Shloka 9

Bhīma-Dvādaśī (Ekādaśī) Māhātmya and Varāha-Pūjā Vidhi

Devanagari script

ब्रह्महत्या सुरा पान स्तेयं गुर्वङ्गनागमः / युगपत्तुप्रजातानिहन्ति त्रिपुष्करम्

Transliteration

brahmahatyā surā pāna steyaṃ gurvaṅganāgamaḥ / yugapattuprajātānihanti tripuṣkaram

Translation

การฆ่าพราหมณ์ การดื่มสุรา การลักขโมย และการล่วงละเมิดภรรยาของครู—เมื่อบาปเหล่านี้เกิดพร้อมกัน ย่อมทำลายแม้บุญที่ได้จากพิธีทริปุษกระด้วย।

Word by Word

• ब्रह्महत्या: brahmin-slaying (sin)
• ब्रह्महत्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-हत्या (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्मन् + हत्या)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (sin of Brahmin-slaying)

• सुरा: liquor
• सुरा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (liquor)

• पानम्: drinking
• पानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (drinking)

• स्तेयम्: theft
• स्तेयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (theft)

• गुरु-अङ्गना-आगमः: approaching the teacher’s wife (adultery)
• गुरु-अङ्गना-आगमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गना (प्रातिपदिक) + आगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (approaching the guru’s wife)

• युगपत्: simultaneously
• युगपत्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: युगपत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: simultaneously)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; विरोध/अन्वय (but/indeed)

• प्रजातानि: arisen/produced
• प्रजातानि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-√जन् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Past passive participle used adjectivally: ‘arisen/produced’

• हन्ति: destroys
• हन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present indicative: ‘destroys’

• त्रिपुष्करम्: Tripuṣkara (observance/rite)
• त्रिपुष्करम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि-पुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + पुष्कर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular (name of a rite/observance: Tripuṣkara)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mahāpātakas (brahmahatyā, surāpāna, steya, guru-patnī-gamana) have overwhelming demerit; moral breach can nullify accumulated puṇya.

Vedantic Theme: Karma’s inexorability and the priority of ethical purity over external merit; adharma clouds the mind and blocks higher pursuit.

Application: Avoid foundational ethical violations; do not rely on pilgrimage/ritual as a substitute for integrity; if fallen, seek appropriate prāyaścitta under guidance and reform conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: lists of mahāpātakas and their consequences; prāyaścitta discussions in dharma sections; Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: papa leading to naraka descriptions (general linkage, though this verse is ethical warning)

FAQs

What is the importance of mahāpātakas in Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that certain “great sins” (mahāpātakas) are so spiritually destructive that they can annul even powerful ritual or pilgrimage merit, underscoring ethical purity over mere observance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By stating that grave sins can destroy accumulated merit, the verse implies that the soul’s post-death trajectory is shaped primarily by karma (pāpa/puṇya balance), not by ritual acts performed without moral restraint.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize moral conduct—avoid serious harm, intoxication-driven wrongdoing, theft, and betrayal of trust—rather than relying on rituals or pilgrimages as a substitute for ethical living.