Shloka 6
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and Dāna as the Soul’s True Companion on the Path to Yama
न मे ऽस्ति बन्धुर्यममार्गगामिनो मया न कृत्यं द्विजदेहलिप्सया / सम्प्राप्य विप्रत्वमतीव दुर्लभं नाधीतवान्वेदपुराणसंहिताः / प्राप्तं सुरत्नं करसंस्थितं गतं देहन्क्वचिन्निस्तर यत्त्वया कृतम्
na me 'sti bandhuryamamārgagāmino mayā na kṛtyaṃ dvijadehalipsayā / samprāpya vipratvamatīva durlabhaṃ nādhītavānvedapurāṇasaṃhitāḥ / prāptaṃ suratnaṃ karasaṃsthitaṃ gataṃ dehankvacinnistara yattvayā kṛtam
«Pour moi, qui chemine à présent sur la route de Yama, il n’est point d’ami véritable. Je n’ai pas accompli ce qui devait l’être, avide des aises d’un corps de “deux-fois-né”. Ayant obtenu l’état de brāhmane, si rare entre tous, je n’ai pourtant pas étudié les recueils des Veda et des Purāṇa. Un joyau précieux est venu dans ma main puis a glissé : ce corps s’en est allé je ne sais où ; quelle délivrance as-tu accomplie par lui ?»
Preta (departed soul) expressing remorse on the way to Yama; narrated within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue context
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Concept: Human/brāhmaṇa birth is exceedingly rare and valuable; neglecting Veda-Purāṇa study and prescribed duties out of bodily greed results in spiritual bankruptcy at death.
Vedantic Theme: Durlabha-mānuṣya-janma and the urgency of sādhana; śāstra as pramāṇa; dehābhimāna (body-identification) as bondage.
Application: Treat education and spiritual practice as non-negotiable; schedule daily śāstra-svādhyāya and self-audit to prevent ‘jewel-in-hand’ loss.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: liminal road/route
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated ‘durlabha’ motif of human birth and the necessity of śāstra, dāna, and bhakti before death; Garuda Purana: lamentations of the preta about missed svādhyāya and dāna
FAQs
This verse frames Veda–Purāṇa study as a core use of the rare human/brāhmaṇa life; neglecting it leads to remorse when one reaches Yama’s path, realizing the body was a “precious jewel” wasted.
It depicts the departed as already “going on Yama’s road,” feeling friendless and unprotected—highlighting that worldly supports fall away, and only dharma (fulfilled duties and right knowledge) can function as true aid.
Treat life as a rare opportunity: prioritize daily dharma (ethical conduct, duties), genuine learning (scripture or disciplined self-study), and reduce mere pleasure-seeking so that one meets death without regret.