Shloka 88

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

Devanagari script

शिरो ऽर्तिप्रमुखा रोगा यान्ति विश्वासघातकम् / लिङ्गपीडी शिवस्वं च शिवनिर्माल्यमेव च

Transliteration

śiro 'rtipramukhā rogā yānti viśvāsaghātakam / liṅgapīḍī śivasvaṃ ca śivanirmālyameva ca

Translation

Bagi pengkhianat kepercayaan, timbul pelbagai penyakit yang didahului oleh sakit kepala yang dahsyat. Demikian juga, siksaan yang disebut Liṅga-pīḍī menimpa orang yang mengambil milik Śiva atau merampas persembahan serta kalungan bunga yang dipersembahkan kepada Śiva.

Word by Word

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• अर्ति-प्रमुखाः: chiefly pains etc.
• अर्ति-प्रमुखाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (अर्तिः प्रमुखा येषाम्) विशेषणम्

• रोगाः: diseases
• रोगाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• यान्ति: go/come upon
• यान्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• विश्वासघातकम्: a betrayer of trust
• विश्वासघातकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वास (प्रातिपदिक) + घातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (विश्वासस्य घातकः)

• लिङ्गपीडी: one who injures the liṅga
• लिङ्गपीडी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + पीडिन्/पीडी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (लिङ्गस्य पीडिन् = one who harms the liṅga)

• शिवस्वम्: Shiva's property
• शिवस्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (शिवस्य स्वम् = Shiva's property)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Discourse (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपातः (conjunction)

• शिवनिर्माल्यम्: Shiva's consecrated remnants/offerings
• शिवनिर्माल्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्माल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (शिवस्य निर्माल्यम् = offerings/remnants of Shiva)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha/Discourse (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपातः (emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Discourse (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपातः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viśvāsa-ghāta (betrayal) and sacrilegious appropriation of consecrated items bring intense suffering; trust and sacred property are protected by dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Adharma fractures social order (loka-saṅgraha) and inner harmony; sacred transgression stains the mind (mala) and manifests as duḥkha.

Application: Honor trust in relationships and institutions; never misuse consecrated offerings; cultivate accountability and restitution when trust is broken.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: sacred site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2 (trust-betrayal and temple-offense consequences)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of betrayal of trust (viśvāsaghāta) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats betrayal of trust as a serious adharma that ripens into tangible suffering—here described as diseases led by intense head-pain—showing that moral violations can manifest as bodily affliction even before after-death punishments.

How does this verse explain the consequences of misusing Shiva’s temple property or offerings?

It states that taking Śiva’s dedicated property (śiva-sva) or appropriating Śiva’s nirmālya (used offerings like garlands) leads to a specific torment called Liṅga-pīḍī, emphasizing strict boundaries around sacred donations and ritual remnants.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep promises and confidences, avoid exploiting trust, and treat temple funds and consecrated offerings as inviolable—supporting transparent charity, ethical conduct, and reverence in worship.