Shloka 14

Yama-mārga (Adhvan) and the Courts of Yama: Vaivasvatī and Chitragupta

Devanagari script

ईदृशं वर्त्म तद्रौद्रं कथितं तव सुव्रत / पुनश्च कथयिष्यामि यममार्गस्य या स्थितिः

Transliteration

īdṛśaṃ vartma tadraudraṃ kathitaṃ tava suvrata / punaśca kathayiṣyāmi yamamārgasya yā sthitiḥ

Translation

హే సువ్రతా! అట్టి రౌద్రమైన భయంకర మార్గాన్ని నీకు చెప్పితిని. ఇప్పుడు మళ్లీ యమమార్గపు స్థితి మరియు గమనాన్ని వివరిస్తాను.

Word by Word

• ईदृशम्: such; of this kind
• ईदृशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of ‘वर्त्म’)

• वर्त्म: path; route
• वर्त्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्त्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of ‘वर्त्म’)

• रौद्रम्: terrible; fierce
• रौद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रौद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of ‘वर्त्म’)

• कथितम्: has been told/described
• कथितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + क्त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘(मया) कथितम्’

• तव: to you/for you; your
• तव: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सुव्रत: O one of good vows
• सुव्रत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-व्रत (प्रातिपदिक; घटकाः: सु + व्रत)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; संबोधन-पदम्

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कथयिष्यामि: I will tell
• कथयिष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (णिजन्त; धातु कथ् + णिच्)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यममार्गस्य: of the path of Yama
• यममार्गस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम-मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक; घटकाः: यम + मार्ग)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (यमस्य मार्गः)

• या: which
• या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सूचक (relative pronoun)

• स्थितिः: condition; state; arrangement
• स्थितिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda, Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Systematic disclosure of the after-death path as knowledge meant to awaken vigilance and discernment.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka through śāstra-śravaṇa: knowing consequences of karma reduces pramāda (heedlessness) and supports dharmic orientation.

Application: Use the teaching as a contemplative warning: reflect on mortality and consequences; align conduct and remembrance practices accordingly.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: path/route

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: sequential narration of yamamārga stages and torments; Garuda Purana: dialogues framing (‘suvrata’ address) that introduce doctrinal sections

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of Yama-mārga in the Garuda Purana?

This verse signals a structured teaching: after describing a terrifying route, the text proceeds to explain the specific “condition” (sthiti) of the path to Yama, central to understanding post-death consequences of karma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It frames the soul’s post-death travel as a defined road (vartma/yama-mārga) with particular conditions, implying that the journey is not random but governed by moral order and Yama’s administration.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Reflect on actions and duties (dharma): the verse emphasizes that deeds shape the after-death experience, motivating ethical living and mindful observance of rites for the departed.