Shloka 17

Sat-saṅga, Dharma-Nīti, Karma-Phala, Śauca, and Vairāgya

Overcoming Grief

Devanagari script

माता यदि भवेल्लक्ष्मीः पिता साक्षाज्जनार्दनः / कुबुद्धौ प्रतिपत्तिश्चैत्तस्मिन्दण्डः पतेत्सदा

Transliteration

mātā yadi bhavellakṣmīḥ pitā sākṣājjanārdanaḥ / kubuddhau pratipattiścaittasmindaṇḍaḥ patetsadā

Translation

ਮਾਤਾ ਜੇ ਲਕਸ਼ਮੀ ਵਰਗੀ ਹੋਵੇ ਅਤੇ ਪਿਤਾ ਸਾਕਸ਼ਾਤ ਜਨਾਰਦਨ ਹੋਣ, ਤਾਂ ਵੀ ਜੇ ਬੁੱਧੀ ਕੁਬੁੱਧੀ ਵੱਲ ਮੁੜ ਜਾਵੇ, ਉਸ ਉੱਤੇ ਦੰਡ ਮੁੜ ਮੁੜ ਨਿਸ਼ਚਿਤ ਹੀ ਪੈਂਦਾ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• माता: mother
• माता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Discourse/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional particle)

• भवेत्: would be / may become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• लक्ष्मीः: Lakshmi; fortune
• लक्ष्मीः: Pradhana (Predicate nominative/विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पिता: father
• पिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• साक्षात्: directly; in person
• साक्षात्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• जनार्दनः: Janardana (Vishnu)
• जनार्दनः: Pradhana (Predicate nominative/विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कुबुद्धौ: in/with evil understanding
• कुबुद्धौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुबुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• प्रतिपत्तिः: conduct; resolve; attitude
• प्रतिपत्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिपत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एत्: this
• एत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तस्मिन्: in that (case/person)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दण्डः: punishment
• दण्डः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पतेत्: should fall (upon)
• पतेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (Janārdana) speaking to Garuḍa (Vinātā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even with the highest auspicious supports, a corrupted intellect (kubuddhi) draws repeated punishment; moral agency overrides inherited fortune.

Vedantic Theme: Kartṛtva-bhoktṛtva (doership/enjoyership) bound to avidyā; dharma as the purifier of buddhi; grace does not cancel adharma without inner transformation.

Application: Cultivate right discernment (viveka), avoid rationalizing wrongdoing, seek correction early (satsanga, śāstra, guru), and accept accountability rather than relying on status or family merit.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: karma-phala inevitability and the role of buddhi in sin (general thematic parallel); Garuda Purana: admonitions that birth, wealth, and relations do not protect from papa (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Lakṣmī
• Janārdana (Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What is the importance of kubuddhi (misguided intellect) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that moral downfall begins in the intellect; even the greatest external advantages (family, status, blessings) do not prevent karmic punishment if one chooses ku-buddhi and adharma.

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

By highlighting that actions rooted in wrong understanding lead to daṇḍa (punishment), it aligns with the Purāṇa’s broader teaching that the soul’s post-death experiences follow its karma, not its pedigree.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not rely on privilege or reputation; cultivate right discernment (sadbuddhi) and ethical conduct, because consequences follow choices—especially those driven by distorted thinking.