Shloka 14

Saṃsāra-cakra, Preta’s 12-day Transit to Yama, Re-embodiment, and Karma-Vipāka Catalog of Sins and Rebirths

Devanagari script

तज्जायां मनसा वाञ्छंस्तद्द्रव्यं वाप्यसंशयम् / गर्दभोजायते जन्तुर्मित्रस्यैवापमानकृत्

Transliteration

tajjāyāṃ manasā vāñchaṃstaddravyaṃ vāpyasaṃśayam / gardabhojāyate janturmitrasyaivāpamānakṛt

Translation

جو دل میں پرائی عورت کی خواہش کرے یا اس کے مال کا لالچ کرے، وہ بے شک گدھا بن کر پیدا ہوتا ہے؛ اور جو دوست کی توہین کرے، اس کا انجام بھی یہی ہے۔

Word by Word

• तत्: that (his)
• तत्: Sambandha (Genitival sense/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (referring to 'his')

• जायाम्: wife
• जायाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• मनसा: with the mind
• मनसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• वाञ्छन्: desiring
• वाञ्छन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वाञ्छ् (धातु) → वाञ्छत् (शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Present active participle: 'desiring'

• तत्: that (his)
• तत्: Sambandha (Genitival sense/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• द्रव्यम्: property/wealth
• द्रव्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-भावे; also/even

• असंशयम्: undoubtedly
• असंशयम्: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: असंशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्यय (adverbial accusative); without doubt

• गर्दभः: donkey
• गर्दभः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्दभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• जायते: is born
• जायते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Present middle 3rd sg: 'is born/becomes'

• जन्तुः: creature
• जन्तुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• मित्रस्य: of a friend
• मित्रस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• अपमानकृत्: one who insults
• अपमानकृत्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपमान (प्रातिपदिक) + √कृ (धातु) → कृत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयभाव: अपमानं करोति इति; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; agent noun

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Manasa-doṣa (mental lust/greed) and social offenses (friend humiliation) mature into degrading rebirth.

Vedantic Theme: Saṅkalpa as seed of karma; inner purity (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi) as foundation for dharma and higher realization.

Application: Practice sense-restraint and contentment; guard thoughts; honor friendships; avoid humiliating speech and social cruelty.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: human society and subsequent yoni

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: lists of rebirths for kāma/lobha and social betrayals (surrounding verses)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of controlling desire in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats even mental craving for another’s spouse or wealth as karmically potent, leading to a degrading rebirth, emphasizing inner restraint as part of dharma.

How does this verse explain karmic consequence and rebirth?

It links specific unethical tendencies—lust, greed, and betraying friendship through humiliation—to a concrete rebirth outcome (as a donkey), illustrating the Purana’s cause-and-effect moral cosmology.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice fidelity, non-covetousness, and respectful speech—especially toward friends—by checking thoughts before they become actions and cultivating contentment and gratitude.