Shloka 78

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

तत्र स्थित्वा लोकमार्गं प्रतीक्षन्ते न संशयः / साधकैर्विष्णुकार्याणां वायुदासैः प्रपीडिताः

Transliteration

tatra sthitvā lokamārgaṃ pratīkṣante na saṃśayaḥ / sādhakairviṣṇukāryāṇāṃ vāyudāsaiḥ prapīḍitāḥ

Translation

Là, ils demeurent et attendent la voie vers l’autre monde—sans aucun doute—tourmentés par ceux qui exécutent les ordonnances de Viṣṇu, les serviteurs du Vent, Vāyu.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• स्थित्वा: having stayed
• स्थित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive) — ‘having stayed/standing’

• लोक-मार्गम्: the world-path
• लोक-मार्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘path of the world’

• प्रतीक्षन्ते: wait for, await
• प्रतीक्षन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Bhava (भाव/idiomatic predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वाक्ये ‘no doubt’ इति भावे

• साधकैः: by practitioners/agents
• साधकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण/सहकारि-निर्देश (by/with)

• विष्णु-कार्याणाम्: of Vishnu’s works
• विष्णु-कार्याणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘of Vishnu’s tasks/works’

• वायु-दासैः: by Vāyu’s servants
• वायु-दासैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक) + दास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; करण; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘by servants of Vāyu’

• प्रपीडिताः: oppressed
• प्रपीडिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-पीड् (धातु) → प्रपीडित (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) — ‘oppressed/tormented’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Post-mortem transit is governed by ordinance; beings undergo coercive consequences while awaiting the next stage.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-niyati and the jīva’s dependence under īśvara-śāsana; the subtle journey proceeds by adṛṣṭa.

Application: Live with ethical restraint and devotional alignment to avoid harsh post-mortem enforcement; cultivate remembrance of Viṣṇu and truthful conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: threshold/waystation

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of yamadūtas/vāyudūtas and intermediate holding phases before naraka allocation; Garuda Purana: karma-based gradation (tāratamya) in afterlife experiences

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vayu

FAQs

What is the importance of the 'lokamārga' (path to the next world) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights an intermediate stage where beings must wait for the onward route to the next realm, emphasizing that post-death transition is governed by cosmic order and not immediate or random.

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

It depicts souls remaining in a specific state/location, awaiting passage onward, while being pressured or tormented by appointed agents—showing that the journey is supervised by divine administration (viṣṇu-kārya).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with restraint and dharma: the text frames after-death experience as consequence-bound and orderly, encouraging ethical conduct and mindful performance of duties and rites for the departed.