Shloka 78

Post-cremation Ripening of Karma and the Principal Narakas

Devanagari script

दिनेदिने तु नरके पच्यते दह्यतेन्यतः / शीर्यते भिद्यते ऽन्यत्र चूर्यते क्लिद्यतेन्यतः

Transliteration

dinedine tu narake pacyate dahyatenyataḥ / śīryate bhidyate 'nyatra cūryate klidyatenyataḥ

Translation

दिनेदिने नरके पापी क्वचित् पच्यते, क्वचिद् दह्यते; अन्यत्र शीर्यते जीर्यते, अन्यत्र भिद्यते; क्वचिच्चूर्ण्यते, अन्यत्र क्लिद्यते पूयते च।

Word by Word

• दिने: on a day
• दिने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे (locative of time: 'on a day')

• दिने: day by day
• दिने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (dine dine = day by day)

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थे ('but/indeed')

• नरके: in hell
• नरके: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• पच्यते: is cooked; is boiled
• पच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दह्यते: is burned
• दह्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, कर्मणि (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अन्यतः: elsewhere; from another side
• अन्यतः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb), 'from elsewhere/otherwise'

• शीर्यते: is worn away; decays
• शीर्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शीॄ/शॄ (धातु)
• Form: लट्, कर्मणि (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धात्वर्थः—क्षय/विनाश (to decay)

• भिद्यते: is split; is pierced
• भिद्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, कर्मणि (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अन्यत्र: elsewhere
• अन्यत्र: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• चूर्यते: is crushed; is ground to powder
• चूर्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चूर्णय्/चूर् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, कर्मणि (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; अर्थः—चूर्णीकरण (to be pulverized)

• क्लिद्यते: is soaked; becomes slimy/wet
• क्लिद्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्लिद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, कर्मणि (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; अर्थः—आर्द्रीभव (to become wet/soft)

• अन्यतः: elsewhere; from another side
• अन्यतः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Papa ripens as repeated, varied suffering; karmic law is precise and unavoidable.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandhana and its experiential fruition in samsara; suffering as consequence of avidya-driven action.

Application: Restrain harmful acts, cultivate sattvic conduct, and adopt expiations/charity/devotion before death to avoid papa-phala.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic punitive region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: naraka-varnana sequences describing graded torments and time-dilation; Garuda Purana: karma-phala catalogues leading from naraka to tiryak-janma

Characters & Entities

• Naraka

FAQs

What is the importance of Naraka punishments in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes the inevitability and variety of karmic consequences, portraying naraka as a realm where specific pains manifest according to one’s misdeeds.

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

In the Preta Kanda context, the departed being experiences results of karma in post-mortem realms; this verse highlights repeated, time-extended suffering that follows pāpa, motivating dharmic living and prescribed rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as an ethical reminder: avoid harm and deception, practice restraint and compassion, and support dharmic conduct and ancestral rites to reduce negative karmic outcomes.