Shloka 2
Viṣṇv-ekapūjya-nirṇaya; Gaṅgā-Viṣṇupadī-māhātmya; Kali-yuga doṣa; Puṣkara-dharma of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa
सज्जनान्सौम्यरूपेण धारणाद्धर्मनामकः / स एव सूर्यपुत्रोभूद्यमसंज्ञामवाप सः / पापिनां शिक्षकत्त्वात्स यम इत्युच्यते बुधैः
sajjanānsaumyarūpeṇa dhāraṇāddharmanāmakaḥ / sa eva sūryaputrobhūdyamasaṃjñāmavāpa saḥ / pāpināṃ śikṣakattvātsa yama ityucyate budhaiḥ
സജ്ജനരെ സൗമ്യരൂപത്തിൽ ധരിച്ചു ധർമ്മം നിലനിർത്തുന്നതിനാൽ അവൻ ‘ധർമ്മൻ’ എന്നു വിളിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. അതേ സൂര്യപുത്രൻ ‘യമ’ എന്ന സംജ്ഞ നേടി; പാപികളെ ശിക്ഷിച്ചു ശാസിക്കുന്നതിനാൽ പണ്ഡിതർ അവനെ ‘യമൻ’ എന്നു പറയുന്നു.
Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Concept: Yama is Dharma’s function: gentle sustenance of the good and corrective instruction of the sinful.
Vedantic Theme: Rta/Dharma as cosmic order; ethical causality under divine governance.
Application: Cultivate dharma (truthfulness, non-harm, self-control) to align with the ‘gentle’ aspect of Dharma and avoid punitive correction.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: realm/court
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Yama as judge and Dharma as regulator (general thematic parallel)
FAQs
This verse explains that Yama is ‘Dharma’ when he upholds and protects the virtuous—his function is not only punishment but maintaining moral order.
By identifying Yama as the moral governor who disciplines sinners, the verse frames the post-death journey as a karma-based process overseen by Yama as judge and instructor.
Live in alignment with dharma: protect truthfulness, restraint, and duty—so the afterlife governance symbolized by Yama is experienced as order and guidance rather than fear.