Shloka 32

Yama-mārga (Adhvan) and the Courts of Yama: Vaivasvatī and Chitragupta

Devanagari script

अतिसारश्च नैरृत्यां वायव्यां दाहसंज्ञकः / एभिः परिवृतो नित्यं चित्रगुप्तः स तिष्ठति

Transliteration

atisāraśca nairṛtyāṃ vāyavyāṃ dāhasaṃjñakaḥ / ebhiḥ parivṛto nityaṃ citraguptaḥ sa tiṣṭhati

Translation

En el suroeste está Atisāra (la diarrea violenta), y en el noroeste se halla el llamado Dāha (el ardor). Rodeado siempre por éstos, Chitragupta permanece allí, en el reino de Yama, velando el registro de las acciones.

Word by Word

• atisāraḥ: diarrhea (atisāra)
• atisāraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atisāra (अतिसार प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• nairṛtyām: in the south-west
• nairṛtyām: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nairṛtī (नैरृती/नैरृत्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; दिशावाचक (in the south-west)

• vāyavyām: in the north-west
• vāyavyām: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyavī (वायवी/वायव्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; दिशावाचक (in the north-west)

• dāha-saṃjñakaḥ: named ‘dāha’ (burning)
• dāha-saṃjñakaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dāha (दाह प्रातिपदिक) + saṃjñaka (संज्ञक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (दाह-संज्ञकः = दाह इति संज्ञा यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण/संज्ञा-निर्देश

• ebhiḥ: by/with these
• ebhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंस, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण (by/with these)

• parivṛtaḥ: surrounded
• parivṛtaḥ: Kriya (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-√vṛ (परि + वृ धातु) → parivṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (surrounded)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (नित्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभूतम् (adverbial accusative: always)

• citraguptaḥ: Citragupta
• citraguptaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citragupta (चित्रगुप्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• tiṣṭhati: stands/remains
• tiṣṭhati: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (स्था धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Citragupta stands ever surrounded by afflictions (atisāra, dāha, etc.), underscoring constant vigilance and the ever-present fruition of karma in Yama’s realm.

Vedantic Theme: Karmic administration is continuous (nityaṃ); dharma operates without interruption, reinforcing moral causality.

Application: Sustain ethical vigilance consistently, not intermittently; recognize that consequences can ‘surround’ life when discipline lapses.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: directional quarters surrounding a central station

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.33.29–32: the ring of afflictions around Citragupta; this verse concludes the catalog and returns focus to Citragupta’s stationing

Characters & Entities

• Citragupta
• Atisara
• Daha

FAQs

What is the importance of Citragupta in the Garuda Purana?

This verse places Citragupta as a constant presence in Yama’s realm, emphasizing his function as the ever-vigilant recorder and verifier of beings’ actions (karma) for judgment.

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

By situating Citragupta among named directional forces/attendants (Atisāra and Dāha), the verse highlights that the post-death journey culminates in an ordered system of scrutiny where deeds are assessed before consequences are assigned.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with accountability: treat actions as permanently “on record.” Ethical conduct, truthfulness, and restraint are presented as the safest preparation for the inevitable review of one’s deeds.