Shloka 2

Devanagari script

करालो हीनदन्तश्च शृङ्गी विरलदन्तकः / एकाण्डश्चैव जाताण्डः कञ्चुकी द्विखुरी स्तनी

Transliteration

karālo hīnadantaśca śṛṅgī viraladantakaḥ / ekāṇḍaścaiva jātāṇḍaḥ kañcukī dvikhurī stanī

Translation

He is frightful-looking, with missing teeth; horned, with teeth set far apart; having a single testicle and born with swollen testicles; wearing a cuirass-like covering; cloven-hoofed, and possessing udders.

Word by Word

• करालः: with gaping/terrible mouth; grim
• करालः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कराल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• हीनदन्तः: toothless
• हीनदन्तः: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक) + दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive-determinative): ‘दन्तैः हीनः’ (devoid of teeth)

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

• शृङ्गी: horned
• शृङ्गी: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शृङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective)

• विरलदन्तकः: having sparse teeth
• विरलदन्तकः: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरल (प्रातिपदिक) + दन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘विरलाः दन्तकाः यस्य/विरलदन्तकः’ (having sparse teeth)

• एकाण्डः: having one testicle/one egg
• एकाण्डः: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: ‘एकम् अण्डम् (one testicle/egg)’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• जाताण्डः: with developed testicles/egg
• जाताण्डः: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जात (कृदन्त; √जन् धातु) + अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘जातम् अण्डम् यस्य/जाताण्डः’ (with developed/formed testicles/egg)

• कञ्चुकी: wearing a covering/armour; sheathed
• कञ्चुकी: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कञ्चुकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive): ‘कञ्चुकः अस्ति यस्य’

• द्विखुरी: cloven-hoofed
• द्विखुरी: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक) + खुरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु: ‘द्वौ खुरौ यस्य’ (two-hoofed/cloven-hoofed)

• स्तनी: having udders/breasts
• स्तनी: Viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तनिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive): ‘स्तनौ यस्य’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Fearsome forms in Yama’s domain function as moral deterrents, implying karmic accountability after death.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and the inevitability of death’s jurisdiction (mṛtyu-dharma) over embodied beings.

Application: Use the imagery as a reminder to avoid pāpa and cultivate sattvic conduct and remembrance of dharma.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of Yamadūtas and their terrifying forms (general parallel); Garuda Purana: naraka/afterlife catalogues where frightful messengers appear (general parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of describing frightening forms in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses vivid, fear-inducing physical traits to portray Yama’s attendants or beings of the after-death realm, emphasizing the seriousness of karma and the dread associated with sinful conduct.

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

By depicting the terrifying appearance of afterlife beings, the text signals that the post-death journey is not merely symbolic; it is an ordered realm where the soul may encounter formidable agents of Yama according to its deeds.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a moral reminder: cultivate dharma, truthfulness, and restraint, and perform appropriate rites for the departed, so fear and anxiety around death are reduced through ethical living and proper observance.