Shloka 92

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

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

प्रयातिः दारुणे मार्गे पापकर्मा यमालये / कलेवरे दह्यमाने महान्तं क्षयमृच्छति

Transliteration

prayātiḥ dāruṇe mārge pāpakarmā yamālaye / kalevare dahyamāne mahāntaṃ kṣayamṛcchati

Translation

The doer of sinful deeds departs along a dreadful road toward Yama’s abode; and as the body is being burned, he falls into great ruin and suffering.

Word by Word

• प्रयातिः: departure; going forth
• प्रयातिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• दारुणे: in the dreadful
• दारुणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• मार्गे: on the path
• मार्गे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• पापकर्मा: a sinner; one of sinful deeds
• पापकर्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थे (one whose deeds are sinful)

• यमालये: in Yama’s abode
• यमालये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक) + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Yama's abode)

• कलेवरे: in the body
• कलेवरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलेवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• दह्यमाने: while being burned
• दह्यमाने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-काले (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोगे, शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present passive participle); सप्तमी एकवचन नपुंसकलिङ्गे (agreeing with कलेवरे)

• महान्तम्: great
• महान्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of क्षयम्)

• क्षयम्: destruction; loss
• क्षयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• ऋच्छति: attains; reaches
• ऋच्छति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ऋ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pāpa-karman leads to a dreadful post-death journey and severe suffering; the funeral burning marks the severing from the gross body while karmic consequences continue.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and the jīva’s continuity beyond the body; deha is perishable, but saṃskāra/karma persists.

Application: Avoid harmful actions; cultivate restraint and repentance; support dharmic living and remembrance of Hari to reduce fear at death.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: city/abode

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of the yamamārga and Yama’s city; subsequent listing of sixteen puras (2.5.94–96).

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of Yamālaya (Yama’s abode) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Yamālaya as the destination of the sinful after death, presenting Yama’s realm as the karmic court where one’s deeds lead to corresponding suffering.

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

It portrays a “dreadful path” taken by the sinner toward Yama’s domain, and links the cremation moment (“as the body is being burned”) with intense distress—indicating that the post-death journey is shaped by karma, not merely by physical death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with restraint and ethical discipline—avoid harmful actions—since the text frames sinful conduct as leading to fear, inner ruin, and painful consequences beyond death.