Shloka 97

Post-cremation Ripening of Karma and the Principal Narakas

Devanagari script

षाट्कौशिको ह्ययं कायः सर्वे वाताश्च देहिनाम् / मूत्रं पुरीषं तद्योगाद्ये चान्ये व्याधयस्तथा

Transliteration

ṣāṭkauśiko hyayaṃ kāyaḥ sarve vātāśca dehinām / mūtraṃ purīṣaṃ tadyogādye cānye vyādhayastathā

Translation

ഈ കായം ആറു കോശങ്ങളാൽ നിർമ്മിതം; എല്ലാ ദേഹികളിലും വായുക്കളുടെ പ്രവാഹം പ്രവർത്തിക്കുന്നു. അവയുടെ സംയോഗത്തിൽ മൂത്രവും മലവും, അതുപോലെ മറ്റു വ്യാധികളും ഉദ്ഭവിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• षाट्कौशिकः: having six sheaths/layers
• षाट्कौशिकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षाट्-कौशिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुष (षट् कौशिकाः/कोशाः यस्य/सम्बद्धः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Adjective agreeing with कायः

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• कायः: body
• कायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Adjective agreeing with वाताः

• वाताः: airs/winds (vāta-doṣas)
• वाताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• देहिनाम्: of embodied beings
• देहिनाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन — Masculine, Genitive (6th), Plural

• मूत्रम्: urine
• मूत्रम्: Karta (Listed item/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular

• पुरीषम्: feces
• पुरीषम्: Karta (Listed item/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc., Singular

• तद्योगात्: from/owing to that connection
• तद्योगात्: Apadana (Source/Cause/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद्-योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुष (तस्य योगः); पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन — Ablative (5th), Singular

• ये: which
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Relative pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• अन्ये: other
• अन्ये: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Adjective used substantively (agreeing with व्याधयः)

• व्याधयः: diseases
• व्याधयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, 'also/likewise' अर्थे

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instructing Garuda/Vainateya)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Vata

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The body is a composite of coverings and winds; its outputs and diseases reveal its impermanent, conditioned nature—supporting dis-identification and pursuit of liberation.

Vedantic Theme: Anātma-bodha regarding the body; kośa-viveka (sheath-discrimination) as a step toward recognizing the self beyond coverings.

Application: Cultivate healthy detachment: care for the body as an instrument, not identity; adopt disciplined habits that stabilize vāyu and reduce disease triggers.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: anatomical/physiological interior

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana didactic anatomy/physiology passages used to generate vairāgya; recurring emphasis on bodily impurity and impermanence

Characters & Entities

• Dehinam (embodied beings)
• Vata (bodily winds)

FAQs

What is the importance of the 'six sheaths' (ṣaṭ-kośa) in Garuda Purana?

This verse uses the idea of six sheaths to emphasize that the body is a layered, material construct—supporting detachment and a focus on the enduring self rather than the perishable body.

How does this verse explain the embodied condition in Garuda Purana?

It highlights that embodied life is governed by internal vāyus (bodily winds) whose interactions produce waste and can lead to disease—showing the body’s inherent impurity and vulnerability.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate cleanliness and health without obsession, and practice detachment: remember the body’s limits, reduce ego-identification, and prioritize dharma and spiritual discipline.