Shloka 71

Post-cremation Ripening of Karma and the Principal Narakas

Devanagari script

इज्यायां व्रतलोपाच्च सन्दंशे नरके पतेत् / स्कन्दन्ते यदि वा स्वप्ने यतिनो ब्रह्मचारिणः

Transliteration

ijyāyāṃ vratalopācca sandaṃśe narake patet / skandante yadi vā svapne yatino brahmacāriṇaḥ

Translation

యజ్ఞారాధనను నిర్లక్ష్యం చేయడం, వ్రతభంగం చేయడం వల్ల మనిషి ‘సందంశ’ అనే నరకంలో పడతాడు. అలాగే యతి లేదా బ్రహ్మచారి స్వప్నంలోనైనా స్ఖలనం జరిగితే, అది కూడా నియమభ్రంశంగా పతనమేనని లెక్కిస్తారు.

Word by Word

• इज्यायाम्: in sacrifice/worship
• इज्यायाम्: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इज्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण; ‘यज्ञ/पूजा’

• व्रतलोपात्: from the breaking of vows
• व्रतलोपात्: Apadana (Ablative source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत + लोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative); ‘व्रतस्य लोपः’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• सन्दंशे: in (the hell called) Sandaṃśa
• सन्दंशे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्दंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण; नरकविशेषनाम

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

• पतेत्: would fall
• पतेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘he would fall’

• स्कन्दन्ते: they spill/emit (semen)
• स्कन्दन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्कन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Condition/शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक (conditional particle: if)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive: or)

• स्वप्ने: in a dream
• स्वप्ने: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• यतिनः: ascetics
• यतिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मचारिणः: brahmacārins (celibate students)
• ब्रह्मचारिणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ‘ब्रह्मणि चरन्ति’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vratabhaṅga and neglect of worship undermine dharma; for renunciants and students, brahmacarya is a defining discipline requiring vigilance even at subtle levels.

Vedantic Theme: Śama-dama and saṃyama as supports for purity of mind; dharma as preparatory ground for jñāna/bhakti.

Application: Keep commitments (vratas), maintain regular worship/discipline; for celibate vows, adopt safeguards: regulated diet, sleep, company, and mental purity practices.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: naraka; hermitage/āśrama (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Sandaṁśa appears among narakas tied to ritual and vow violations; nearby verses continue āśrama-related faults

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Naraka
• Sandaṁśa
• Yatis
• Brahmacārins

FAQs

What is the importance of vrata (vowed observance) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats vow-breaking (vrata-lopa) as a serious ethical and ritual breach with afterlife consequences, indicating that disciplined observance is a key measure of dharma and personal accountability.

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

It links specific actions—neglect of worship and violation of vows—to a defined naraka (Sandaṁśa), showing a karmic mapping where conduct determines the post-death experience in Yama’s punitive realms.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain integrity in spiritual commitments (vratas) and cultivate disciplined conduct; if one follows ascetic or celibate vows, prioritize vigilance, humility, and corrective practice rather than complacency.