Shloka 47

Post-cremation Ripening of Karma and the Principal Narakas

Devanagari script

आदिमो रौरवः प्रोक्तो महारौरवको ऽपरः / अतिशीतस्तृतीयस्तु चतुर्थो हि निकृन्तनः

Transliteration

ādimo rauravaḥ prokto mahārauravako 'paraḥ / atiśītastṛtīyastu caturtho hi nikṛntanaḥ

Translation

الجحيم الأول يُدعى "راورافا"؛ والآخر هو "مهاراورافا". والثالث هو "أتيسيتا" (البرد الشديد)، والرابع هو حقًا "نيكرينتانا" (التقطيع).

Word by Word

• आदिमः: the first
• आदिमः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (रौरवः)

• रौरवः: Raurava (hell)
• रौरवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• प्रोक्तः: is said/called
• प्रोक्तः: Kriya-anubandha (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र+वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; विधेयविशेषणम्

• महा: great
• महा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-पूर्वपद, विशेषणम् (समासाङ्ग)

• रौरवकः: Mahāraurava (hell)
• रौरवकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौरवक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्तिः, एकवचन; (महारौरवकः = कर्मधारयः)

• अपरः: another, the next
• अपरः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (महारौरवकः)

• अति: very, exceedingly
• अति: Upasarga (Preverb/उपसर्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: अव्ययम्—उपसर्ग/अतिशयार्थक (intensifier prefix)

• शीतः: cold
• शीतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्तिः, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तृतीयः)

• तृतीयः: the third
• तृतीयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्तिः, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Nipata (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्—विरोध/विशेषार्थक (particle: but/indeed)

• चतुर्थः: the fourth
• चतुर्थः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्तिः, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipata (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्—हेतौ/निश्चये (particle: indeed/for)

• निकृन्तनः: Nikṛntana (the cutting hell)
• निकृन्तनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नि+कृत् (धातु) + ल्युट् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त-नाम (Action/agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Multiple differentiated hells exist, corresponding to varieties and intensities of pāpa.

Vedantic Theme: Karma’s specificity (viśeṣa) and the graded nature of suffering; prompts discrimination (viveka).

Application: Recognize that harms are not equal; refine conduct across speech, mind, and action; avoid ‘small’ sins that accumulate.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: named narakas (hell-realms)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa 2.3 (naraka list continues beyond 2.3.47)

Characters & Entities

• Naraka

FAQs

What is the importance of listing Narakas like Raurava in the Garuda Purana?

This verse begins a structured enumeration of hell-realms, emphasizing that karmic consequences are specific and categorized, not vague or random.

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

By naming distinct Narakas, it frames the post-death journey as guided by the soul’s karma, where particular deeds lead to particular realms of experience.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as an ethical reminder: avoid harmful actions that create severe consequences, and cultivate restraint, compassion, and dharmic conduct.