Shloka 104

Post-cremation Ripening of Karma and the Principal Narakas

Devanagari script

एवमेव समाख्यातं शरीरं ते चतुर्विधम् / चतुरशीतिलक्षाणि निर्मिता योनयः पुरा

Transliteration

evameva samākhyātaṃ śarīraṃ te caturvidham / caturaśītilakṣāṇi nirmitā yonayaḥ purā

Translation

وهكذا، يا غارودا، شُرِح لك الجسدُ على أنه ذو أربعة أقسام؛ وفي الأزمنة السحيقة خُلِقَت أربعٌ وثمانون لكشا (8.4 ملايين) من الأيونيات، أي أجناسُ المواليد.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner: thus)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle: indeed/just)

• समाख्यातम्: has been explained
• समाख्यातम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-√ख्या (धातु) + त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘(इदं) समाख्यातम्’ (has been explained)

• शरीरम्: body
• शरीरम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; दत्त-सम्बन्धे (to you)

• चतुर्विधम्: fourfold
• चतुर्विधम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासार्थे ‘चतुर्णां विधीनां’ → ‘चार प्रकार का’ (fourfold)

• चतुरशीति-लक्षाणि: eighty-four lakhs
• चतुरशीति-लक्षाणि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुरशीति (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (numerical compound) ‘चतुरशीति-लक्ष’ = eighty-four lakhs

• निर्मिताः: were created
• निर्मिताः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्-√मा (धातु) + त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘निर्मिताः (सन्ति)’ (were created)

• योनयः: wombs/species/origins
• योनयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Adverbial (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time: formerly)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodiment manifests in diverse yonis; multiplicity of species implies graded karmic destinations and the vast field of saṃsāra.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra as beginningless cycle of births; jīva’s embodiment varies with karma while ātman remains unchanged.

Application: Cultivate compassion across species and urgency for liberation; recognize human birth as rare amid vast yonis and use it for sādhana.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana sections enumerating yonis and linking them to karma-phala and post-mortem routes; Pretakalpa descriptions of rebirth into lower/upper yonis based on deeds

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of the 'fourfold body' in the Garuda Purana?

This verse concludes a doctrinal explanation that the embodied condition can be classified into four types, framing how the jīva experiences existence and moves through post-death and rebirth teachings in the Preta Kanda.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By pointing to the vast range of 'yonis' (forms of birth), it implies transmigration: the soul repeatedly takes embodied forms according to causes described elsewhere in the dialogue (karma, dharma, and ritual supports).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat embodiment as temporary and ethically significant: live with dharma and restraint so that future births are elevated rather than degraded across the many possible yonis.