Shloka 57

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

एवं पिण्डः समाख्यातो वैभवं सम्प्रचक्ष्महे / सुखं दुः खं भयं क्षेमं कर्मणैव हि प्राप्यते

Transliteration

evaṃ piṇḍaḥ samākhyāto vaibhavaṃ sampracakṣmahe / sukhaṃ duḥ khaṃ bhayaṃ kṣemaṃ karmaṇaiva hi prāpyate

Translation

ఇలా పిండం (దేహసమష్టి) వివరించబడింది; ఇప్పుడు దాని ఫలిత స్థితులను చెబుతున్నాం. సుఖం-దుఃఖం, భయం-క్షేమం—ఇవి అన్నీ స్వకర్మ ద్వారానే లభిస్తాయి.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• पिण्डः: the body-mass/aggregate
• पिण्डः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• समाख्यातः: has been described
• समाख्यातः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+आ+ख्या (धातु) → समाख्यात (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; पिण्डः इत्यस्य विधेयम्

• वैभवम्: the (further) account/extent (of it)
• वैभवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• सम्प्रचक्ष्महे: we explain/declare
• सम्प्रचक्ष्महे: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+प्र+चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दुःखम्: sorrow
• दुःखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• क्षेमम्: security/welfare
• क्षेमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कर्मणा: by action/deed
• कर्मणा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• प्राप्यते: is obtained
• प्राप्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (Passive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karma-niyati: sukha/duḥkha, bhaya/kṣema arise from one’s own actions; embodied conditions are karmically conditioned.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala as part of saṃsāra; encourages viveka and turning toward liberation by right action and inner detachment.

Application: Adopt accountability: reduce blame/externalization; cultivate ethical choices, patience in adversity, and humility in success; use outcomes as feedback for conduct and spiritual practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.1-56 (context: piṇḍa/embodiment analysis leading to karmic conclusion); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa sections on Yama’s judgment (general thematic link)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Karma

FAQs

What is the importance of karma in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that happiness, suffering, fear, and security arise from karma alone—making personal action the decisive cause of post-death and worldly experiences.

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

In the Preta Kanda context, the soul’s experiences connected with the piṇḍa (embodied/subtle constitution) are portrayed as karmically produced; the journey’s comforts or terrors depend on one’s deeds.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate dharmic conduct and restraint, since one’s future well-being—here and beyond—is presented as the direct fruit of one’s actions rather than chance or mere external rites.