Shloka 57

Kāraṇānvēṣaṇam: The 32 Marks of Hari, Defects (Doṣas), Death-Omens, and Hari’s Omnipresence in Social & Household Life

Devanagari script

अष्टादशभिर्लक्षणैः संयुतस्तु वैवस्वतस्तदभावैश्चतुर्दशभिः / मित्रस्तु सप्तदशभिर्लक्षणैः संयुतः खग

Transliteration

aṣṭādaśabhirlakṣaṇaiḥ saṃyutastu vaivasvatastadabhāvaiścaturdaśabhiḥ / mitrastu saptadaśabhirlakṣaṇaiḥ saṃyutaḥ khaga

Translation

يا أيّها الطائر (غارودا)، إن «ڤايفسڤتا» (ياما) موصوفٌ بثماني عشرة علامة مميِّزة، ويُعرَف أيضًا بغياب أربع عشرة علامة (أخرى). أمّا «ميترا» فموصوفٌ بسبع عشرة علامة مميِّزة.

Word by Word

• aṣṭādaśabhiḥ: by eighteen
• aṣṭādaśabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭādaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (Numeral) Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• lakṣaṇaiḥ: with characteristics
• lakṣaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• saṃyutaḥ: endowed
• saṃyutaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-√yuj (युज् धातु)
• Form: PPP (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• vaivasvataḥ: Vaivasvata (name)
• vaivasvataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaivasvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tad-abhāvaiḥ: with those absences
• tad-abhāvaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक) + abhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• caturdaśabhiḥ: by fourteen
• caturdaśabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caturdaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (Numeral) Instrumental, Plural

• mitraḥ: Mitra (name)
• mitraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tu: and/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• saptadaśabhiḥ: by seventeen
• saptadaśabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saptadaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (Numeral) Instrumental, Plural

• lakṣaṇaiḥ: with characteristics
• lakṣaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• saṃyutaḥ: endowed
• saṃyutaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-√yuj (युज् धातु)
• Form: PPP (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• khaga: O bird (Garuda)
• khaga: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic governance is structured: deities/forces (Yama, Mitra) are characterized by defined laksanas and absences, reflecting lawful order rather than arbitrariness.

Vedantic Theme: Rta/Dharma as cosmic law: karmic adjudication operates through determinate principles; the universe is intelligible.

Application: Cultivate ethical clarity and accountability: live as though actions are measured by an impartial order (Yama), and practice truth/contract-keeping (Mitra’s associative sphere).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: divine court/realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa passages on Yama’s court and karmic judgment (contextual linkage, though this verse is classificatory)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Yama (Vaivasvata)
• Mitra

FAQs

What is the importance of describing Yama’s ‘lakṣaṇas’ in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Yama (Vaivasvata) as a specifically identifiable cosmic authority in the after-death order, distinguished by enumerated marks, reinforcing his doctrinal role in judging and regulating beings after death.

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

Indirectly: by distinguishing Yama among divine beings through defined ‘lakṣaṇas,’ the text situates him as the key administrator encountered in the post-death narrative, where souls are assessed according to karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat ethical conduct (dharma) as real and consequential: the verse reminds practitioners that the afterlife framework is governed by definite principles and authorities, encouraging accountability in actions.