Shloka 84

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

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

तत्प्रमाणवयो ऽवस्थासंस्थानां प्रग्भवो यथा / षडशीति सहस्राणि योजनानां प्रमाणतः

Transliteration

tatpramāṇavayo 'vasthāsaṃsthānāṃ pragbhavo yathā / ṣaḍaśīti sahasrāṇi yojanānāṃ pramāṇataḥ

Translation

In the same way, the measures, ages, conditions, and forms of that realm are to be understood as they arise in due order; its extent, by measure, is said to be eighty-six thousand yojanas.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (pronoun used adjectivally, neuter, nominative/accusative, singular)

• प्रमाण: measure, extent
• प्रमाण: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative, singular)

• वयः: age
• वयः: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative, singular)

• अवस्था: of the states/conditions
• अवस्था: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (feminine, genitive, plural)

• संस्थानाम्: of the forms/structures
• संस्थानाम्: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संस्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (neuter, genitive, plural)

• प्राक्: before, previously
• प्राक्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्राक् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'before/previously')

• भवः: arising, coming into being
• भवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine, nominative, singular)

• यथा: as, according to
• यथा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (indeclinable: 'as, according to')

• षट्: six
• षट्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; (numeral 'six', used in compound with aśīti)

• अशीति: eighty
• अशीति: Visheshya (Head/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशीति (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (numeral noun 'eighty', feminine, nominative, singular)

• सहस्राणि: thousands
• सहस्राणि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative, plural)

• योजनानाम्: of yojanas
• योजनानाम्: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (neuter, genitive, plural)

• प्रमाणतः: by measure, in extent
• प्रमाणतः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रमाणतः (अव्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (ablatival adverb: 'according to measure')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Otherworldly realms have ordered measures, stages, and forms; the journey is structured and extensive.

Vedantic Theme: Vyavahāra-level cosmology as a pedagogic aid; recognition of saṃsāra’s vast circuitry prompting dispassion.

Application: Use the sense of scale and order to cultivate seriousness about conduct and to prioritize spiritual practice over triviality.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic region/extent

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: sequential staging of the journey and realm-measures in nearby verses; Garuda Purana: cosmographic yojana measures appear in other adhyāyas describing lokas and paths

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of stating distances (yojanas) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the after-death realm in concrete, measurable terms, emphasizing that the soul’s post-mortem journey and the described regions are structured, ordered, and vast rather than vague or purely symbolic.

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

By highlighting ordered “measures, states, and forms,” it supports the narrative that the preta’s journey proceeds through defined phases and regions—each with its own condition—within a vast cosmic geography.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat death-rites and ethical living seriously: the text’s ordered, measurable depiction encourages disciplined dharma and timely śrāddha/ritual support, rather than negligence about post-death responsibilities.