Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 16

Kapila’s Analysis of Materialistic Life, Death, and the Path to Hell

Kāla, Karma, and Yamadūtas

Devanagari script

वायुनोत्क्रमतोत्तार: कफसंरुद्धनाडिक: । कासश्वासकृतायास: कण्ठे घुरघुरायते ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

vāyunotkramatottāraḥ kapha-saṁruddha-nāḍikaḥ kāsa-śvāsa-kṛtāyāsaḥ kaṇṭhe ghura-ghurāyate

Translation

En esa condición enfermiza, por la presión del aire desde dentro se le saltan los ojos y sus conductos quedan congestionados por la flema. Agotado por la tos y la falta de aliento, en la garganta se oye un ‘ghura-ghura’, un estertor ronco.

Synonyms

• वायुना: by the wind (vital air)
• वायुना: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) विभक्ति, एकवचन — Instrumental singular

• उत्क्रमतः: of (him) departing
• उत्क्रमतः: सम्बन्ध (Genitival relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्-क्रम् (धातु) → उत्क्रमन् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन — Present active participle used as genitive singular (‘of one departing’)

• उत्तारः: the upward heaving/retching
• उत्तारः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन — Nominative singular

• कफ: phlegm
• कफ: सम्बन्ध (Qualifier in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कफ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद) — stem used in compound

• संरुद्ध: blocked/obstructed
• संरुद्ध: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-रुध् (धातु) → संरुद्ध (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle), समासपूर्वपद

• नाडिकः: whose channels are blocked (by phlegm)
• नाडिकः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाडिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन — Nominative singular; समास: कफेन संरुद्धा नाडिका यस्य (तत्पुरुष)

• कास: cough
• कास: सम्बन्ध (Qualifier in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, समासपूर्वपद — stem in compound

• श्वास: breathing (labored breath)
• श्वास: सम्बन्ध (Qualifier in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, समासपूर्वपद — stem in compound

• कृत: caused/made
• कृत: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle), समासमध्यपद

• आयासः: fatigue caused by cough and breathlessness
• आयासः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन — Nominative singular; समास: कास-श्वासाभ्यां कृतः आयासः (तत्पुरुष)

• कण्ठे: in the throat
• कण्ठे: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन — Locative singular

• घुरघुरायते: makes a rattling sound
• घुरघुरायते: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: घुरघुराय् (धातु/नामधातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद — Present indicative, 3rd sg, middle

Characters & Entities

• Kapila
• Devahūti

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the suffering at the time of death?

This verse describes the painful struggle of the life-air to depart—blocked passages, coughing, breathlessness, and a rattling throat—illustrating the misery of embodied life and the urgency of spiritual preparation.

Why is this teaching spoken in Canto 3 Chapter 30 of the Bhagavatam?

In Kapila’s instruction to Devahūti (narrated by Śukadeva), these vivid details expose the harsh results of material attachment and fruitive karma, encouraging renunciation and devotion as the true shelter.

Practical application: how can reflecting on death help bhakti in modern life?

Remembering the body’s helplessness at death can reduce pride and attachment, motivating steady sādhana—hearing, chanting, and serving—so consciousness becomes fixed in the Lord rather than fear and regret.