Shloka 56

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

Overcoming Grief

Devanagari script

यथा पूर्वकृतं कर्म शुभं वा यदि वाशुभम् / तथा जन्मान्तरे तद्वै कर्ता रमनुगच्छति

Transliteration

yathā pūrvakṛtaṃ karma śubhaṃ vā yadi vāśubham / tathā janmāntare tadvai kartā ramanugacchati

Translation

పూర్వంలో చేసిన కర్మ ఎలా ఉందో—శుభమో అశుభమో—అదే కర్మ మరొక జన్మలో కూడా నిశ్చయంగా కర్తను అనుసరిస్తుంది।

Word by Word

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (as, according as)

• पूर्वकृतम्: done previously
• पूर्वकृतम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व + कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पूर्वं कृतम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; (Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular)

• कर्म: action, deed
• कर्म: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; (Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular)

• शुभम्: good, auspicious
• शुभम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; (Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: or)

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

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• अशुभम्: bad, inauspicious
• अशुभम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; (Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular)

• तथा: so, accordingly
• तथा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (thus, in that manner)

• जन्मान्तरे: in another birth
• जन्मान्तरे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (जन्मनः अन्तरम्/जन्मान्तरम्); (Neuter, Locative, Singular)

• तत्: that (deed/result)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; (Neuter, Accusative Singular)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• कर्ता: the doer
• कर्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• अनुगच्छति: follows
• अनुगच्छति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; (Present indicative, Active, 3rd person singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karma—good or bad—accompanies the agent into future births; rebirth is morally structured.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra driven by karma and vāsanā; continuity of causal account across embodiments; impetus toward liberation through knowledge/bhakti to end the chain.

Application: Adopt long-term ethical thinking: choices shape not only immediate outcomes but future dispositions and life conditions; prioritize non-harm, truthfulness, and devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.113.53–55 (self-impelled movement; karma tracking; counsel against grief)

FAQs

What is the importance of karma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that karma—good or bad—inevitably accompanies the doer into future births, making ethical conduct central to one’s destiny.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It implies continuity across lifetimes: the jīva’s future circumstances are shaped by previously performed actions, which ‘follow’ the individual beyond death into rebirth.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Act with dharma and restraint: since deeds persist beyond one lifetime, cultivate meritorious actions and avoid harmful ones as long-term spiritual investment.