Shloka 60

Post-cremation Ripening of Karma and the Principal Narakas

Devanagari script

गुरुं चैवावमन्यन्ते वाक्शरैस्ताडयन्ति च / अगम्यागामी च नरो नरकं शबलं व्रजेत्

Transliteration

guruṃ caivāvamanyante vākśaraistāḍayanti ca / agamyāgāmī ca naro narakaṃ śabalaṃ vrajet

Translation

جو استاد (گرو) کی توہین کرے اور زبان کے تیروں سے اسے زخمی کرے، اور جو ممنوعہ (اگمْیہ) تعلق کی طرف جائے—وہ ‘شبل’ نامی ہولناک دوزخ میں جاتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• गुरुम्: teacher/guru
• गुरुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

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

• अवमन्यन्ते: disrespect/insult
• अवमन्यन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मन् (धातु) + अव
• Form: लट् (present), तृतीयपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• वाक्शरैः: with arrows of speech (harsh words)
• वाक्शरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वाचः शराः)

• ताडयन्ति: strike/assail
• ताडयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ताड् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), तृतीयपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• अगम्यागामी: one who goes to the forbidden (illicit-goer)
• अगम्यागामी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अगम्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √गम्, यत्) + आगामिन् (प्रातिपदिक; आ+√गम्, इन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अगम्यं आगच्छति/गच्छति इति)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नरकम्: hell
• नरकम्: Karma (Goal/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शबलम्: variegated/terrible
• शबलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नरकम् इति विशेषणम्

• व्रजेत्: should go
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Verbal violence toward one’s guru and sexual transgression with forbidden partners lead to severe karmic downfall.

Vedantic Theme: Guru is a locus of dharma and knowledge; disrespect fractures the channel of śreyas; uncontrolled desire and harsh speech deepen bondage.

Application: Practice respectful speech, especially toward teachers/elders; cultivate restraint (brahmacarya/indriya-nigraha); seek atonement and behavioral correction when boundaries are crossed.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: naraka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: naraka Śabala and its causes (immediate context in 2.3)

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Naraka
• Śabala

FAQs

What sin does this Garuda Purana verse warn against regarding the guru?

It condemns guru-apacāra—disrespecting the teacher and injuring him through cruel, cutting words—stating that such conduct leads to the hell named Śabala.

How does this verse connect karma to afterlife consequences in the Garuda Purana?

It presents a direct karmic linkage: specific misconduct (verbal assault on one’s guru and forbidden sexual approach) becomes the cause for experiencing a particular naraka (Śabala) after death.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Practice restraint in speech—especially toward elders/teachers—and uphold clear sexual boundaries and dharmic relationships, treating both speech and conduct as morally consequential.