Shloka 7

Pātāla and Naraka Enumeration; Brahmāṇḍa-Āvaraṇa and Nārāyaṇa’s Pervasion

Devanagari script

संदंशः कृष्णसूत्रश्च तमश्चावीचिरेव च / श्वभोजनो ऽथाप्रतिष्ठोष्णवीचिर्नरकाः स्मृताः

Transliteration

saṃdaṃśaḥ kṛṣṇasūtraśca tamaścāvīcireva ca / śvabhojano 'thāpratiṣṭhoṣṇavīcirnarakāḥ smṛtāḥ

Translation

সন্দংশ, কৃষ্ণসূত্ৰ, তমস আৰু আবীচি; লগতে শ্বভোজন, অপ্ৰতিষ্ঠা আৰু উষ্ণবীচি—এইবোৰ নৰকৰ নাম বুলি স্মৃত।

Word by Word

• संदंशः: (the hell named) Saṃdaṃśa
• संदंशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संदंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कृष्णसूत्रः: (the hell named) ‘Black-thread’
• कृष्णसूत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (कृष्णं सूत्रम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तमः: (the hell named) Darkness (Tamas)
• तमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अवीचिः: (the hell named) Avīci
• अवीचिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवीचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• श्वभोजनः: (the hell named) ‘Dog-food’/‘where one is eaten by dogs’
• श्वभोजनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वन् (प्रातिपदिक) + भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (श्वनां भोजनम्/भोज्यः)

• अथ: then, next
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (discourse particle: then/now)

• अप्रतिष्ठः: (the hell named) Apratiṣṭha (‘without support’)
• अप्रतिष्ठः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (उपसर्ग/निषेध) + प्रतिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थक (negated)

• उष्णवीचिः: (the hell named) ‘Hot-waves’ (Uṣṇavīci)
• उष्णवीचिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + वीचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (उष्णा वीचिः)

• नरकाः: hells
• नरकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• स्मृताः: are called/are remembered (as)
• स्मृताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘are said/are remembered’

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue, instructing Garuḍa/Vinātā-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Multiplicity of narakas implies specificity of karmic retribution and moral taxonomy.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-vicitra-phala (variegated results of action) within saṃsāra upheld by dharma.

Application: Use the teaching as ethical self-audit: identify harmful patterns and correct them through restraint, confession, and reparative conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: naraka (hell-region)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: further naraka descriptions and causes in surrounding chapters/verses

FAQs

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

This verse functions as a catalog entry: it preserves the traditional names of specific Narakas, reinforcing the Purāṇic teaching that actions have precise karmic consequences in Yama’s post-death order.

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

By naming multiple Narakas, it implies a differentiated post-mortem journey where the soul’s experiences are determined by karma, with distinct realms corresponding to distinct forms of suffering and correction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a moral reminder: avoid harmful actions and cultivate dharma, since the text frames ethical causality as structured and inescapable—choices shape consequences beyond death.