Shloka 19

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

पुण्यकर्मरतान्सम्यक् शुभान्मित्रवदाचरेत् / आहूय पापिनः सर्वान्यमो दण्डेन रज्जयेत्

Transliteration

puṇyakarmaratānsamyak śubhānmitravadācaret / āhūya pāpinaḥ sarvānyamo daṇḍena rajjayet

Translation

Yama treats those devoted to meritorious deeds—the virtuous—properly, like friends. But summoning all sinners, Yama subdues and disciplines them with punishment.

Word by Word

• पुण्यकर्मरतान्: those devoted to meritorious deeds
• पुण्यकर्मरतान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य + कर्म + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पुण्यकर्मणि रताः)

• सम्यक्: properly, well
• सम्यक्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• शुभान्: good, auspicious
• शुभान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (पुण्यकर्मरतान्)

• मित्रवत्: like a friend
• मित्रवत्: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मित्रवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: तुल्योपमा-अव्यय (adverbial -vat)

• आचरेत्: should treat, should behave toward
• आचरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आहूय: having summoned
• आहूय: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-ह्वे (धातु) → आहूय (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• पापिनः: sinners
• पापिनः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (पापिनः)

• यमः: Yama
• यमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दण्डेन: with a staff, by punishment
• दण्डेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• रज्जयेत्: should torment/afflict
• रज्जयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रञ्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense possible in context (to cause to be pained/afflicted)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma is met with friendship and propriety; adharma is met with danda (punitive correction).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as an expression of Īśvara’s order; karma-phala is not arbitrary but proportionate and pedagogic.

Application: Adopt puṇya-oriented conduct (charity, truth, non-violence, devotion); accept consequences as corrective feedback and reform behavior.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: court/assembly (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Yama’s differential treatment of puṇyavān vs pāpin; danda as enforcement; Garuda Purana: narratives of judgment and assignment to narakas/svargas based on deeds

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of Yama’s judgment in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights the core principle that Yama’s realm operates on karma: the virtuous are treated with respect, while sinners are restrained and corrected through punishment.

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

It indicates a post-death moral sorting: those with puṇya (merit) experience favorable treatment, whereas those with pāpa (sin) are summoned for disciplinary consequences under Yama’s authority.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate puṇya through ethical conduct and beneficial actions; avoid harmful deeds that create pāpa, since the text frames consequences as inevitable in Yama’s judgment.