Shloka 12

Yama-mārga (Adhvan) and the Courts of Yama: Vaivasvatī and Chitragupta

Devanagari script

यानियानि च दानानि दत्तानि भुवि मानवैः / तानितान्युपतिष्ठन्ति यमलोके पुरः पथि

Transliteration

yāniyāni ca dānāni dattāni bhuvi mānavaiḥ / tānitānyupatiṣṭhanti yamaloke puraḥ pathi

Translation

ഭൂമിയിൽ മനുഷ്യർ ഏത് ഏത് ദാനങ്ങൾ നൽകിയിട്ടുണ്ടോ, അവ അവ തന്നെ യമലോകത്തിലേക്കുള്ള പഥത്തിൽ അവരുടെ മുമ്പിൽ പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെടുന്നു।

Word by Word

• यानि: which (things)
• यानि: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• यानि: whatever (each)
• यानि: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुनरुक्ति (distributive: each and every), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (Conjunction)

• दानानि: gifts/charities
• दानानि: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• दत्तानि: given
• दत्तानि: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (Kta)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण to दानानि

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक: भुवि/भू)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• मानवैः: by humans
• मानवैः: कर्ता (Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• तानि: those
• तानि: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• तानि: those very (same)
• तानि: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुनरुक्ति (distributive emphasis), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• उपतिष्ठन्ति: stand by/attend (appear)
• उपतिष्ठन्ति: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• यमलोके: in Yama’s world
• यमलोके: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमलोक (प्रातिपदिक: यम + लोक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• पुरः: in front
• पुरः: अधिकरण (Adverbial location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (Adverb of place: in front)

• पथि: on the path
• पथि: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna (charitable giving) accompanies the soul as tangible merit, offering aid and auspiciousness on the post-death path.

Vedantic Theme: Punya as a supportive condition within saṃsāra; ethical action purifies the mind (citta-śuddhi), preparing for higher realization.

Application: Give regularly according to capacity (anna, water, clothing, shelter, medicine); dedicate gifts with pure intention; integrate generosity into daily life.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: threshold-road/approach

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dāna and śrāddha praised as supports for the departed; merit ‘meets’ the soul on the way; Pretakalpa passages where gifts (anna-dāna, vastra-dāna, jala-dāna) counter hunger, cold, thirst on Yamamārga

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of dāna (charity) in Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that charity performed during one’s lifetime becomes a direct support and witness for the soul, appearing “ahead on the path” toward Yamaloka as beneficial merit.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul to Yama’s realm?

It depicts the journey as morally structured: the soul encounters the results of its deeds, and charitable gifts specifically manifest as helpful presences on the route into Yama’s domain.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice consistent, sincere giving—food, essentials, or support to the needy—so that one’s life builds dharmic merit that, according to the Purana, accompanies and strengthens the post-death journey.