Shloka 20

Devanagari script

इतरः पादचारेण त्वसिपत्रवनानि च / पाषाणैः कण्टकैः क्लिष्टः पाशबद्धो ऽथ याति वै

Transliteration

itaraḥ pādacāreṇa tvasipatravanāni ca / pāṣāṇaiḥ kaṇṭakaiḥ kliṣṭaḥ pāśabaddho 'tha yāti vai

Translation

Another (soul) goes on foot, and indeed through the forests of sword-like leaves. Tormented by stones and thorns, and bound in a noose, he then proceeds onward.

Word by Word

• इतरः: the other (one)
• इतरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (masc., nominative sg., adjective)

• पादचारेण: by going on foot
• पादचारेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + चार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (pādaiḥ cāraḥ) (instr. sg.)

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrastive particle)

• असिपत्रवनानि: forests of sword-leaves
• असिपत्रवनानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (asipatrāṇi vanāni) (acc. pl.)

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

• पाषाणैः: with stones
• पाषाणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाषाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन (instr. pl.)

• कण्टकैः: with thorns
• कण्टकैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन (instr. pl.)

• क्लिष्टः: afflicted; tormented
• क्लिष्टः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्लिश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (past passive participle; masc. nom. sg.)

• पाशबद्धः: bound by a noose
• पाशबद्धः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक) + बद्ध (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (pāśena baddhaḥ) (masc. nom. sg.)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (sequencing adverb/particle)

• याति: goes
• याति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (present, 3rd sg.)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sinful action results in painful post-mortem passage; the soul is compelled and restrained (pāśa-baddha) by the mechanics of karma and Yama’s order.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as binding force (bandha) producing embodied-like suffering in subtle states; impetus toward vairāgya and dharma.

Application: Avoid cruelty and adharma; adopt restraint, confession, and corrective conduct (prāyaścitta) to prevent papa-accumulation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: forest

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Preta-kalpa: descriptions of narakas and the Yamadūta-led journey; Asipatravana motif recurring in hell-topography passages

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of Asipatravana in the Garuda Purana?

Asipatravana is presented as a frightening region on the post-death route, symbolizing karmic suffering where the departed is forced to pass through sharp, weapon-like vegetation as a consequence of wrongdoing.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It depicts the departed being driven onward on foot, restrained by a noose and pained by harsh terrain (stones and thorns), emphasizing that the journey to Yama’s realm is not merely symbolic but morally conditioned by karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with restraint and ethical discipline (dharma) so that one’s karmic burden is reduced; the verse functions as a warning that harmful actions lead to suffering beyond death as well.