Shloka 118

Āśauca, Daśāha Piṇḍa-Rites, Vṛṣotsarga, Sāpiṇḍīkaraṇa, and the Yama-mārga

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

व्रजन्नेवं विलपते शूलाग्रेण विदारितः

Transliteration

vrajannevaṃ vilapate śūlāgreṇa vidāritaḥ

Translation

As he goes on, he laments in this manner—his body torn open upon the sharp point of a spear.

Word by Word

• vrajan: going
• vrajan: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vraj (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present active participle); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• vilapate: laments
• vilapate: Kriya (Predicate action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-lap (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्

• śūlāgreṇa: by the tip of a spear
• śūlāgreṇa: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla-agra (प्रातिपदिक; śūla=शूल + agra=अग्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• vidāritaḥ: torn/pierced
• vidāritaḥ: Karta (Subject state)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-dṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The subtle body experiences karmically-shaped torments; suffering accompanies the journey as consequence and purification.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala experienced through a yātanā-śarīra (torment-body); saṃsāric continuity beyond physical death.

Application: Cultivate restraint and ethical living to reduce papa; perform expiations and devotional acts while alive; support the departed with rites to mitigate distress.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: road/track of the southern journey

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: yātanā-śarīra descriptions; weapon-like afflictions on the path; lamentations of the preta

Characters & Entities

• Preta
• Yama (context: journey to Yama’s realm)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing such torments in the Garuda Purana?

It functions as a moral warning: the text portrays post-death suffering as the karmic consequence of harmful actions, urging restraint, charity, and dharma while alive.

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

It depicts the preta’s onward journey as marked by intense pain and lamentation, emphasizing that the post-death passage can become tormenting when shaped by one’s karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with non-violence and integrity, reduce harm to others, and support dharmic rites and charity—so the mind is lighter and the karmic burden less severe.