Shloka 78

The Extent of Questions: Deathbed Rites, Kāla (Time), and Karma-Vipāka Rebirths

Devanagari script

यतस्ततो ऽश्रन्मार्जारो खद्योतो वहदाहकः / कृमिः पर्युषितादः स्यान्मत्सरी भ्रमरो भवेत्

Transliteration

yatastato 'śranmārjāro khadyoto vahadāhakaḥ / kṛmiḥ paryuṣitādaḥ syānmatsarī bhramaro bhavet

Translation

ผู้ที่กินสะเปะสะปะไปทั่ว ย่อมเกิดเป็นแมว; ผู้ที่จุดไฟเผาผลาญ ย่อมเกิดเป็นหิ่งห้อย. ผู้ที่กินอาหารค้างคืนอันไม่บริสุทธิ์ ย่อมเกิดเป็นหนอน; และผู้มีริษยา ย่อมเกิดเป็นภมร (ผึ้ง)۔

Word by Word

• यतः: from wherever
• यतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय; यद्-प्रभव)
• Form: अव्यय (ablatival adverb: 'from/wherever')

• ततः: from there
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-प्रभव)
• Form: अव्यय (ablatival adverb: 'from there/thereupon')

• अश्रन्: they ate
• अश्रन्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; रूपम्: अश्रन् (they ate)

• मार्जारः: a cat
• मार्जारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्जार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• खद्योतः: a firefly
• खद्योतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खद्योत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वहदाहकः: one who carries fire (an arsonist)
• वहदाहकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वहत् (कृदन्त; √वह् धातु, शतृ) + आहक (प्रातिपदिक; √आह्/आहक 'to call/bring' as agent)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण-समास (one who carries and burns/sets fire)

• कृमिः: a worm
• कृमिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पर्युषितादः: eater of stale/overnight food
• पर्युषितादः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्युषित (कृदन्त; √वस्/उष् धातु, क्त; 'stale/kept overnight') + आद (प्रातिपदिक; √अद् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (eater of stale food)

• स्यात्: would be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मत्सरी: an envious person
• मत्सरी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्सरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इकारान्त

• भ्रमरः: a bee
• भ्रमरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Habits become destiny: uncontrolled eating → cat-like scavenging; arson → firefly-like existence; stale/impure eating → wormhood; jealousy → bee-like restless buzzing.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-asamyama (lack of sense-control) and mātsarya disturb sattva; karma crystallizes as corresponding embodiment (tādātmya with one’s dominant guṇa).

Application: Practice mindful eating and food hygiene; never set fires or destroy property; reduce jealousy through gratitude and rejoicing in others’ good fortune (muditā).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2 (dietary/behavioral faults leading to animal rebirths)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of karmic rebirth into animals in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links specific unethical habits (indiscriminate eating, arson-like harm, impure diet, jealousy) to specific lower births, emphasizing that everyday conduct shapes future embodiment.

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

It presents karmaphala as a determining force: after death, the jīva can take non-human births aligned with dominant vices and harmful actions, reflecting moral causality rather than randomness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice mindful and clean eating, avoid causing harm (including destructive acts), and actively reduce jealousy through contentment and ethical discipline, thereby improving character and karmic outcomes.