Shloka 11

Saṃsāra-cakra, Preta’s 12-day Transit to Yama, Re-embodiment, and Karma-Vipāka Catalog of Sins and Rebirths

Devanagari script

ततश्च मरणं तत्तद्धर्मामाप्नोति मानवः / एवं संसारचक्रे ऽस्मिन् भ्राम्यते घटीयन्त्रवत्

Transliteration

tataśca maraṇaṃ tattaddharmāmāpnoti mānavaḥ / evaṃ saṃsāracakre 'smin bhrāmyate ghaṭīyantravat

Translation

Und dann kommt der Tod; der Mensch erlangt das jeweilige Geschick gemäß seiner eigenen Dharma (Taten und sittlichem Gesetz). So kreist er in diesem Rad des Saṃsāra fortwährend — wie ein Wasserradwerk.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Temporal/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय; कालबोधक (then)

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

• मरणम्: death
• मरणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (समासपूर्वपद/पुनरुक्ति)

• तत्: that (each)
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (पुनरुक्ति)

• धर्मान्: conditions/laws/duties (respective states)
• धर्मान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• आप्नोति: attains/undergoes
• आप्नोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु; आपॢ प्राप्तौ)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मानवः: a human being
• मानवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारबोधक-अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• संसारचक्रे: in the wheel of transmigration
• संसारचक्रे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक; संसारचक्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (संसारस्य चक्रे)

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भ्राम्यते: wanders/whirls about
• भ्राम्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• घटीयन्त्रवत्: like a water-wheel device
• घटीयन्त्रवत्: Sambandha (Comparison/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: घटी + यन्त्र + वत् (प्रातिपदिक; घटीयन्त्रवत्)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त तुलनाबोधक-अव्यय (simile: like ...)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Death follows life; post-death destiny accords with one’s dharma/karma; the jiva revolves in samsara like a water-wheel.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandhana and punarjanma; necessity of moksha as escape from cyclicity.

Application: Live with ethical accountability; prioritize practices that break the cycle—bhakti, jnana, and disciplined conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: karma-phala and rebirth discussions; imagery of samsara-chakra and Yama’s adjudication elsewhere

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of karma and dharma at death in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that at death a person reaches the outcome that corresponds to his dharma—implying that one’s deeds and moral choices shape post-death destiny and further rebirth.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It presents saṃsāra as a revolving wheel: driven by one’s accumulated actions, the being continues to circle through repeated states (birth/death), much like a water-wheel that keeps turning.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with dharma—truthfulness, restraint, compassion, and duty—because the text links one’s end-of-life outcome and future course directly to one’s conduct.