Shloka 30

The Explanation of Various Gifts (Dāna) and the Soul’s Entry into Another Body

Devanagari script

तत्र कामस्तथा क्रोधः काये पञ्चेन्द्रियाणि च / एते तार्क्ष्य समाख्याता देहे तिष्ठन्ति तस्कराः

Transliteration

tatra kāmastathā krodhaḥ kāye pañcendriyāṇi ca / ete tārkṣya samākhyātā dehe tiṣṭhanti taskarāḥ

Translation

ในกายนั้นมีความใคร่และความโกรธ พร้อมทั้งอินทรีย์ทั้งห้า; โอ้ตารกษยะ! สิ่งเหล่านี้กล่าวกันว่าเป็น ‘โจร’ ที่สถิตอยู่ในร่างกาย

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Setting/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (locative adverb: there/in that context)

• कामः: desire
• कामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Samuccaya/Anukarana (Linking adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम् (likewise)

• क्रोधः: anger
• क्रोधः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• काये: in the body
• काये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• पञ्चेन्द्रियाणि: the five senses
• पञ्चेन्द्रियाणि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः = ‘पञ्च इन्द्रियाणि’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम्

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• तार्क्ष्य: O Tārkṣya (Garuda)
• तार्क्ष्य: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तार्क्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• समाख्याताः: have been described
• समाख्याताः: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + √ख्या (धातु) + क्त (भूतकृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मणि-भावः = ‘have been declared/told’

• देहे: in the body
• देहे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• तिष्ठन्ति: remain; stay
• तिष्ठन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• तस्कराः: thieves
• तस्कराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तस्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Tārkṣya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Desire, anger, and the senses behave like thieves within the body, robbing the jīva of clarity and virtue.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha and purification of antaḥkaraṇa; obstacles (vikshepa) to knowledge and devotion.

Application: Practice sense-restraint, mindful response to anger, and disciplined routines (japa, sat-saṅga, moderation) to prevent inner ‘theft’.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: inner-psychic space (antahkaraṇa-sphere)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana ethical passages on sense-control and the causes of downfall (nearby didactic sections)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Tārkṣya)
• Desire (Kāma)
• Anger (Krodha)
• Five Indriyas

FAQs

What is the importance of calling kāma and krodha ‘thieves’ in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames desire, anger, and uncontrolled senses as inner robbers that steal discrimination, peace, and dharmic merit, leading a person away from right conduct.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and afterlife teachings in the Garuda Purana?

Preta Kanda repeatedly emphasizes that one’s inner impulses shape karma; by identifying these ‘thieves’ in the body, the text points to self-mastery as the foundation for a favorable post-death course and avoidance of suffering born of wrongdoing.

What is a practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice sense-restraint (indriya-nigraha), pause before reacting in anger, and reduce craving-driven habits—these directly support ethical living, clearer judgment, and steadier spiritual practice.