Shloka 73

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

Devanagari script

कौमारदारत्यागी च दुर्भगो ऽथै कमिष्टभुक् / वातगुल्मी विप्रयोषिद्गामी वा जम्बुको भवेत्

Transliteration

kaumāradāratyāgī ca durbhago 'thai kamiṣṭabhuk / vātagulmī viprayoṣidgāmī vā jambuko bhavet

Translation

இளமையில் மணந்த மனைவியைத் துறந்தவன், துர்பாக்கியன், தடைசெய்யப்பட்டதை உண்ணுபவன்; வாயுவால் உண்டாகும் குடல்வலி/கட்டியால் (வாதகுல்மம்) பீடிக்கப்பட்டவன், அல்லது பிராமணர்களின் மனைவியரிடம் செல்வவன்—இவன் நரியாக (ஜம்புகம்) பிறக்கிறான்.

Word by Word

• कौमारदारत्यागी: one who abandons wife in youth/at marriageable age
• कौमारदारत्यागी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौमार (प्रातिपदिक) + दार (प्रातिपदिक) + त्यागिन् (कृदन्त; √त्यज् (धातु) + णिनि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कौमारे दारे त्यागी / कौमारदाराणां त्यागी)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• दुर्भगः: unfortunate
• दुर्भगः: Karta-predicate (Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्भग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अथ: then/next
• अथ: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अनन्तर/प्रसङ्गार्थक

• ए: indeed
• ए: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ए (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• कमिष्टभुक्: eater of (forbidden/impure) food (kamiṣṭa)
• कमिष्टभुक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज् (कृदन्त; √भुज् (धातु) + क्विप् → भुक्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कमिष्टं भुङ्क्ते)

• वातगुल्मी: one afflicted with wind-tumor (vāta-gulma)
• वातगुल्मी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक) + गुल्मिन् (प्रातिपदिक; गुल्म + इन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वातगुल्मरोगयुक्तः)

• विप्रयोषिद्गामी: one who goes to (has relations with) Brahmin women
• विप्रयोषिद्गामी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + योषित् (प्रातिपदिक) + गामिन् (कृदन्त; √गम् (धातु) + णिनि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विप्रयोषितां गामी)

• वा: or
• वा: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पबोधक निपात (disjunctive particle)

• जम्बुकः: a jackal
• जम्बुकः: Karta-predicate (Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जम्बुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Abandoning a youthful wife, eating forbidden foods, suffering certain diseases linked to misconduct, and especially violating Brahmin women lead to jackal rebirth—symbolizing scavenging, impurity, and social marginality.

Vedantic Theme: Tamas-driven conduct shapes tamasic embodiment; adharma in sexuality and food corrupts the subtle impressions (saṃskāras).

Application: Maintain marital responsibility; practice sexual restraint and respect boundaries; avoid forbidden foods and cultivate purity and compassion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2 (sexual misconduct and dietary violations leading to animal rebirths)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Brahmin (Vipra)

FAQs

What is the importance of animal rebirth teachings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses the jackal rebirth as a concrete karmic warning: specific violations of dharma (sexual misconduct, abandoning marital duty, impure/forbidden consumption) can degrade one’s next birth into a lower yoni.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

In the Preta Kanda’s framework, actions (karma) determine post-death outcomes; here, certain sinful acts are said to culminate in a non-human rebirth, indicating moral causality operating beyond a single lifetime.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain fidelity and respect for others’ marriages, uphold responsibility toward one’s spouse, and practice disciplined, ethical consumption—seeing daily conduct as shaping long-term spiritual consequences.