताङ्ग: elephant
• मताङ्ग: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मतङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सूची-शब्दः

• पतङ्ग: moth/insect
• पतङ्ग: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सूची-शब्दः

• भृङ्ग: bee
• भृङ्ग: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सूची-शब्दः

• मीना: fish
• मीना: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• हताः: were killed
• हताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे ‘हताः’ = ‘killed’

• पञ्चभिः: by five
• पञ्चभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; एव = ‘only/indeed’

• पञ्च: five (objects/senses)
• पञ्च: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; संख्याशब्दः

• एकः: one (person)
• एकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• प्रमादी: careless/heedless
• प्रमादी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रमादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नाव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• हन्यते: is killed
• हन्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• सेवते: indulges in/serves
• सेवते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पञ्चभिः: by five
• पञ्चभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• पञ्च: five (objects/senses)
• पञ्च: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; संख्याशब्दः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Indriya-nigraha: even one sense-object can destroy; indulgence in all five accelerates downfall.

Vedantic Theme: Vairagya and viveka as prerequisites for Self-knowledge; bondage arises from vishaya-asakti.

Application: Practice moderation, guard the senses (especially the dominant weakness), cultivate mindfulness and disciplined habits (diet, media, sexuality, speech).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (didactic sections on vairagya/indriya-nigraha in Preta-khanda style teachings)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of sense-control (indriya-nigraha) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse warns that even one overpowering sense-object can destroy a creature; therefore mastering the senses is essential to avoid sinful karma and consequent suffering.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s fate after death in the Garuda Purana?

By linking indulgence to ruin, it frames sense-driven living as a cause of karmic bondage that later manifests as fear, punishment, and hardship on the post-death journey described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice moderation—limit addictive pleasures, cultivate mindfulness, and strengthen self-restraint—so actions are guided by dharma rather than impulsive sense-craving.