Shloka 131

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

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

प्रयाणे च प्रवदते मुसलाघातपीडितः / क्व जायाचटुलैश्चाटुपटुभिर्वचनैर्मम

Transliteration

prayāṇe ca pravadate musalāghātapīḍitaḥ / kva jāyācaṭulaiścāṭupaṭubhirvacanairmama

Translation

Even at the time of departure, tormented as though struck by a club, he cries out: “Where is my wife—so fickle—who once spoke to me with clever, flattering words?”

Word by Word

• प्रयाणे: at the time of departure
• प्रयाणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

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

• प्रवदते: speaks/utters
• प्रवदते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• मुसल-आघात-पीडितः: afflicted by blows of a club
• मुसल-आघात-पीडितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुसल (प्रातिपदिक) + आघात (प्रातिपदिक) + पीडित (पीड् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: मुसलेन आघातः (blow with a pestle/club) तेन पीडितः (afflicted)

• क्व: where?
• क्व: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• जाया: wife
• जाया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• चटुलैः: playful/flirtatious
• चटुलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चटुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of वचनैः)

• चाटु-पटुभिः: coaxing and clever
• चाटु-पटुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चाटु (प्रातिपदिक) + पटु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व: चाटु च पटु च (coaxing and clever) विशेषण (of वचनैः)

• वचनैः: with words
• वचनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, describing the dying person’s deluded attachment)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: At death and after, the mind may cling to saṃsāric attachments; such moha intensifies suffering and distracts from higher refuge.

Vedantic Theme: Vairāgya as prerequisite for peace; vāsanā-driven identification persists until knowledge/devotion purifies the mind.

Application: Cultivate non-attachment and truthful relationships; practice remembrance of the divine and ethical clarity so the mind does not collapse into craving at life’s end.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: road of the preta under escort

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of the preta’s lamentations and recollection of family; teachings on moha and bondage to relations

Characters & Entities

• Jaya (wife)

FAQs

What is the importance of attachment at the time of death in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that strong worldly attachment resurfaces at death, making the mind cling to relationships and comforts instead of steady remembrance of dharma and the soul’s true journey.

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

By showing the dying person’s confused crying and dependence on worldly ties, it implies that the soul’s transition is painful and mentally turbulent when dominated by attachment, which then shapes the post-death (preta) experience.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate detachment and truthful relationships now—reduce dependence on flattery and emotional clinging—so that the mind is steadier at life’s end and aligned with dharma, prayer, and remembrance.