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Shloka 60

Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna

Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings

Devanagari script

बद्धः संमूढहृदयो देहमिच्छन्कृतानुगः / श्मशानं चत्वरं गेहं वीक्षन्याम्यैः स नीयते

Transliteration

baddhaḥ saṃmūḍhahṛdayo dehamicchankṛtānugaḥ / śmaśānaṃ catvaraṃ gehaṃ vīkṣanyāmyaiḥ sa nīyate

Translation

Solidement lié, le cœur égaré, désirant encore le corps et poussé par ses propres actes, il est mené par les serviteurs de Yama—tout en regardant en arrière le lieu de crémation, le carrefour et sa maison.

Word by Word
बद्धःbound
बद्धः:
Karta (Subject qualifier)
TypeVerb
Rootबन्ध् (धातु)
Formक्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्रेतस्य विशेषणम्
संमूढहृदयःone whose heart is deluded
संमूढहृदयः:
Karta (Subject qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootसंमूढ + हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (संमूढं हृदयं यस्य)
देहम्the body
देहम्:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootदेह (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
इच्छन्desiring
इच्छन्:
Karta (Subject qualifier)
TypeVerb
Rootइष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
Formशतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्रेतस्य विशेषणम्
कृतानुगःfollowing (the results of) his deeds
कृतानुगः:
Karta (Subject qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootकृत + अनुग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कृतस्य अनुगः = following one’s deeds)
श्मशानम्cremation ground
श्मशानम्:
Karma (Object of seeing)
TypeNoun
Rootश्मशान (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
चत्वरम्crossroads/open square
चत्वरम्:
Karma (Object of seeing)
TypeNoun
Rootचत्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
गेहम्house
गेहम्:
Karma (Object of seeing)
TypeNoun
Rootगेह (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
वीक्षन्seeing/looking at
वीक्षन्:
Karta (Subject qualifier)
TypeVerb
Rootवीक्ष् (धातु)
Formशतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्रेतस्य विशेषणम्
याम्यैःby Yama’s messengers
याम्यैः:
Karana/Agent (Instrumental agent)
TypeNoun
Rootयाम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; यमसम्बद्ध-दूताः (agents of Yama)
सःhe
सः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
नीयतेis led away
नीयते:
Kriya (Predicate)
TypeVerb
Rootनी (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive: is led)
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karma-driven compulsion: the jīva, attached to the body, is bound and led by Yama’s servants; deeds propel the post-mortem journey.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra’s bondage through dehābhimāna (body-identification) and karma; inevitability of karmic adjudication when ignorance persists.

Application: Cultivate detachment and dharmic living now; prepare for death through right conduct and remembrance so the transition is less bewildering.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: liminal route markers

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Yamadūta leading the soul; journey descriptions and karmic adjudication sequences; Garuda Purana 2.15.57–59 (rites affecting preta’s condition)

Characters & Entities
Y
Yama
Y
Yamadutas

FAQs

The verse states that the departed is “kṛtānugaḥ”—moved along by his own actions—showing that karma becomes the driving force that carries the soul onward after death, even when the mind still clings to the body.

It depicts the preta being restrained and escorted by Yama’s messengers while he looks back at familiar places—home, crossroads, and the cremation-ground—highlighting confusion, attachment, and the compelled transition into Yama’s jurisdiction.

Cultivate detachment and righteous conduct: since deeds follow the soul, living ethically and preparing the mind for impermanence reduces fear and confusion at death, and supports proper observance of death rites for the departed.

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