Shloka 27
Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna
Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings
दर्शयन्तो भयं तीव्रं नरकाय पुनः पुनः / शीघ्रं प्रचल दुष्टात्मन् गतो ऽसित्वं यमालये
darśayanto bhayaṃ tīvraṃ narakāya punaḥ punaḥ / śīghraṃ pracala duṣṭātman gato 'sitvaṃ yamālaye
Showing him again and again the fierce terror of hell, they say: “Move quickly, O wicked-souled one; you have now come to Yama’s abode.”
Yama’s attendants (Yamadutas)
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Concept: Repeated vision of naraka is used to awaken recognition of pāpa and the inevitability of karmic consequence.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-niyati: actions mature into experience; fear arises from avidyā-bound deeds and attachment, compelling the jīva into saṃsāric adjudication.
Application: Avoid harmful actions; cultivate restraint and repentance early so that the post-mortem passage is not dominated by terror.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: court/abode
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: repeated ‘darśana’ of narakas as didactic intimidation by Yamadūtas; Garuda Purana: descriptions of Yamālaya and the soul being hurried along the path
FAQs
This verse shows Naraka as a moral deterrent: the sinner is repeatedly confronted with fear of hell as Yama’s messengers drive him toward judgment and punishment.
It depicts the post-death transit where Yamadutas compel the sinful being to proceed swiftly to Yama’s abode, using repeated reminders of Naraka to enforce compliance.
Live with dharma and restraint: avoid harmful actions that create fearful karmic consequences, and cultivate ethical conduct to prevent a “wicked-souled” trajectory described here.