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Shloka 107

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

पादाधस्तु तलं ज्ञेयं पादोर्ध्वं वितलं तथा / जानुभ्यां सुतलं विद्धि सक्थिदेशे महातलम्

Transliteration

pādādhastu talaṃ jñeyaṃ pādordhvaṃ vitalaṃ tathā / jānubhyāṃ sutalaṃ viddhi sakthideśe mahātalam

Translation

Wisse: Tala ist unterhalb der Füße, und Vitala unmittelbar oberhalb der Füße. Verstehe: Sutala liegt bei den Knien, und Mahātala in der Region der Oberschenkel.

Word by Word
पादाधःbelow the foot
पादाधः:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपाद (प्रातिपदिक) + अधस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial)
तुindeed
तु:
Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपात
तलम्Tala (nether region)
तलम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन
ज्ञेयम्is to be known
ज्ञेयम्:
Kriya (Predication/क्रिया)
TypeAdjective
Rootज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञेय (कृदन्त, यत्)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive) — ‘to be known’
पादोर्ध्वम्above the foot
पादोर्ध्वम्:
Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपाद (प्रातिपदिक) + ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial)
वितलम्Vitala (nether region)
वितलम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootवितल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन
तथाlikewise
तथा:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक
जानुभ्याम्by/at the two knees
जानुभ्याम्:
Karana (Instrument/Location marker/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootजानु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), द्विवचन
सुतलम्Sutala
सुतलम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootसुतल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन
विद्धिknow/understand
विद्धि:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootविद् (धातु)
Formलोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
सक्थिदेशेin the thigh-region
सक्थिदेशे:
Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootसक्थि (प्रातिपदिक) + देश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘सक्थिनोः देशे’
महातलम्Mahātala
महातलम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootमहा (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘महच्च तत् तलम्’
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific pātāla-lokas correspond to specific bodily regions, indicating an ordered microcosmic structure within the human frame.

Vedantic Theme: Virāṭ/adhyātma mapping as upāsanā (contemplative support) leading toward expanded identity beyond the limited body-ego.

Application: Use guided visualization: while seated, mentally ‘place’ tala below feet, vitala above, sutala at knees, mahātala at thighs; employ it to stabilize attention and deepen reverence for the body as a sacred instrument.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: microcosmic anatomy-cosmology correspondence

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.32.105-106 (macrocosm within body; pātāla and graha inclusion)

Characters & Entities
T
Tala
V
Vitala
S
Sutala
M
Mahātala

FAQs

This verse organizes the lower worlds in a precise sequence, using a body-based map to help the listener understand cosmic structure as taught in the Preta Kanda.

While it does not describe the soul’s travel directly, it supplies cosmological orientation used in the broader after-death teaching—clarifying where realms lie within the universe that the departed may hear about in Yama-related descriptions.

Use it as a contemplative reminder of cosmic order (dharma and consequence): the tradition frames moral life within a structured universe, encouraging disciplined living and reverence during śrāddha and other death-ritual contexts.

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