Shloka 20

Yama’s Journey to Brahmaloka

Ekadashi–Dvadashi Mahatmya in the Rukmangada Cycle

Devanagari script

शून्यास्तु निरयाः सर्वे पापप्राणिविवर्जिताः । भग्नो याम्योऽभवन्मार्गो द्वादशादित्यतापितः ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

śūnyāstu nirayāḥ sarve pāpaprāṇivivarjitāḥ | bhagno yāmyo'bhavanmārgo dvādaśādityatāpitaḥ || 20 ||

Translation

सर्वे निरयाः शून्याः अभवन्, पापप्राणिविवर्जिताः; द्वादशादित्यतापितः याम्यो मार्गो भग्नोऽभवत्॥

Word by Word

• शून्याः: empty
• शून्याः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शून्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; predicate adjective

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक particle (but/indeed)

• निरयाः: hells
• निरयाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; agrees with निरयाः

• पापप्राणिविवर्जिताः: devoid of sinful creatures
• पापप्राणिविवर्जिताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप + प्राणि + विवर्जित (कृदन्त; √वर्ज्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘पापप्राणिभिः विवर्जित’ (devoid of sinful beings)

• भग्नः: broken, destroyed
• भग्नः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भग्न (कृदन्त; √भञ्ज्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; agrees with मार्गः

• याम्यः: Yama’s, pertaining to Yama
• याम्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: याम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘of Yama/southern’

• अभवत्: became/was
• अभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मार्गः: path
• मार्गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• द्वादशादित्यतापितः: scorched by twelve suns
• द्वादशादित्यतापितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश + आदित्य + तापित (कृदन्त; √तप्/ताप् caus.)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘द्वादशभिः आदित्यैः तापित’ (scorched by twelve suns)

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the Uttara-Bhaga tirtha-mahatmya discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Aditya

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It portrays complete pāpa-kṣaya (eradication of sin) so powerful that narakas stand empty and the very route to Yama’s realm is rendered ineffective—signifying liberation from punitive after-death consequences through exceptional dharma/tīrtha merit.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Though not naming bhakti directly, the imagery aligns with Purāṇic bhakti-phala: when one takes refuge in Vishnu-centered dharma (often expressed through tīrtha-sevā, vrata, and nāma-smaraṇa), the fear of Yama and naraka is overcome.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse uses Purāṇic cosmology and solar imagery (Āditya/“twelve suns”), which connects most closely with Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology/astronomy) as a symbolic framework for time, cosmic order, and karmic consequence.