Shloka 14

The Explanation of the Post-funeral Rites (Aurdhvadehika) and Related Matters

Devanagari script

योन्यन्तरेषु जायते यत्र वृक्षसरीसृपाः / न सन्ततिं विना सो ऽत्र मुच्यते नरकाद्ध्रुवम्

Transliteration

yonyantareṣu jāyate yatra vṛkṣasarīsṛpāḥ / na santatiṃ vinā so 'tra mucyate narakāddhruvam

Translation

Er wird in andere Schoße geboren — in Bereiche, wo Bäume und kriechende Wesen sind. Hier wird er ohne Nachkommenschaft (die die Riten vollziehen kann) gewiss nicht aus der Hölle erlöst.

Word by Word

• योनि-अन्तरेषु: in other births
• योनि-अन्तरेषु: अधिकरण (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (योनेः अन्तरम्) = 'in other wombs/births'

• जायते: is born
• जायते: क्रिया (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: अधिकरण (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (relative adverb: where)

• वृक्ष-सरीसृपाः: trees and reptiles
• वृक्ष-सरीसृपाः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + सरीसृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (वृक्षाः च सरीसृपाः च)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध/निपात (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• सन्ततिम्: progeny/lineage
• सन्ततिम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्तति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• विना: without
• विना: अपादान-प्राय/वियोग (वियोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: उपपद-अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable) governing द्वितीया; 'without'

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: अधिकरण (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (here)

• मुच्यते: is released
• मुच्यते: क्रिया (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नरकात्: from hell
• नरकात्: अपादान (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• ध्रुवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन used adverbially (क्रियाविशेषण) = 'certainly'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Pretayoni

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karmic bondage can force rebirth into lower yonis; absence of descendants to perform rites prevents timely release from naraka/preta bondage.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra driven by karma and unresolved obligations; dependence on dharmic supports (śrāddha) for preta-śānti within ritual cosmology.

Application: Ensure śrāddha continuity via progeny or authorized substitutes; cultivate dharma so post-mortem transition is not obstructed.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: intermediate realms of rebirth (yonis)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: preta’s dependence on piṇḍa/udaka and śrāddha for relief (general internal parallel); Garuda Purana: accounts of rebirth into sthāvara/jaṅgama due to pāpa (general internal parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Naraka

FAQs

What is the importance of progeny (santati) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links release from naraka to having santati, implying the continuation of funeral and śrāddha duties (such as piṇḍa offerings) that aid the departed.

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

It indicates that due to karmic consequences a being may fall into “other wombs,” including lower forms like creeping creatures, and that freedom from naraka is not assured without supportive post-death rites connected with one’s lineage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain dharmic living and ensure proper last rites and śrāddha arrangements within the family/community; the teaching emphasizes responsibility toward ancestors and continuity of ritual obligations.