The Extent of Questions: Deathbed Rites, Kāla (Time), and Karma-Vipāka Rebirths
कौशिको मित्रहन्ता च क्षयी पित्रादिनिन्दकः / स्खलद्वागनृतवादी कूटसाक्षी जलोदरी
kauśiko mitrahantā ca kṣayī pitrādinindakaḥ / skhaladvāganṛtavādī kūṭasākṣī jalodarī
Kẻ giả hình như chim cò, kẻ sát hại bạn hữu, kẻ mắc chứng hao mòn, kẻ phỉ báng các Pitṛ và những bậc đáng tôn—người nói năng vấp váp, kẻ nói dối, kẻ làm chứng gian, và kẻ mắc chứng phù thũng—đều được kể vào hạng tội nhân nơi đây.
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Specific sins (droha, pitṛ-nindā, anṛta, kūṭa-sākṣya) generate concrete karmic demerit and future suffering.
Vedantic Theme: Adharma veils sattva and binds the jīva to saṃsāra through pāpa; speech (vāk) as a karmic instrument.
Application: Guard truthfulness in speech and testimony; avoid betrayal; maintain reverence toward pitṛs and elders; treat illness/decline as occasions for dharmic correction, not further wrongdoing.
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2 (karma-vipāka lists of pāpa and corresponding rebirths/afflictions)
This verse explicitly groups the liar (anṛtavādī) and the false witness (kūṭasākṣī) among grave moral offenders, highlighting truth as a core dharmic duty with direct karmic consequences.
In the Preta Kanda’s framework, such named sins become causes for suffering in Yama’s domain; the verse functions as part of the moral inventory that determines post-death experience and retribution.
Avoid hypocrisy, protect friendships, do not malign ancestors/elders, and never lie—especially in legal or testimonial contexts—since speech-based harm is treated as a serious karmic fault.