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Shloka 9

The Preta’s Staged Journey to Yama’s City: Monthly Śrāddha Supports, Vaitaraṇī Crossing, and the Witnesses of Deeds

Devanagari script

यमदूतोदितं वाक्यं पक्षिन्नैवं त्वया श्रुतम् / एवमुक्तस्ततः सर्वैर्हन्यमानः स मुद्गरैः

Transliteration

yamadūtoditaṃ vākyaṃ pakṣinnaivaṃ tvayā śrutam / evamuktastataḥ sarvairhanyamānaḥ sa mudgaraiḥ

Translation

ഹേ പക്ഷീ, യമദൂതന്മാർ ഉച്ചരിച്ച വാക്കുകൾ നീ കേട്ടില്ലയോ? ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞതോടെ അവൻ എല്ലാവരാലും മുദ്ഗരങ്ങളാൽ അടിക്കപ്പെട്ടു.

Word by Word
यमदूत-उदितम्uttered by Yama’s messengers
यमदूत-उदितम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootयमदूत (प्रातिपदिक) + उदित (कृदन्त; √वद्/√उद्?; here ‘उदित’ = ‘said/uttered’)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कृदन्त (क्त) ‘उदित’; तत्पुरुषसमास (यमदूतैः उदितम्)
वाक्यम्statement, words
वाक्यम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootवाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन
पक्षिन्O bird
पक्षिन्:
Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootपक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन
नnot
न:
Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)
एवम्thus
एवम्:
Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम् (अव्यय)
Formप्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: thus)
त्वयाby you
त्वया:
Karana (Agent in passive/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootयुष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formतृतीया (3), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
श्रुतम्heard
श्रुतम्:
Kriya (Result/क्रियाफल)
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु (धातु)
Formकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मणि भाव (heard)
एवम्thus
एवम्:
Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम् (अव्यय)
Formप्रकारवाचक अव्यय
उक्तःhaving been addressed
उक्तः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootवच् (धातु)
Formकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे (having been spoken to / addressed)
ततःthen
ततः:
Sambandha (Sequence/क्रम)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः (अव्यय)
Formअपादान/क्रमवाचक अव्यय (then/from there)
सर्वैःby all (of them)
सर्वैः:
Karana (Agent in passive/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; ‘all (of them)’
हन्यमानःbeing beaten
हन्यमानः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootहन् (धातु)
Formकृदन्त (शानच्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मणि (being struck)
सःhe
सः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
मुद्गरैःwith clubs/mallets
मुद्गरैः:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootमुद्गर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ignoring instruction of Yama’s messengers leads to immediate suffering; cosmic order enforces moral causality.

Vedantic Theme: ऋत/धर्म as governing order; suffering as consequence of avidyā-driven resistance.

Application: Heed ethical counsel early; accept correction; cultivate humility and responsiveness to moral instruction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: road/path

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: punishments by Yamadūtas; beating/torment motifs for resistant pretas; narrative address to Garuḍa (‘pakṣin’) framing

Characters & Entities
Y
Yamadutas
Y
Yama
G
Garuda (Pakshin)

FAQs

This verse highlights Yamadutas as executors of karmic justice: they question the condemned and then enforce consequences, showing that actions lead to tangible results after death.

It depicts a stage where the soul (as a preta/condemned being) is confronted by Yama’s messengers and subjected to punishment, emphasizing the post-death accountability described in the Preta Kanda.

Live with restraint and dharma—avoid harmful actions—since the Garuda Purana frames unethical conduct as leading to suffering after death under Yama’s jurisdiction.

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