Shloka 59

The Extent of Questions: Deathbed Rites, Kāla (Time), and Karma-Vipāka Rebirths

Devanagari script

अत्र ते कीर्तयिष्यामि विपाकं कर्मणामहम् / वैचित्र्यस्य स्पुटत्वाययैर्जोवः संसरत्ययम्

Transliteration

atra te kīrtayiṣyāmi vipākaṃ karmaṇāmaham / vaicitryasya spuṭatvāyayairjovaḥ saṃsaratyayam

Translation

یہاں میں تمہیں اعمال کے وِپاک (پک کر ظاہر ہونے والے نتائج) بیان کروں گا، تاکہ تنوع پوری طرح واضح ہو جائے—جن کے سبب یہ جیواَتما سنسار میں بھٹکتی رہتی ہے۔

Word by Word

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (here)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी/षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (to you/for you)

• कीर्तयिष्यामि: I will describe, I will recount
• कीर्तयिष्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कीर्त्/√कीर्तय् (धातु; नामधातु from कीर्ति)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (भविष्यत्), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विपाकम्: result, fruition
• विपाकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (object)

• कर्मणाम्: of actions
• कर्मणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वैचित्र्यस्य: of diversity
• वैचित्र्यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैचित्र्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• स्पुटत्वाय: for clarity, for explicitness
• स्पुटत्वाय: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पुटत्व (स्पुट + त्व; तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन (dative: 'for clarity/manifestness')

• यैः: by which
• यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun: 'by which/with which')

• जीवः: the living being, soul
• जीवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पाठे 'जोवः' इति लिप्यन्तरदोषसम्भाव्यः

• संसारति: wanders (in saṃsāra)
• संसारति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सृ (धातु) + सम् (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karma-vipāka (ripening of actions) explains experiential diversity; the jīva wanders in saṁsāra propelled by these fruits.

Vedantic Theme: Bandha (bondage) through karma and the need for viveka (discernment) to seek release; karma as explanatory principle for saṁsāra’s variety.

Application: Reflect on cause-and-effect in one’s life; adopt dharmic conduct and spiritual disciplines to reduce karmic bondage and aim beyond cyclical wandering.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa 2.2.59 onward (enumeration of karma-vipāka)

Characters & Entities

• Jiva
• Karma
• Samsara

FAQs

What is the importance of karma-vipāka in the Garuda Purana?

This verse introduces the doctrine that actions inevitably mature into results, explaining why beings experience diverse conditions after death and across rebirths.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It states that the jīva’s continued wandering in saṁsāra is driven by the maturing outcomes of its own karmas, which manifest as varied experiences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live ethically and mindfully—since choices leave karmic traces that shape future suffering or well-being, both in this life and beyond.