Shloka 9
Vaitaraṇī: Torments of the Sinful, Sins Enumerated, and the Vaitaraṇī Go-dāna Rite
मां नरा ये ऽवमन्यन्ते चाचार्यं गुरुमेव च / वृद्धानन्यांश्चापि मूढास्तेषां वासस्तु तत्र वै
māṃ narā ye 'vamanyante cācāryaṃ gurumeva ca / vṛddhānanyāṃścāpi mūḍhāsteṣāṃ vāsastu tatra vai
ผู้คนเขลาที่ดูหมิ่นเรา และยังดูหมิ่นอาจารย์-คุรุ ผู้เฒ่า และผู้ควรเคารพอื่น ๆ—ที่พำนักของเขาย่อมอยู่ที่นั่นแน่ ในแดนแห่งทัณฑ์
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Naraka
Concept: Aparadha toward Bhagavan and guru-varga (acharya/guru/vriddha) is grave adharma producing severe karmic consequence.
Vedantic Theme: Guru-tattva and Ishvara-bhakti as supports for right knowledge; disrespect blocks grace and discernment.
Application: Maintain reverence and ethical speech; seek forgiveness for offenses; cultivate humility and service toward teachers/elders.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: guru-ninda and deva-ninda as causes of naraka; Garuda Purana: lists of papa leading to Yama’s punishments
FAQs
This verse treats contempt toward the Divine, one’s ācārya/guru, and elders as a serious adharma that leads to an after-death consequence—an abode in a punitive realm.
It links a specific sin—insulting the Lord and dishonoring teachers/elders—to being assigned a particular “there” (tatra) dwelling, consistent with the Preta Kanda’s mapping of actions to post-mortem destinations and sufferings.
Maintain humility and restraint in speech, honor one’s teachers and mentors, care for elders, and avoid ridicule or contempt—seeing these as core duties of dharma with spiritual consequences.