Shloka 85

Post-cremation Ripening of Karma and the Principal Narakas

Devanagari script

ततश्चारोहिणीं योनिं शूद्रवैश्यनृपादिकम् / विप्रदेवेन्द्रतां चापि कदाचिदधिरोहति

Transliteration

tataścārohiṇīṃ yoniṃ śūdravaiśyanṛpādikam / vipradevendratāṃ cāpi kadācidadhirohati

Translation

Sesudah itu, jiwa naik ke rahim yang lebih tinggi—kadang-kadang lahir dalam kalangan śūdra, vaiśya, raja dan seumpamanya; dan kadang-kadang meningkat hingga kedudukan brāhmaṇa, dewa, bahkan Indra.

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय/तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्यय, तस्मात्-अर्थे (ablatival adverb) ‘thereafter/from that’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• आरोहिणीं: ascending/higher
• आरोहिणीं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आरोहिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (योनिम्)

• योनिं: womb/birth
• योनिं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शूद्रवैश्यनृपादिकम्: (birth) such as as a śūdra, vaiśya, king, etc.
• शूद्रवैश्यनृपादिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र + वैश्य + नृप + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘-आदिक’ (etc.) समासान्त-युक्त; योनिम् इत्यस्य विशेषण/विवरण

• विप्रदेवेन्द्रताम्: the state of being a brāhmaṇa or a lord of gods (Indra)
• विप्रदेवेन्द्रताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र + देव + इन्द्र + ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तद्धितान्त ‘-ता’ (state/hood); समाहारार्थे ‘विप्रत्वं/देवेन्द्रत्वं’ इत्यादि

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• कदाचित्: sometimes
• कदाचित्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (adverb) ‘sometimes’

• अधिरोहति: ascends/attains
• अधिरोहति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि + रुह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The jīva may ascend to higher births—śūdra, vaiśya, king, brāhmaṇa—and even deva/Indra—according to ripening merit.

Vedantic Theme: Relative ascent within saṃsāra is still within māyā’s hierarchy; true freedom lies beyond all yonis.

Application: Pursue sattvic conduct, generosity, truthfulness, and devotion; treat social rank as transient and ethically charged, not as ultimate identity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: yoni/realm-transition (generic)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.3: sequence of karmic ascent/descent; contrast with naraka fall in 2.3.86

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Shudra
• Vaishya
• Nripa (King)
• Vipra (Brahmana)
• Devas
• Indra

FAQs

What is the importance of karmic ascent (ārohiṇī yoni) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that after death, the jīva can rise into “ascending births,” gaining improved embodiments—from common human stations up to divine status—according to accumulated merit and dharmic conduct.

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

It presents the post-mortem trajectory as dynamic: the soul does not remain fixed in one condition but can “climb” into higher births, indicating a graded karmic ladder culminating even in deva-birth and Indra’s position.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live in dharma—truthfulness, restraint, charity, and duty—because the Purana frames such conduct as the cause of upward movement in future births and improved spiritual opportunity.