Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

तद्गुहं धर्मराजस्य विस्तीर्णं काञ्चनप्रभम् / योजनानां पञ्चशतप्रमाणेन समुच्छ्रितम्

Transliteration

tadguhaṃ dharmarājasya vistīrṇaṃ kāñcanaprabham / yojanānāṃ pañcaśatapramāṇena samucchritam

Translation

ധർമരാജൻ (യമൻ) എന്നവന്റെ ആ ഗുഹാ-സഭാമണ്ഡപം അതിവിശാലവും സ്വർണ്ണപ്രഭയാൽ ദീപ്തവുമായിരുന്നു; അതിന്റെ ഉയരം അഞ്ചുനൂറ് യോജനയായിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally)

• गुहम्: cave, chamber
• गुहम्: Karma/Pradhāna (Object/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• धर्मराजस्य: of Dharmarāja (Yama)
• धर्मराजस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मराज (प्रातिपदिक; धर्म + राजन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य राजा)

• विस्तीर्णम्: expanded, wide
• विस्तीर्णम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-√स्तॄ (धातु) → विस्तीर्ण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतभावे (past passive participle)

• काञ्चनप्रभम्: golden-lustrous
• काञ्चनप्रभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समासः (काञ्चनी प्रभा यस्य/काञ्चनस्य प्रभा)

• योजनानाम्: of yojanas (leagues)
• योजनानाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Measure relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• पञ्चशतप्रमाणेन: by the measure of five hundred
• पञ्चशतप्रमाणेन: Karaṇa (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + शत + प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (पञ्चशतानि प्रमाणं यस्य/पञ्चशत-प्रमाण)

• समुच्छ्रितम्: raised, lofty
• समुच्छ्रितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-उद्-√श्रि (धातु) → समुच्छ्रित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The afterlife realm is structured and authoritative, reflecting the inevitability and magnitude of karmic adjudication.

Vedantic Theme: Ṛta/dharma as cosmic order governing saṁsāra; the jīva’s accountability under īśvara-niyama.

Application: Cultivate ethical restraint and truthfulness, remembering that actions are answerable beyond death.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: royal hall/cavern-court

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of Yama’s court and the path of the departed (Yama-sabhā, Yamadūta, Citragupta contexts)

Characters & Entities

• Dharmaraja (Yama)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing Dharmaraja’s vast golden hall in the Garuda Purana?

It establishes the immense, awe-inspiring scale of Yama’s realm, underscoring that moral law (dharma) operates within a structured cosmic order where deeds are assessed.

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

By portraying Yama’s domain as a real, vast destination, the verse supports the narrative that the departed soul (preta) is led toward Dharmaraja’s jurisdiction where karmic consequences are determined.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with accountability: the verse reminds practitioners that actions have measurable outcomes, encouraging dharmic conduct, truthful living, and timely performance of śrāddha and related rites with sincerity.