Shloka 5
Yamamārga, Antyeṣṭi-vidhi, and Daśāhika Piṇḍa-dāna
Road to Yama and Ten-Day Offerings
निमित्तमात्रं सर्वेषां कृतकर्मानुसारतः / यस्य यो विहितो मृत्युः स तं ध्रुवमवाप्नुयात्
nimittamātraṃ sarveṣāṃ kṛtakarmānusārataḥ / yasya yo vihito mṛtyuḥ sa taṃ dhruvamavāpnuyāt
എല്ലാ ജീവികൾക്കും ബാഹ്യകാരണങ്ങൾ വെറും നിമിത്തമാത്രം—കൃതകർമ്മാനുസാരം. ഏവർക്കു ഏതു വിധത്തിലുള്ള മരണം വിധിക്കപ്പെട്ടിട്ടുണ്ടോ, അവൻ നിശ്ചയമായി അതേ മരണത്തെ പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു।
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Concept: Nimitta (external triggers) are incidental; the decisive cause is one’s performed karma, which determines the manner of death.
Vedantic Theme: Karma as the unseen determinant (adṛṣṭa) operating through apparent causes; distinction between instrumental cause and deeper causal law.
Application: Live as though outcomes are shaped by character and deeds; reduce harmful actions; cultivate steady spiritual practice and preparedness for death.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: karma-phala determinism in death and afterlife; teachings on inevitability of Yama’s summons and the role of dharma/dāna
FAQs
This verse states that the apparent causes of death are only instruments; the decisive factor is one’s own performed karma, which fixes the destined manner of death.
By asserting that death unfolds according to karma, it frames the post-death journey (preta state and onward consequences) as a lawful continuation of moral causation rather than random accident.
Treat life as ethically consequential: cultivate dharma, reduce harmful actions, and perform sincere repentance and meritorious deeds, since outcomes—including the end of life—are shaped by one’s conduct.