Shloka 20

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

प्रलयाम्बुदनिर्घोषस्त्वञ्जनाद्रिसमप्रभः / महिषस्थो दुराराध्यो विद्युत्तेजः समद्युतिः

Transliteration

pralayāmbudanirghoṣastvañjanādrisamaprabhaḥ / mahiṣastho durārādhyo vidyuttejaḥ samadyutiḥ

Translation

He roars like the clouds at the time of cosmic dissolution, shines like the dark Anjana mountain, rides upon a buffalo, is difficult to appease, and blazes with lightning-like energy and equal radiance.

Word by Word

• प्रलयाम्बुदनिर्घोषः: having a roar like the clouds at dissolution
• प्रलयाम्बुदनिर्घोषः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रलय + अम्बुद + निर्घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (प्रलय-अम्बुदस्य निर्घोष इव/सदृशः)

• तु: indeed, but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारण-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• अञ्जनाद्रिसमप्रभः: having luster like the Anjana mountain (dark/collyrium-like)
• अञ्जनाद्रिसमप्रभः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अञ्जन + अद्रि + सम + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (अञ्जन-अद्रिणा समा प्रभा यस्य)

• महिषस्थः: mounted on a buffalo
• महिषस्थः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महिष + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (महिषे स्थितः)

• दुराराध्यः: hard to propitiate
• दुराराध्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् + आराध्य (आ-राध् धातु → यत्/ण्यत् कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्/दुर्-पूर्वक उपपद-तत्पुरुष; आराध्य = 'to be propitiated'

• विद्युत्तेजः: lightning-like radiance
• विद्युत्तेजः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्युत् + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (विद्युदिव तेजः)

• समद्युतिः: of equal/similar splendor
• समद्युतिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम + द्युति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (समाना द्युतिः यस्य)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vainateya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yama’s formidable, hard-to-appease nature underscores the inevitability and seriousness of dharma’s enforcement; one should not presume escape from consequences.

Vedantic Theme: Cosmic order (dharma/ṛta) as irresistible; pralaya imagery points to impermanence and the supremacy of time/death over embodied pride.

Application: Live with humility and restraint; do not postpone repentance; cultivate steady dharma and remembrance of the divine to face death without panic.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: threshold/approach to court (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: iconography of Yama—mahīṣa-vāhana, terrifying brilliance, thunderous voice; Garuda Purana: descriptions of Yamadūtas and Yama’s court emphasizing dread and authority

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of Yama’s buffalo mount (mahisha) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Yama’s awe-inspiring authority: the buffalo mount and thunderous, lightning-like form symbolize irresistible judgment and the fear that grips the sinful soul on the post-death path.

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

By describing a terrifying, hard-to-appease figure associated with Yama, the verse conveys the psychological and karmic pressure experienced by the departing soul when confronted with the consequences of its actions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with restraint and dharma—truthfulness, non-harm, and responsibility—so that the mind is not overwhelmed by fear and guilt when facing accountability for one’s karma.