Shloka 85

Devanagari script

अध्वान्तरालिको ज्ञेयो यममानुषलोकयोः / साधिकार्धक्रोशयुतं योजनानां शतद्वयम्

Transliteration

adhvāntarāliko jñeyo yamamānuṣalokayoḥ / sādhikārdhakrośayutaṃ yojanānāṃ śatadvayam

Translation

Know that the intervening distance on the road between Yama’s world and the human world is two hundred yojanas, together with an additional half-krośa.

Word by Word

• अध्व: of the road/journey
• अध्व: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (masculine, genitive, singular)

• अन्तरालिकः: intermediate, in-between
• अन्तरालिकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तरालिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masculine, nominative, singular)

• ज्ञेयः: should be known
• ज्ञेयः: Vidhi (Injunction/विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: भाव्य/विधेय कृदन्त (यत्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (gerundive: 'to be known', masculine, nominative, singular)

• यम: of Yama
• यम: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (masculine, genitive, singular)

• मानुष: human
• मानुष: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (neuter used as qualifier of loka; genitive, singular)

• लोकयोः: of the two worlds
• लोकयोः: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचन (masculine, genitive, dual)

• स: with
• स: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश-पूर्वपद (prefix-like: 'with')

• अधिक: additional
• अधिक: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative, singular)

• अर्ध: half
• अर्ध: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative, singular)

• क्रोश: of a krośa
• क्रोश: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (masculine, genitive, singular)

• युतम्: joined with, accompanied by
• युतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (past passive participle: 'joined with', neuter)

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

• शत: hundred
• शत: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative, singular)

• द्वयम्: a pair, twofold (i.e., two hundred)
• द्वयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative, singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The post-death journey is not vague but described as a definite passage with measurable distance.

Vedantic Theme: Didactic cosmology: making the unseen ‘seen’ through measure to prompt ethical seriousness.

Application: Reflect on mortality and the certainty of transition; prioritize dharma and remembrance practices now.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: intervening route (adhvāntara)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: distance-and-time calculations around 2.5.84–86; Garuda Purana: other mentions of yojana/krośa measures in loka descriptions

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Manushya-loka (human world)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing distance to Yama-loka in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the soul’s post-death passage as an ordered, measurable journey, emphasizing that the afterlife path is governed by cosmic law rather than randomness.

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

By specifying the interval between the human realm and Yama’s realm, it situates the preta’s journey within a defined route, supporting the broader narrative that the departed moves through regulated stages toward judgment and consequence.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages seriousness about karma and timely observance of death rites (e.g., śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna), treating the post-death transition as a real responsibility for both the departed and the family.