Shloka 124
An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body
Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā
यमलोके वसन्त्येते कुट्यां जन्म न विद्यते / एवं सञ्जायते तार्क्ष्य मर्त्ये जन्तुः स्वकर्मभिः
yamaloke vasantyete kuṭyāṃ janma na vidyate / evaṃ sañjāyate tārkṣya martye jantuḥ svakarmabhiḥ
Makhluk-makhluk itu tinggal di alam Yama; di sana tiada kelahiran baharu. Demikianlah, wahai Tārkṣya (Garuda), makhluk lahir semula di dunia fana kerana didorong oleh karma dirinya sendiri.
Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Concept: Rebirth in the mortal world occurs according to one’s own karma; Yamaloka is a station, not a place of fresh embodiment.
Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra driven by karma-vāsanā; the jīva’s trajectory is self-authored through action and intention.
Application: Reflect on long-term consequences of choices; adopt dharmic living and spiritual practice to reshape karmic momentum.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: otherworldly realm
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: stages of the soul’s post-death stay and subsequent return to birth according to karma
FAQs
This verse clarifies that Yama-loka is a post-death realm of residence and assessment, not a place where new birth occurs; rebirth happens back in the mortal world according to karma.
It indicates a sequence: the being dwells in Yama’s realm for the consequences and accounting of deeds, and then—impelled by its own accumulated actions—returns to embodiment in the human/mortal world.
Live with awareness that actions have continuing consequences: ethical conduct, restraint from harm, and sincere duty reduce painful after-death outcomes and shape a better rebirth.