Shloka 3

Saṃsāra-cakra, Preta’s 12-day Transit to Yama, Re-embodiment, and Karma-Vipāka Catalog of Sins and Rebirths

Devanagari script

ऊर्ध्ववासी नरस्त्यक्त्वा देहमन्यत्प्रपद्यते / नीयतेद्वादशाहेन यमस्य यमपूरुषैः

Transliteration

ūrdhvavāsī narastyaktvā dehamanyatprapadyate / nīyatedvādaśāhena yamasya yamapūruṣaiḥ

Translation

Jiwa yang bersemayam di atas (alam halus) meninggalkan jasad lalu mengambil perwujudan halus yang lain; dalam dua belas hari ia dibawa menghadap Yama oleh para utusan Yama.

Word by Word

• ऊर्ध्ववासी: one who dwells above (departed soul)
• ऊर्ध्ववासी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्ध्व-वासी (प्रातिपदिक; वस् (धातु) + णिनि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कृदन्त-नाम (णिनि-प्रत्ययान्त), ‘ऊर्ध्वे वसति’ इति

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• त्यक्त्वा: having left
• त्यक्त्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘त्यक्त्वा’ = having abandoned

• देहम्: the body
• देहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अन्यत्: another
• अन्यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (देहम्/शरीरम् इत्यर्थे ‘अन्यं [देहं/लोकं]’)

• प्रपद्यते: attains/resorts to
• प्रपद्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-पद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• नीयते: is led
• नीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• द्वादशाहेन: by (within) twelve days
• द्वादशाहेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादशाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (‘द्वादश’ + ‘अह’)

• यमस्य: of Yama
• यमस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• यमपूरुषैः: by Yama’s attendants
• यमपूरुषैः: Kartr-karana (कर्तृ/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम-पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (‘यमस्य पुरुषाः’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The jīva departs the gross body, assumes a subtle embodiment, and is conducted by Yama’s agents according to karmic law within a fixed liminal period (twelve days).

Vedantic Theme: Jīva’s continuity across bodies (saṃsāra) with subtle body as vehicle; karma-niyati governing post-death transition.

Application: Treat the first twelve days after death as spiritually consequential; cultivate dharma and remembrance of Hari to face the transition with steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: city/realm of Yama

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of Yamadūtas, the soul’s journey, and the twelve-day liminal period (dvādaśāha); Garuda Purana: śrāddha efficacy during the initial post-death days

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Yamapuruṣas (messengers of Yama)
• Jīva (the individual soul)

FAQs

What is the importance of the twelve-day period in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that within twelve days after leaving the gross body, the jīva is taken by Yama’s attendants—supporting the ritual and doctrinal importance of the early post-death period (dvādaśāha) in guiding the departed.

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

It describes a sequence: the jīva abandons the physical body, assumes another (subtle) embodiment, and is then escorted by Yamapuruṣas to Yama, indicating an ordered transition rather than an immediate final destination.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages timely, respectful observance of post-death rites and ethical living, recognizing accountability after death and the tradition’s focus on supporting the departed during the initial transitional days.