Shloka 71

Post-cremation Ripening of Karma and the Principal Narakas

Devanagari script

इज्यायां व्रतलोपाच्च सन्दंशे नरके पतेत् / स्कन्दन्ते यदि वा स्वप्ने यतिनो ब्रह्मचारिणः

Transliteration

ijyāyāṃ vratalopācca sandaṃśe narake patet / skandante yadi vā svapne yatino brahmacāriṇaḥ

Translation

യജ്ഞാരാധനയെ അവഗണിക്കുകയും വ്രതം ലംഘിക്കുകയും ചെയ്താൽ മനുഷ്യൻ ‘സന്ദംശ’ എന്ന നരകത്തിൽ പതിക്കും. കൂടാതെ യതി അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ബ്രഹ്മചാരി സ്വപ്നത്തിലുപോലും സ്ഖലനം സംഭവിച്ചാൽ, അതും നിയമഭ്രംശം—പതനം—എന്നായി കണക്കാക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• इज्यायाम्: in sacrifice/worship
• इज्यायाम्: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इज्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण; ‘यज्ञ/पूजा’

• व्रतलोपात्: from the breaking of vows
• व्रतलोपात्: Apadana (Ablative source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत + लोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative); ‘व्रतस्य लोपः’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• सन्दंशे: in (the hell called) Sandaṃśa
• सन्दंशे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्दंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण; नरकविशेषनाम

• नरके: in hell
• नरके: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• पतेत्: would fall
• पतेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘he would fall’

• स्कन्दन्ते: they spill/emit (semen)
• स्कन्दन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्कन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Condition/शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक (conditional particle: if)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive: or)

• स्वप्ने: in a dream
• स्वप्ने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• यतिनः: ascetics
• यतिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मचारिणः: brahmacārins (celibate students)
• ब्रह्मचारिणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ‘ब्रह्मणि चरन्ति’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vratabhaṅga and neglect of worship undermine dharma; for renunciants and students, brahmacarya is a defining discipline requiring vigilance even at subtle levels.

Vedantic Theme: Śama-dama and saṃyama as supports for purity of mind; dharma as preparatory ground for jñāna/bhakti.

Application: Keep commitments (vratas), maintain regular worship/discipline; for celibate vows, adopt safeguards: regulated diet, sleep, company, and mental purity practices.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: naraka; hermitage/āśrama (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Sandaṁśa appears among narakas tied to ritual and vow violations; nearby verses continue āśrama-related faults

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Naraka
• Sandaṁśa
• Yatis
• Brahmacārins

FAQs

What is the importance of vrata (vowed observance) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats vow-breaking (vrata-lopa) as a serious ethical and ritual breach with afterlife consequences, indicating that disciplined observance is a key measure of dharma and personal accountability.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It links specific actions—neglect of worship and violation of vows—to a defined naraka (Sandaṁśa), showing a karmic mapping where conduct determines the post-death experience in Yama’s punitive realms.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain integrity in spiritual commitments (vratas) and cultivate disciplined conduct; if one follows ascetic or celibate vows, prioritize vigilance, humility, and corrective practice rather than complacency.