Shloka 98

Post-cremation Ripening of Karma and the Principal Narakas

Devanagari script

पित्तं श्लेष्मा तथा मज्जा मांसं वै मेद एव च / अस्थि शुक्रं तथा स्नायुर्देहेन सह दह्यति

Transliteration

pittaṃ śleṣmā tathā majjā māṃsaṃ vai meda eva ca / asthi śukraṃ tathā snāyurdehena saha dahyati

Translation

Galle, Schleim, Mark, Fleisch und Fett — ebenso Knochen, Samen und Sehnen — werden allesamt zusammen mit dem Leib verbrannt.

Word by Word

• पित्तम्: bile
• पित्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• श्लेष्मा: phlegm
• श्लेष्मा: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्लेष्मन्/श्लेष्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Linker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अनुक्रमसूचक (adverb: 'also/likewise')

• मज्जा: marrow
• मज्जा: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मज्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• मांसम्: flesh
• मांसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle: emphasis/indeed)

• मेदः: fat
• मेदः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेदस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• एव: just, indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle: only/just/emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction: and)

• अस्थि: bone
• अस्थि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्थि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• शुक्रम्: semen
• शुक्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Linker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अनुक्रमसूचक (adverb: 'also/likewise')

• स्नायुः: sinew, tendon
• स्नायुः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• देहेन: with the body
• देहेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sambandha (Association/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सहार्थक (postposition: with)

• दह्यति: is burned
• दह्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śarīra is a composite of perishable dhātus; at death all constituents are consumed—therefore do not identify the Self with the body.

Vedantic Theme: Dehātma-bhrānti-nivṛtti; dṛg-dṛśya-viveka (seer distinct from seen).

Application: Practice daily contemplation on bodily impermanence (aśubha/anitya-bhāvanā) to reduce attachment and fear of death.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of death-process and body’s decay (adjacent adhyāyas)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of cremation (antyeṣṭi) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that the physical constituents (dhātus) are consumed with the body, underscoring cremation as a rite that completes the body’s dissolution and marks separation from the departed’s onward journey.

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

By stating that bodily tissues burn away, it highlights that the soul (and subtle body, in the broader narrative) is distinct from the perishing physical frame, which is left behind through cremation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate detachment from bodily identity and prioritize dharma and ethical living, remembering that the body is transient while one’s actions and duties carry lasting consequence.