Shloka 5

Prāyaścitta: Catalogue of Sins, Narakas, and Graded Expiations

Kṛcchra–Cāndrāyaṇa–Japa

Devanagari script

हंसाभं लोहितोदं च सञ्जीवननदीपथम् / महानिलयकाकोलमन्धतामिस्त्रवापनम्

Transliteration

haṃsābhaṃ lohitodaṃ ca sañjīvananadīpatham / mahānilayakākolamandhatāmistravāpanam

Translation

“(Ada) Hamsābha dan Lohitoda, serta laluan sungai Sañjīvana; juga Mahānilaya, Kākola, Andhatāmisra, dan Vāpana.”

Word by Word

• हंसाभम्: Haṃsābha (a hell)
• हंसाभम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक) + आभ (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (hell-name); तत्पुरुष (हंसस्य आभम्/हंसाभम् = swan-like)

• लोहितोदम्: Lohitoda (red-water hell)
• लोहितोदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोहित (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक) + उद (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (hell-name); कर्मधारय (लोहितम् उदम्)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• सञ्जीवन: Sañjīvana (reviving)
• सञ्जीवन: Sambandha (Qualifier base/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + जीव् (धातु) + ल्युट्/घञ् (नामधातु-निर्माण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासपूर्वपद); अर्थः: पुनर्जीवनम् (reviving)

• नदीपथम्: river-path
• नदीपथम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक) + पथ (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (नद्याः पथः/नदीपथः)

• महानिलय: great abode
• महानिलय: Sambandha (Qualifier base/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक) + निलय (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासपूर्वपद); कर्मधारय (महान् निलयः)

• काकोल: Kākola
• काकोल: Sambandha (Qualifier base/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काकोल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासमध्यपद); अर्थः: काकोलः (a kind of poisonous creature/term used in hell-name)

• अन्धतामिस्त्र: Andhatāmistra (blind darkness hell)
• अन्धतामिस्त्र: Sambandha (Qualifier base/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्ध (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक) + तामिस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासमध्यपद); कर्मधारय (अन्धं तामिस्त्रम्)

• वापनम्: Vāpana (a hell; lit. cutting/shearing)
• वापनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वप् (धातु) + ल्युट् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: ल्युट्-कृदन्त (action noun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासान्तपद (hell-name)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Multiplicity of narakas and routes indicates differentiated karmic results; the afterlife is portrayed as ordered and specific, not random.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāric governance by karma-niyati; recognition of graded consequences encourages dharma and dispassion.

Application: Treat ethical lapses as leading to specific, avoidable outcomes; adopt preventive disciplines (yama/niyama-like restraints, truthfulness, non-harm, sobriety).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: naraka (hell realms) and infernal route (river-path)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.105.4 (Mahāraurava etc.); Garuda Purana 1.105.6 (Avīci/Kumbhīpāka; mahāpātakas)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Naraka (hell realms)

FAQs

What is the importance of listing narakas like Andhatāmisra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a catalog of specific hell-realms/paths, reinforcing that karma has precise consequences described as distinct regions in Yama’s domain.

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

It situates the post-death journey within an ordered geography of punitive routes and realms (including a ‘river-path’), implying that the soul’s experience is directed according to deeds.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to avoid harmful actions and to follow dharma; traditional households also connect such teachings with sincere repentance, charity, and proper śrāddha observance.