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Shloka 5

Karma-vipāka: Rebirths and Bodily Marks Resulting from Specific Sins

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मस्वं कन्यकां क्रीत्वा वने रक्षो भवेद्वृषः / रत्नहृद्धीनजातः स्यात्पत्रशाकहरः शिखी

Transliteration

brahmasvaṃ kanyakāṃ krītvā vane rakṣo bhavedvṛṣaḥ / ratnahṛddhīnajātaḥ syātpatraśākaharaḥ śikhī

Translation

侵夺婆罗门之财者，或将少女当作货物买卖者，将在林野中化为罗刹（rākṣasa），如雄牛一般。偷宝石者转生愚钝；夺取叶菜青蔬者转生为孔雀。

Word by Word
brahma-svamBrahmin’s property
brahma-svam:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootbrahman (प्रातिपदिक) + sva (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘property of a Brahmin’
kanyakāma maiden
kanyakām:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootkanyakā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
krītvāhaving bought
krītvā:
Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
TypeVerb
Rootkrī (धातु; √krī)
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)
vanein the forest
vane:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootvana (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन
rakṣaḥa demon (rakṣas)
rakṣaḥ:
Pratipādya (Predicate-noun/प्रत्ययार्थ)
TypeNoun
Rootrakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
bhavetwould become
bhavet:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootbhū (धातु; √bhū)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
vṛṣaḥa bull
vṛṣaḥ:
Pratipādya (Predicate-noun/प्रत्ययार्थ)
TypeNoun
Rootvṛṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
ratna-hṛtjewel-thief
ratna-hṛt:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootratna (प्रातिपदिक) + hṛt (कृदन्त; √hṛ)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘hṛt’ = ‘stealer’
hīna-jātaḥborn deficient; low-born
hīna-jātaḥ:
Pratipādya (Predicate-adjective/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Roothīna (प्रातिपदिक) + jāta (कृदन्त; √jan)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त
syātwould become
syāt:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootas (धातु; √as)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
patra-śāka-haraḥstealer of leaves and vegetables
patra-śāka-haraḥ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootpatra (प्रातिपदिक) + śāka (प्रातिपदिक) + hara (प्रातिपदिक; from √hṛ)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व—‘patra’ and ‘śāka’ as objects of ‘hara’
śikhīa peacock (crested bird)
śikhī:
Pratipādya (Predicate-noun/प्रत्ययार्थ)
TypeNoun
Rootśikhin (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘crested one’ (often peacock)
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Misappropriating brahmin property or commodifying a maiden leads to rākṣasa-like forest existence; gem theft dulls intellect; stealing leafy greens leads to peacock rebirth.

Vedantic Theme: Desecration of dharma (especially brahminical trust and human dignity) intensifies tamas; karma shapes buddhi (intellect) and yoni.

Application: Respect sacred/entrusted property, uphold consent and dignity (no commodification of persons), avoid theft; cultivate dana and ethical commerce.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: forest/liminal zone and rebirth outcome

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: brahmasva-apaharaṇa condemned; lists of theft consequences; Garuda Purana: sections praising dana and condemning exploitation

Characters & Entities
B
Brahmin
R
Rakshasa
P
Peacock

FAQs

This verse shows the Garuda Purana’s principle that specific unethical acts (theft, exploitation) produce correspondingly specific rebirth outcomes, reinforcing dharma through karmic consequence.

It implies that after death the jīva carries karmic impressions that shape its next embodiment, here described as lower births or demonic states aligned with the nature of the wrongdoing.

Respect others’ property and dignity—avoid theft, exploitation, and coercive transactions—since the text frames these as heavy adharma with severe karmic results.

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