Shloka 33

Devanagari script

विद्यापहारी मूकः स्याद्गत्वा च नरकान्बहन् / असमिद्धे हुते चाग्नौ मन्दाग्निः खलु जायते

Transliteration

vidyāpahārī mūkaḥ syādgatvā ca narakānbahan / asamiddhe hute cāgnau mandāgniḥ khalu jāyate

Translation

విద్యను అపహరించువాడు మూగవాడై, మరణానంతరం అనేక నరకాలకు పోవును. సరిగా ప్రజ్వలింపని అగ్నిలో ఆహుతులు వేయగా మందమైన, ఫలరహితమైన యజ్ఞాగ్ని పుడునట్లే.

Word by Word

• विद्यापहारी: one who steals knowledge
• विद्यापहारी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + अपहारी (कृदन्त; √हृ (धातु) उपसर्ग अप-; हरिन्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विद्यायाः अपहारी = 'stealer of knowledge')

• मूकः: mute
• मूकः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• स्यात्: would become
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Absolutive/Gerund)

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

• नरकान्: hells
• नरकान्: Karma (कर्म/Object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• बहन्: bearing/carrying (i.e., undergoing)
• बहन्: Karta (कर्ता/Agent; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वह् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (वर्तमानकाले वर्तमानकृदन्त/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• असमिद्धे: when (it is) not kindled
• असमिद्धे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative setting)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-समिद्ध (कृदन्त; √इन्ध् (धातु) उपसर्ग सम्-; क्त-प्रत्यय; नञ्-पूर्वक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• हुते: when (oblation is) offered
• हुते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative setting)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हुत (कृदन्त; √हु (धातु) क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

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

• अग्नौ: in the fire
• अग्नौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• मन्दाग्निः: weak fire (weak digestive fire)
• मन्दाग्निः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (मन्दः अग्निः = 'weak fire/digestive fire')

• खलु: indeed
• खलु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: खलु (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis/indeed)

• जायते: arises/is born
• जायते: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adharma (vidyāpaharaṇa) yields specific karmaphala; ritual acts require proper conditions to bear fruit.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyama (inexorable law of results) and the necessity of śraddhā/vidhi in action; outer ritual mirrors inner integrity.

Application: Do not appropriate another’s learning/credit; cultivate honest transmission of knowledge; in worship/ritual, ensure proper preparation (kindling, attention, correctness) rather than mere formality.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: otherworldly realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: general naraka-karmaphala catalogues (knowledge-theft and speech-related punishments); Garuda Purana: discussions on agni, homa, and ritual efficacy in dharma sections

Characters & Entities

• Naraka

FAQs

What is the importance of properly kindled Agni in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that offerings made into an unkindled fire result in “manda-agni,” symbolizing an ineffective ritual outcome; proper preparation of Agni is essential for the rite to bear fruit.

How does this verse explain karmic consequences after death?

It links a specific wrongdoing—stealing knowledge—to a concrete karmic result (loss of speech) and to post-mortem suffering in multiple narakas, reflecting the Purana’s cause-and-effect moral framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Respect intellectual and spiritual learning (do not steal or misuse it), and when performing any sacred act, prioritize correctness and preparedness rather than mere outward performance.