Shloka 17

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

दुरात्मानश्च ताड्यन्ते किङ्करैः पाशबन्धनैः / सुखेन कृतिनस्तत्र नीयन्ते नाकनायकैः

Transliteration

durātmānaśca tāḍyante kiṅkaraiḥ pāśabandhanaiḥ / sukhena kṛtinastatra nīyante nākanāyakaiḥ

Translation

The wicked are beaten by Yama’s attendants and bound with nooses; but the righteous, rich in merit, are led onward there with ease by the leaders of heaven.

Word by Word

• दुरात्मानः: evil-souled persons
• दुरात्मानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुरात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (दुरः आत्मा यस्य)

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

• ताड्यन्ते: are beaten
• ताड्यन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ताड् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

• किङ्करैः: by attendants, servants
• किङ्करैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• पाशबन्धनैः: with rope-bindings, nooses
• पाशबन्धनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश + बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पाशस्य बन्धनम्)

• सुखेन: easily, with ease
• सुखेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत्

• कृतिनः: the meritorious, virtuous
• कृतिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• नीयन्ते: are led, are taken
• नीयन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

• नाकनायकैः: by the leaders of heaven (celestial guides)
• नाकनायकैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाक + नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नाकस्य नायकः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma yields ease and honorable guidance; adharma yields bondage and beating—visible differentiation of karmic deserts.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyati (lawful fruition) operating through cosmic administration; ethical life as alignment with ṛta/dharma.

Application: Choose non-harm, truthfulness, charity, and devotion; treat life as preparation for the post-mortem audit where conduct determines the mode of passage.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: road/path

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Yamadūtas binding with pāśa; descriptions of righteous being escorted comfortably; Garuda Purana: contrasts of pāpin/kṛtin in yamamārga narratives

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Yama-dutas (kinkaras)
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of Yama’s attendants (kinkaras) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse contrasts outcomes: Yama’s attendants bind and punish the wicked with pāśa (noose), showing how sinful karma manifests as coercive suffering after death.

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

It depicts two trajectories—wrongdoers are forcibly dragged and beaten, while the virtuous are smoothly escorted by heavenly guides—emphasizing that the after-death journey follows one’s dharma and karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live ethically (truthfulness, non-harm, self-control, charity) so that one’s karmic momentum is “easy and guided,” rather than fear-driven and punitive.