Shloka 89

Post-cremation Ripening of Karma and the Principal Narakas

Devanagari script

तस्माच्च प्रच्युता राज्ञामन्येषां च महात्मनाम् / जायन्ते नीरुजां गेहे स द्वृत्तिपीरपालकाः

Transliteration

tasmācca pracyutā rājñāmanyeṣāṃ ca mahātmanām / jāyante nīrujāṃ gehe sa dvṛttipīrapālakāḥ

Translation

اسی سبب بادشاہی مرتبے سے اور دیگر صاحبانِ عظمت کے مقام سے گرے ہوئے لوگ تندرستوں کے گھروں میں پیدا ہوتے ہیں اور خدمت کی روزی کمانے والے نگہبان و خادم بن جاتے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: from that (cause/condition)
• तस्मात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction)

• प्रच्युता: fallen away, departed
• प्रच्युता: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: च्युत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) < च्यु (धातु) उपसर्गः प्र-
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (पाठानुसार) पुंलिङ्ग-रूपम्; विशेषणम् (ते/जनाः)

• राज्ञाम्: of kings
• राज्ञाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अन्येषाम्: of other
• अन्येषाम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (महात्मनाम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः

• महात्मनाम्: of great-souled persons
• महात्मनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (महान् आत्मा यस्य)

• जायन्ते: are born, arise
• जायन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• नीरुजाम्: of the healthy (free from disease)
• नीरुजाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नीरुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (गेहे—सम्बन्धे ‘of the healthy/without disease’)

• गेहे: in a house/home
• गेहे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह/गेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स: he/that
• स: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (पाठे ‘स’—संभवतः ‘ते’ अपेक्षित)

• द्वृत्ति-पीर-पालकाः: guardians/maintainers of evil conduct and affliction
• द्वृत्ति-पीर-पालकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक; दुर्-वृत्ति/द्वृत्ति) + पीर (प्रातिपदिक) + पालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (द्वृत्तिपीरस्य पालकाः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Loss of former rank leads to rebirth in subordinate roles; social station is a karmic outcome.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra’s fluctuation (uccāvacatva) and the non-ultimate nature of worldly identity.

Application: Practice humility and ethical leadership; treat attendants with dignity, remembering roles can reverse across births.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/social setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: passages on rebirth according to residual karma and loss of former enjoyments (general parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Kings (Rajas)
• Mahātmanas (noble persons)

FAQs

What is the importance of karma-based fall in status in Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that worldly rank (even kingship) can be lost due to karmic decline, leading to rebirth in dependent, service-based roles, reinforcing accountability for one’s conduct and duties.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

In the Preta Kanda’s karmic framework, the soul’s post-death trajectory culminates in a new birth aligned with merits and demerits; here, loss of former dignity results in rebirth within households where one survives through service and attendance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat authority as a dharmic responsibility, avoid abuse of power and arrogance, and cultivate service, humility, and ethical governance—since status is portrayed as impermanent and karma-dependent.