Shloka 33

Devanagari script

अवीचिरन्धता मिस्त्रः कुम्भोपाकस्तथैव च / असिपत्रवनं चैव पतनश्चैकविंशतिः

Transliteration

avīcirandhatā mistraḥ kumbhopākastathaiva ca / asipatravanaṃ caiva patanaścaikaviṃśatiḥ

Translation

Also (there are the hells named) Avīci, Andhatāmisra, Kumbhīpāka, and Asipatravana; and Patana—these make up the twenty-first in the enumeration.

Word by Word

• अवीचिः: (hell named) Avīci
• अवीचिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवीचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular feminine

• रन्धता: (hell named) Randhatā
• रन्धता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रन्धता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular feminine

• मिस्त्रः: (hell named) Mistra
• मिस्त्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular masculine

• कुम्भोपाकः: (hell named) Kumbhopāka
• कुम्भोपाकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भ + उपाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular masculine

• तथा: thus/also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

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

• असिपत्रवनम्: (hell named) forest of sword-leaves
• असिपत्रवनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि + पत्र + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular neuter

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

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• पतनः: (hell named) Patana
• पतनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular masculine

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

• एकविंशतिः: twenty-one (in number)
• एकविंशतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकविंशति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular feminine; संख्यावाचक (numeral)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Multiplicity of narakas implies specificity of karmic retribution; moral law is differentiated.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāric suffering as didactic; discrimination (viveka) between dharma and adharma.

Application: Reflect on the ‘named consequences’ before acting; adopt prāyaścitta, charity, and devotion to counter papa tendencies.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: naraka-regions

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: continued naraka enumeration in 2.18.32–36

Characters & Entities

• Naraka
• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of listing Narakas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a formal enumeration of specific hell-realms (Narakas), reinforcing the doctrine that karmic actions yield precise consequences within Yama’s jurisdiction.

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

By naming multiple Narakas, it implies that after judgment in Yama’s realm, the jīva may be directed to particular realms of suffering corresponding to its deeds, rather than facing a single undifferentiated punishment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder for ethical restraint and dharmic living—avoiding harmful actions—while supporting traditional śrāddha and remembrance practices that cultivate responsibility and compassion.