Shloka 138
Multi-form Manifestations, Indra–Kāma Incarnations, Pravāha, and the Twofold Buddhi
Sense-Discipline and Exclusive Refuge in Viṣṇu
तद्भक्तवर्यैः शूर्पमध्ये च तीरे संसेवयित्वा विद्यमानो गृहेस्वे / यदा तदा यमदूतैश्च बद्ध्वा संताड्यमानो यममार्गे महद्भिः
tadbhaktavaryaiḥ śūrpamadhye ca tīre saṃsevayitvā vidyamāno gṛhesve / yadā tadā yamadūtaiśca baddhvā saṃtāḍyamāno yamamārge mahadbhiḥ
ಶೂರ್ಪದ ಮಧ್ಯದಲ್ಲೂ ನದಿತೀರದಲ್ಲೂ ಆ ಅಧಮ ಭಕ್ತರ (ಕುಮಾರ್ಗಿಗಳ) ಸಂಗತಿಯನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡು, ಸ್ವಗೃಹದಲ್ಲೇ ಇದ್ದರೂ—ಒಂದು ವೇಳೆ—ಯಮದೂತರು ಅವನನ್ನು ಕಟ್ಟಿಹಾಕಿ ಯಮಮಾರ್ಗದ ಮಹಾಪಥದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾರಿಯಾಗಿ ಹೊಡೆದು ಕರೆದೊಯ್ಯುತ್ತಾರೆ।
Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Concept: Association (saṅga) with depraved or adharmic groups ripens into painful karmic consequences; one’s social and moral environment shapes destiny after death.
Vedantic Theme: Saṅga as bondage; tamasic association strengthens vāsanās leading to suffering.
Application: Choose uplifting company; avoid environments that normalize cruelty, addiction, or exploitation; cultivate satsanga and disciplined habits.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Type: riverbank/liminal public space; then the great road
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: binding and beating by Yamadūtas on Yama-mārga (general); Garuda Purana: saṅga-doṣa warnings (general)
FAQs
This verse warns that keeping company with depraved, impure influences becomes a karmic cause for post-death restraint and suffering, showing that social and moral choices shape one’s afterlife trajectory.
It depicts the transition as compulsory for the wrongdoer: Yama’s messengers bind the person and drive him, with harsh punishment, along the great road leading to Yama’s realm.
Choose uplifting company, avoid degrading habits and environments, and practice ethical restraint—because everyday associations are treated as spiritually consequential in karmic accounting.