Shloka 86

Devanagari script

तान्नरान्कर्णमूलो ऽयं व्याप्नुयान्नेतराञ्जनान् / परस्याननसंस्थं यो ग्रासं हरि मन्दधीः

Transliteration

tānnarānkarṇamūlo 'yaṃ vyāpnuyānnetarāñjanān / parasyānanasaṃsthaṃ yo grāsaṃ hari mandadhīḥ

Translation

ความทุกข์ที่ลามไปถึงโคนหูนี้ย่อมครอบงำเฉพาะคนเหล่านั้น—มิใช่ผู้อื่น—ผู้ที่ด้วยความเขลาฉกชิงคำข้าวที่อยู่ถึงปากของผู้อื่นแล้ว।

Word by Word

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन

• नरान्: men
• नरान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन

• कर्णमूलः: the root/base of the ear
• कर्णमूलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (कर्णस्य मूलम्)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• व्याप्नुयात्: should pervade/reach
• व्याप्नुयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् + वि (धातु: व्याप्/आप्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्गः वि-

• न: not
• न: Sambandha/Discourse (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपातः

• इतरान्: other
• इतरान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• जनान्: people
• जनान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), बहुवचन

• परस्य: of another/of someone else
• परस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• आननसंस्थम्: placed in the mouth
• आननसंस्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आनन (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्थ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सम्+स्था)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (आनने संस्थम् = situated in the mouth)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• ग्रासम्: a morsel/bite
• ग्रासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• हरे: O Hari
• हरे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन (हे हरे)

• मन्दधीः: dull-witted (person)
• मन्दधीः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (मन्दा धीः यस्य/मन्दधीः)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific papa (stealing food at the moment of consumption) yields a specific bodily affliction; karma is precise and proportionate.

Vedantic Theme: Adharma rooted in tamas (mandadhī) produces embodied suffering; ethical restraint supports sattva.

Application: Practice non-stealing and empathy in daily life; ensure food security and fairness; cultivate mindfulness before acting from impulse.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2 (disease/affliction as karma-vipāka mapping)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of food-related ethics (anna-dharma) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats another’s food as protected by dharma: to snatch a morsel already at someone’s mouth is a grave harm, bringing a specific karmic affliction rather than an ordinary fault.

How does this verse explain karmic consequences in the afterlife framework of the Garuda Purana?

It links a precise wrongdoing (stealing a ready-to-eat morsel) with a precise result (an affliction affecting the ear-root region), illustrating the Purana’s doctrine that karma yields targeted, experienceable consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not deprive others of their basic sustenance—avoid exploiting, snatching, or humiliating people over food or livelihood; practice fairness and generosity, especially toward the vulnerable.