Shloka 122

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

अग्रे अग्रे हि धावन्ति यमलोकगतस्यवै / तप्तवालुकमध्येन प्रज्वलद्वह्निमध्यतः

Transliteration

agre agre hi dhāvanti yamalokagatasyavai / taptavālukamadhyena prajvaladvahnimadhyataḥ

Translation

Sesungguhnya, mereka yang telah pergi ke alam Yama terus berlari ke hadapan dan ke hadapan, menempuh tengah pasir yang membara dan di antara api yang menyala-nyala.

Word by Word

• अग्रे: ahead
• अग्रे: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभूत-सप्तमी (locative used adverbially) — ‘in front/forward’

• अग्रे: again and again ahead
• अग्रे: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुनरुक्त-अव्ययीभूत-सप्तमी; बलवत्तर-आवृत्तिः (repetition for emphasis)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), निश्चयार्थ

• धावन्ति: run
• धावन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धाव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; ‘they run’

• यमलोकगतस्य: of the one who has gone to Yama’s realm
• यमलोकगतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमलोक (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (यमलोकं गतः) — ‘of one who has gone to Yama’s world’

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• तप्तवालुकमध्येन: through the midst of hot sand
• तप्तवालुकमध्येन: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + वालुका (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तप्ताः वालुकाः → तप्तवालुकाः; तासां मध्यः → तप्तवालुकमध्यः) — करण/मार्गवाचक तृतीया (‘through/along’)

• प्रज्वलद्वह्निमध्यतः: from the midst of blazing fire
• प्रज्वलद्वह्निमध्यतः: Apadana (Source/Separation/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र + ज्वल् (धातु) → प्रज्वलत् (कृदन्त) + वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + तः (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘from/out of’; तत्पुरुष-समासः (प्रज्वलन् वह्निः → प्रज्वलद्वह्निः; तस्य मध्यः → प्रज्वलद्वह्निमध्यः; तस्मात् → मध्यतः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The post-mortem journey is arduous; beings are driven onward through fiery terrains—an experiential manifestation of karmic burden and Yama’s ordinance.

Vedantic Theme: Karma’s inevitability until knowledge/devotion dissolves bondage; saṃsāra as a burning house (tāpa-traya imagery).

Application: Let the image function as deterrence from adharma and as motivation for bhakti, charity, and truthfulness to lighten the ‘journey’.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: otherworldly passage/road

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa road-to-Yama descriptions (2.32.121-123 and related); Garuda Purana accounts of Yamadūtas and naraka terrains (elsewhere in Pretakalpa)

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Yamaloka

FAQs

What is the importance of the Yamaloka journey description in Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights the harsh, fear-filled transit to Yama’s realm, emphasizing that post-death experiences are shaped by karma and are not merely symbolic but morally instructive.

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

It portrays the departed being driven onward through punishing terrain—scorching sand and blazing fire—suggesting an enforced, arduous passage toward Yamaloka where karmic accountability is faced.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with restraint and dharma: avoid harmful actions that lead to suffering, and support ethical conduct and remembrance of mortality to prioritize right living and responsible ritual observance.