Shloka 65

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

Devanagari script

संलापस्पर्शनिः श्वाससहयानाशनासनात् / याजनाध्यापनाद्यौनात्पापं संक्रमते नृणाम्

Transliteration

saṃlāpasparśaniḥ śvāsasahayānāśanāsanāt / yājanādhyāpanādyaunātpāpaṃ saṃkramate nṛṇām

Translation

Melalui percakapan, sentuhan, hembusan nafas, perjalanan bersama, makan dan duduk bersama—serta melalui memimpin yajña, mengajar, dan persetubuhan—dosa berpindah daripada seorang manusia kepada manusia yang lain.

Word by Word

• saṃlāpa: conversation, talk
• saṃlāpa: Hetu/Upapada (Cause/Instrumental sense in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃlāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (Nominative Singular); समासपूर्वपद (पूर्वाङ्ग)

• sparśa: touch
• sparśa: Hetu/Upapada
• Type: Noun
• Root: sparśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (पूर्वाङ्ग)

• niḥśvāsa: (from) talk, touch, and breathing
• niḥśvāsa: Hetu (Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niḥśvāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (saṃlāpa + sparśa + niḥśvāsa) समाहार/इतरद्वन्द्व-समुच्चयार्थः

• sahaya: companion, associate
• sahaya: Hetu/Upapada
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• anāśana: not eating, fasting
• anāśana: Hetu/Upapada
• Type: Noun
• Root: anāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• āsana: sitting, seat
• āsana: Hetu/Upapada
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• śvāsa-sahaya-anāśana-āsanāt: from breathing, companionship, fasting, and sitting (together)
• śvāsa-sahaya-anāśana-āsanāt: Apādāna (Source/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + sahaya (प्रातिपदिक) + anāśana (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-समाहारार्थे एकवचन, पञ्चमी-एकवचन (Ablative Singular) - '...āt' ; द्वन्द्वसमासः (समुच्चय)

• yājana: performing sacrifice for others (as priest)
• yājana: Hetu/Upapada
• Type: Noun
• Root: yājana (प्रातिपदिक; √yaj (धातु) causative-noun)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• adhyāpana: teaching (for hire/others)
• adhyāpana: Hetu/Upapada
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyāpana (प्रातिपदिक; √adhī/√paṭh causative-noun)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• yauna: sexual intercourse
• yauna: Hetu/Upapada
• Type: Noun
• Root: yauna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद

• yājanādhyāpanādyaunāt: from officiating sacrifices, teaching, and sexual intercourse
• yājanādhyāpanādyaunāt: Apādāna (Source/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yājana (प्रातिपदिक) + adhyāpana (प्रातिपदिक) + yauna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-एकवचन (Ablative Singular) - '...āt'; द्वन्द्वसमासः (समुच्चय)

• pāpam: sin
• pāpam: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन (Nom./Acc. Singular); क्रियापदस्य कर्तृ/कर्मभावे सन्दर्भानुसारं—अत्र कर्तृवत् (subject)

• saṃkramate: passes/transfers
• saṃkramate: Kriyā (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kram (धातु) with उपसर्ग saṃ-
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• nṛṇām: of men
• nṛṇām: Sambandha (Possessor/Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-बहुवचन (Genitive Plural)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pāpa-saṅkramaṇa: sin/impurity can transfer through close association and shared acts, especially in ritual, teaching, and sexual contexts.

Vedantic Theme: Saṅga-doṣa and saṃskāra: association shapes the mind and karmic burden; purity of conduct supports sattva and spiritual progress.

Application: Choose company carefully; avoid sharing food/bed/ritual roles with unethical persons; maintain boundaries in teaching/ritual officiation; cultivate sat-saṅga and personal śauca.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2 (context: karmaphala and rebirth consequences; adjacent verses on specific thefts and rebirths)

Characters & Entities

• Humans (nṛṇām)

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding sinful association in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that pāpa (sin/impurity) can spread through close association—speech, touch, shared breath, travel, shared meals and seats—so one should be careful about whom one keeps company with, especially when observing dharmic disciplines.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death in the Garuda Purana context?

In Preta Kanda, purity and karmic burden determine the preta’s post-death experience and the consequences faced in Yama’s domain; this verse explains one source of karmic burden—pāpa acquired through proximity and certain relationships.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose uplifting company, avoid participating in unethical acts, maintain cleanliness and restraint during vows/ritual periods, and be mindful of shared spaces, food, and intimate relationships that can reinforce harmful habits and karmic tendencies.