Shloka 61
Post-cremation Ripening of Karma and the Principal Narakas
विमोहे पतते शूरे मर्यादां यो भिनत्ति वै / दुरिष्टं कुरुते यस्तु कृमिभक्षं प्रपद्यते
vimohe patate śūre maryādāṃ yo bhinatti vai / duriṣṭaṃ kurute yastu kṛmibhakṣaṃ prapadyate
แม้ผู้กล้าก็อาจตกสู่ความหลง; ผู้ใดทำลายขอบเขตแห่งธรรมและกระทำกรรมชั่ว ย่อมถึงชะตาเป็นอาหารของหนอน.
Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni
Concept: Even the strong can fall into moha; breaking dharmic boundaries and doing evil yields degrading karmaphala (krimi-bhakṣya).
Vedantic Theme: Moha (avidyā) destabilizes discernment; tamasic acts precipitate lower states; guarding maryādā supports sattva and spiritual progress.
Application: Maintain clear personal ethical boundaries; avoid rationalizing wrongdoing; cultivate mindfulness, good company (satsanga), and self-audit to prevent moral drift.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: degradative punishments and rebirths for papa (contextual)
FAQs
This verse warns that violating maryādā—basic restraints of dharma—leads to severe post-death consequences, emphasizing self-control and righteous limits as protection from downfall.
It links adharma and deliberate evil action to painful outcomes in the after-death journey under Yama’s order, portraying karmic retribution as an inevitable destination for such conduct.
Maintain ethical boundaries (truthfulness, non-harm, restraint) and avoid knowingly harmful actions; the verse frames this as the most direct way to prevent suffering and degradation after death.