Shloka 44

रामायणकथासंक्षेपः — ब्रह्मोक्तो रामावतारवृत्तान्तः

Devanagari script

विद्युज्जिह्वञ्च धूम्राक्षं देवान्तकनरान्त कौ / महोदरमहापार्श्वावतिकायं महाबलम्

Transliteration

vidyujjihvañca dhūmrākṣaṃ devāntakanarānta kau / mahodaramahāpārśvāvatikāyaṃ mahābalam

Translation

Dan ada Vidyujjihva serta Dhūmrākṣa, Devāntaka dan Narāntaka; juga Mahodara dan Mahāpārśva—Avatikāya pun—semuanya amat perkasa.

Word by Word

• विद्युज्जिह्वम्: Vidyujjihva (a demon)
• विद्युज्जिह्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्युत् (प्रातिपदिक) + जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—विद्युत् इव जिह्वा यस्य (नाम; कर्मधारय)

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

• धूम्राक्षम्: Dhūmrākṣa
• धूम्राक्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूम्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• देवान्तकम्: Devāntaka
• देवान्तकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—देवानाम् अन्तकः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• नरान्तकम्: Narāntaka
• नरान्तकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—नराणाम् अन्तकः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (पाठानुसार; ‘कौ’ इत्यस्य पूर्वे)

• महोदरम्: Mahodara
• महोदरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—महत् उदरम् यस्य (नाम; कर्मधारय)

• महापार्श्वम्: Mahāpārśva
• महापार्श्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—महत् पार्श्वम् यस्य (नाम; कर्मधारय)

• अतिकायम्: Atikāya
• अतिकायम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—अतिकायः (अत्यन्तं कायः/महाकायः)

• महाबलम्: mighty/strong
• महाबलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—महत् बलम् यस्य (विशेषण/नाम)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adharma gathers power through many agents; yet enumerating them underscores their impermanence before righteous order.

Vedantic Theme: Tamas and asuric tendencies appear manifold, but are ultimately sublated by sattvic clarity and divine tejas.

Application: Identify and name the specific obstacles in a problem (stakeholders/risks) to prepare an effective response.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: enemy stronghold / battlefield roster

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.143.45 (continuation of rākṣasa roster); Garuda Purana 1.143.43 (their defeat context)

Characters & Entities

• Vidyujjihva
• Dhūmrākṣa
• Devāntaka
• Narāntaka
• Mahodara
• Mahāpārśva
• Avatikāya

FAQs

What is the importance of listing these names in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a catalog of formidable beings associated with the post-death administration—highlighting the power and seriousness of Yama’s domain and the forces that carry out karmic consequences.

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

By naming powerful attendants/agents, the text frames the after-death journey as regulated and enforced—suggesting that the soul’s experiences are not random but governed by karmic law executed through such beings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to live ethically and perform dharmic duties—so that one’s post-death passage is eased by merit rather than confronted by fear of punitive forces.