Shloka 3

Dharma-sāra: Dāna-mahātmyam, Karma-vāda, and the Conquest of Grief and Greed

Devanagari script

कर्मदाराः कर्मलोकाः कर्मसम्बन्धिबान्धवाः / कर्माणि प्रेरयन्तीह पुरुषं सुखदुः खयोः

Transliteration

karmadārāḥ karmalokāḥ karmasambandhibāndhavāḥ / karmāṇi prerayantīha puruṣaṃ sukhaduḥ khayoḥ

Translation

人的业行成为其伴侣与同伴；业行成为其世界与以业相系的亲族。就在此世，正是业力推动人趋向安乐与苦痛。

Word by Word

• कर्मदाराः: wives related to one’s karma
• कर्मदाराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कर्मणः दाराः)

• कर्मलोकाः: worlds (destinies) due to karma
• कर्मलोकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कर्मणः लोकाः)

• कर्मसम्बन्धिबान्धवाः: relatives connected through karma
• कर्मसम्बन्धिबान्धवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्बन्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + बान्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (कर्मसम्बन्धिनः बान्धवाः)

• कर्माणि: actions; deeds
• कर्माणि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन

• प्रेरयन्ति: impel; drive
• प्रेरयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+√ईर्/√इर् (धातु; प्रेरयति)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• इह: here (in this world)
• इह: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• पुरुषम्: a person
• पुरुषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• सुखदुःखयोः: of/with respect to pleasure and pain
• सुखदुःखयोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी (6/7), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (सुखं च दुःखं च)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karma is one’s true companion—spouse, kin, and world—driving experiences of happiness and suffering.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyati and saṃsāra: the jīva’s experiences arise from its own actions; encourages viveka and ethical agency.

Application: Audit actions daily; prioritize sattvic conduct, truthfulness, non-harm, and generosity; treat choices as shaping one’s ‘company’ and destiny.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: repeated motif that only karma follows the soul after death (thematic internal parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Karma

FAQs

What is the importance of karma in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that karma alone becomes one’s real companion, world, and kin—determining the experiences of pleasure and pain that follow a person.

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

By declaring karma as one’s ‘world’ and ‘relations,’ it implies the departed cannot rely on earthly ties; the soul’s post-death condition is shaped primarily by accumulated deeds.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with ethical restraint and compassion, since actions—not social status or relatives—become the lasting force that produces future happiness or suffering.