Shloka 80
Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna
Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings
गृहीतो यमपाशैश्च हाहेति रुदिते तु सः / स्वगृहं तु परित्यज्य याम्यं पुरमनुव्रजेत्
gṛhīto yamapāśaiśca hāheti rudite tu saḥ / svagṛhaṃ tu parityajya yāmyaṃ puramanuvrajet
Seized by Yama’s nooses, he cries out “Alas!”; abandoning his own home, he is then led along to Yama’s city.
Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Concept: No one retains worldly attachments at death; the jīva is drawn by karmic bonds (pāśa) into the domain of judgment.
Vedantic Theme: Vairāgya lesson: gṛha-āśraya is transient; karma and dharma, not possessions, accompany the jīva.
Application: Practice detachment and prepare ethically/spiritually for death; prioritize dharma, remembrance of Hari, and completion of duties.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: city/gate of judgment
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: yamapāśa, yamadūtas, and entry into Yama’s city for judgment; Garuda Purana: dialogues describing the soul’s lament and separation from household ties
FAQs
In this verse, the yamapāśa signifies the inescapable restraint of death’s law: the departed is compelled to leave worldly attachments and is taken under Yama’s jurisdiction for post-death accounting.
It portrays the immediate break from the household identity—“abandoning his home”—followed by being led toward Yama’s city, indicating a transition from earthly life to the after-death realm where deeds are evaluated.
Remembering that one must leave home and possessions at death encourages ethical living, restraint from harmful actions, and timely performance of dharmic duties and family death rites without excessive attachment.