Shloka 80

Devanagari script

जलहारी तु मत्स्यः स्यात्क्षीरहारी बलाकिका / अन्नं पर्युषितं विप्रे प्रददत्कुब्जतां व्रजेत्

Transliteration

jalahārī tu matsyaḥ syātkṣīrahārī balākikā / annaṃ paryuṣitaṃ vipre pradadatkubjatāṃ vrajet

Translation

నీటిని దొంగిలించువాడు చేపగా జన్మించును; పాలును దొంగిలించువాడు బలాకికా (కొంగసదృశ పక్షి)గా అవును. బ్రాహ్మణునికి పాతబడ్డ అన్నం ఇచ్చువాడు కుబ్జత్వాన్ని పొందును.

Word by Word

• jalahārī: water-stealing (one who takes water)
• jalahārī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक) + hārin (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘जल’स्य हारी (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक ‘but/indeed’

• matsyaḥ: fish
• matsyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: matsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• syāt: would become
• syāt: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘भवेत्/स्यात्’

• kṣīrahārī: milk-stealing
• kṣīrahārī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣīra (प्रातिपदिक) + hārin (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘क्षीर’स्य हारी (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• balākikā: a crane/heron (balākā)
• balākikā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: balākikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• annam: food
• annam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• paryuṣitam: stale/kept overnight
• paryuṣitam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paryuṣita (कृदन्त—भूतकृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘पर्युष्’ (परि+उष्) इत्यस्मात् भूतकृदन्त; विशेषण—अन्नस्य

• vipre: to a brahmin
• vipre: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे अपि प्रयोगः (हे विप्र) सम्भवः

• pradadat: (one) giving
• pradadat: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘प्र+दा’—‘giving’ (कर्ता-विशेषण)

• kubjatām: hunchbackedness
• kubjatām: Gati/Karma (Result state/गति-फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kubjatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; भाववाचक—‘कुब्जत्व’

• vrajet: would go/attain
• vrajet: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vraj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific theft and disrespectful giving produce corresponding rebirth/embodiment and bodily deformity.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and adṛṣṭa shaping embodiment (śarīra) and circumstance; ethical causality within saṃsāra.

Application: Do not steal necessities; offer fresh, respectful food in dāna/atithi-sevā; treat giving as sacred, not as disposal.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2 (karma-vipāka lists of theft and resultant yonis)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Brahmana

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the Garuda Purana’s teaching on karma?

It links specific unethical acts—stealing basic necessities and disrespectful charity—to precise karmic results, emphasizing accountability for everyday conduct.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s post-death journey described in the Preta Kanda?

The Preta Kanda repeatedly explains that actions shape future embodiment; this verse gives concrete examples where wrongdoing leads to lower births (as animals) or physical affliction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid taking what is not given (even small essentials like water or milk) and ensure charity is respectful and wholesome—offer clean, suitable food rather than leftovers or spoiled items.