Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 24

Karma-vipāka: Truth, Yama’s Judgment, and the Marks of Sin in Rebirth

Devanagari script

राज्ञरिं गत्वा भवेद्दंष्ट्री तस्करो विङ्वराहकः / शारिवा फलविक्रेता वृषश्च वृषलीपतिः

Transliteration

rājñariṃ gatvā bhaveddaṃṣṭrī taskaro viṅvarāhakaḥ / śārivā phalavikretā vṛṣaśca vṛṣalīpatiḥ

Translation

凡趋附或事奉国王之敌者，必再生为具獠牙之兽；盗贼则堕为似野猪之类；贩卖药草舍利婆（śārivā）者，转为卖果之人；违越正行者，或生为公牛，或为下贱女之夫。

Word by Word

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अरिम्: enemy
• अरिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गत्वा: having gone (to)
• गत्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund): 'having gone'

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दंष्ट्रिन्: a fanged creature
• दंष्ट्रिन्: कर्तृ-समाना (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंष्ट्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'दंष्ट्रा अस्य अस्ति' (one with fangs)

• तस्करः: a thief
• तस्करः: कर्तृ-समाना (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तस्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विङ्-वराहकः: a kind of boar (term uncertain)
• विङ्-वराहकः: कर्तृ-समाना (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विङ् (प्रातिपदिक; अस्पष्ट/देश्य) + वराहक (प्रातिपदिक; वराह + क)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (determinative); पाठे 'विङ्वराहक' = विशेष-वराहक (uncertain lexeme)

• शारिवा: Śārivā (a plant/thing)
• शारिवा: कर्तृ-समाना (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शारिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• फल-विक्रेता: fruit-seller
• फल-विक्रेता: कर्तृ-समाना (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रेतृ (प्रातिपदिक; √क्री धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• वृषः: a bull
• वृषः: कर्तृ-समाना (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• वृषली-पतिः: husband of a śūdra-woman
• वृषली-पतिः: कर्तृ-समाना (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषली (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'वृषल्याः पतिः'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific unethical actions (betrayal, theft, misconduct) ripen into corresponding non-human or socially degraded births.

Vedantic Theme: Karma shaping embodiment (śarīra-yoni) according to saṃskāra; adharma binds the jīva to lower forms.

Application: Avoid treachery and opportunism in politics; refrain from theft and exploitative trade; maintain sexual and social propriety aligned with dharma.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: political-social domain

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana lists of yoni outcomes for specific pāpas (rebirth typologies); Nearby 2.46 verses on nimitta/cihna and karma-manifestations

Characters & Entities

• King (Rājā)
• Thief (Taskara)

FAQs

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

This verse exemplifies karma-vipāka by mapping specific unethical or socially harmful actions to specific degraded rebirths, reinforcing accountability beyond death.

How does this verse explain the soul’s path after death?

It indicates that after judgment of deeds, the jīva may be directed toward particular wombs/forms; certain actions predispose one to animal births or dishonored human conditions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid betrayal of rightful authority, theft, and exploitative trade; live by honest livelihood and dharmic relationships to prevent moral decline and its long-term consequences.