Shloka 51

Sat-saṅga, Dharma-Nīti, Karma-Phala, Śauca, and Vairāgya

Overcoming Grief

Devanagari script

तत्तत्प्राप्नोति पुरुषः कि प्रलापैः करिष्यति / आचोद्यमानानि यथा पुष्पाणि च फलानि च / स्वकालं नातिवर्तन्ते तथा कर्म पुराकृतम्

Transliteration

tattatprāpnoti puruṣaḥ ki pralāpaiḥ kariṣyati / ācodyamānāni yathā puṣpāṇi ca phalāni ca / svakālaṃ nātivartante tathā karma purākṛtam

Translation

人必定得其业之果报；哀号又能成就什么？正如花与果在自然与时节的推动下，不逾越其应时；如是，往昔所作之业亦于其定时成熟。

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति-प्रयोगः (correlative)

• तत्: that (very)
• तत्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; 'तत्तत्' = यद्यत् (whatever that)

• प्राप्नोति: attains
• प्राप्नोति: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√āp/√prāp (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पुरुषः: a person
• पुरुषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक; 'करिष्यति' इत्यस्य कर्म (what?)

• प्रलापैः: with lamentations, wailings
• प्रलापैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pralāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• करिष्यति: will do
• करिष्यति: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• आचोद्यमानानि: being urged/impelled
• आचोद्यमानानि: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā√cud (धातु) + śānac/āna (शानच्/आन) → ācodyamāna (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle: 'being impelled')

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Comparator (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (comparative: 'just as')

• पुष्पाणि: flowers
• पुष्पाणि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• फलानि: fruits
• फलानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• स्व: one's own
• स्व: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; 'कालम्' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• कालम्: time, season
• कालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• अतिवर्तन्ते: overstep, pass beyond
• अतिवर्तन्ते: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ati√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• तथा: so, likewise
• तथा: Comparator/Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: 'thus/so')

• कर्म: karma, deed
• कर्म: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kala (Time adjunct/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb: 'formerly')

• कृतम्: done, performed
• कृतम्: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + kta → kṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'कर्म' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinātā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Results are inevitably attained according to past action; lamentation cannot alter the maturation of prārabdha—like blossoms and fruits that ripen only in their season.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyati under kāla; encouragement toward vairāgya and turning the mind to the imperishable.

Application: When facing loss or delay, replace rumination with disciplined action and devotion; practice patience and ethical consistency, trusting that outcomes mature in time.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: natural metaphor (orchard/garden; seasonal time)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.113.47–50 (non-grief; avyakta cycle; destined time; destined attainments).

FAQs

What is the importance of karma-phala (results of actions) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that one inevitably receives the corresponding result of prior deeds, emphasizing moral causality and the certainty of karmic fruition.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It implies that the soul’s experiences are shaped by previously performed karma, which ripens in due course—guiding what one undergoes in life and beyond according to moral momentum.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Focus on present right action and self-discipline; accept outcomes with steadiness, since lamentation cannot undo past deeds, while current choices shape future results.