Shloka 14

Karma-vipāka: Truth, Yama’s Judgment, and the Marks of Sin in Rebirth

अयाज्ययाजको याति ग्राहमसूकरतां द्विजः / खरो वै बहुयाजी स्यात्काको निर्मन्त्रभोजनात्

ayājyayājako yāti grāhamasūkaratāṃ dvijaḥ / kharo vai bahuyājī syātkāko nirmantrabhojanāt

Seorang dvija yang melakukan upacara yajña bagi orang yang tidak layak dipersembahkan yajña dikatakan akan lahir semula sebagai buaya atau babi hutan. Orang yang melakukan banyak yajña dengan cara tercela akan menjadi keldai; dan orang yang makan tanpa jemputan yang sah akan menjadi gagak.

a-yājya-yājakaḥa priest who performs sacrifice for the unworthy
a-yājya-yājakaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roota-yājya (प्रातिपदिक) + yājaka (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘unfit to be sacrificed for’ + ‘sacrificer/priest’)
yātigoes/attains
yāti:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootyā (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
grāha-masūkaratāmthe state of being a crocodile and a boar
grāha-masūkaratām:
Karma (कर्म) (attained state)
TypeNoun
Rootgrāha (प्रातिपदिक) + masūkara (प्रातिपदिक) + -tā (प्रत्यय)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (grāha + masūkara) + ता-प्रत्यय (abstract state)
dvijaḥa Brahmin (twice-born)
dvijaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to ayājya-yājakaḥ)
TypeNoun
Rootdvija (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
kharaḥa donkey
kharaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता) (predicate noun)
TypeNoun
Rootkhara (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
vaiindeed
vai:
Avyaya (अव्यय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvai (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (emphatic particle)
bahu-yājīone who performs many sacrifices
bahu-yājī:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbahu (प्रातिपदिक) + yājin (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘many’ + ‘sacrificer’)
syātwould become
syāt:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootas (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
kākaḥa crow
kākaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता) (predicate noun)
TypeNoun
Rootkāka (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
nir-mantra-bhojanātfrom eating without (proper) invitation/ritual formula
nir-mantra-bhojanāt:
Hetu (हेतु)
TypeNoun
Rootnir- (उपसर्ग) + mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhojana (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘without mantra/invitation’ + ‘eating’), ablative of cause

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vainateya)

Concept: Ritual acts (yajña, bhojana) require adhikara (fitness), proper intention, and proper invitation; misuse yields adverse rebirth.

Vedantic Theme: Karma shaped by intention and dharmic conformity; ritual without dharma becomes binding rather than liberating.

Application: Perform rites only with proper eligibility and motive; avoid showy/proliferative ritualism; accept food only when duly invited and in proper context.

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.46 (lists of ritual/ethical faults and corresponding rebirths)

D
Dwija
Y
Yajaka

FAQs

This verse warns that performing yajña services for an unqualified or ritually ineligible patron is a serious breach of dharma, bringing a degrading rebirth (such as crocodile or hog), emphasizing that ritual acts must be aligned with purity and right qualification.

It links specific unethical actions to karmic outcomes in future embodiment: misconduct in sacred rites and social-religious norms ripens into lower births, showing the Garuda Purana’s moral causality governing the jīva’s post-death trajectory.

Observe integrity in religious duties: priests and practitioners should uphold eligibility and propriety in ceremonies, avoid performative or improper ritual excess, and follow respectful social-religious etiquette such as accepting meals only when duly invited.