Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

धर्मज्ञो धर्मशीलश्च धर्मयुक्तो हितो यमः / भयदः पापयुक्तानां धार्मिकाणां सुखप्रदः

Transliteration

dharmajño dharmaśīlaśca dharmayukto hito yamaḥ / bhayadaḥ pāpayuktānāṃ dhārmikāṇāṃ sukhapradaḥ

Translation

యముడు ధర్మజ్ఞుడు, ధర్మశీలుడు, ధర్మయుక్తుడు—హితకారి; పాపబద్ధులకై భయప్రదుడు, ధార్మికులకు సుఖప్రదుడు.

Word by Word

• धर्मज्ञः: knower of dharma
• धर्मज्ञः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + ज्ञ (√ज्ञा/√ज्ञ, क्त/णिनि-प्राय; प्रातिपदिक 'ज्ञ')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (धर्मं जानाति)

• धर्मशीलः: of righteous conduct
• धर्मशीलः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (धर्मः शीलं यस्य)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात

• धर्मयुक्तः: endowed with dharma
• धर्मयुक्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + युक्त (√युज्, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (endowed with dharma)

• हितः: beneficial, well-disposed
• हितः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita (√धा, क्त; 'हित' = beneficial/placed)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• यमः: Yama
• यमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• भयदः: giver of fear
• भयदः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय + द (√दा, कृत् 'द' = giver)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (भयं ददाति)

• पापयुक्तानाम्: of those associated with sin
• पापयुक्तानाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप + युक्त (√युज्, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• धार्मिकाणाम्: of the righteous
• धार्मिकाणाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धार्मिक (धर्म + इक/ठक् तद्धित-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; तद्धितान्त (belonging to dharma)

• सुखप्रदः: giver of happiness
• सुखप्रदः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख + प्रद (प्र + √दा, कृत् 'प्रद' = giver)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (सुखं प्रददाति)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, describing Yama’s dharmic role)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma is both protective and corrective: it rewards the righteous and terrifies the sinful through just consequences.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala as an expression of dharma; ethical causality as a facet of īśvara’s governance; fear and peace as fruits of conduct.

Application: Choose dharmic conduct to cultivate inner fearlessness; reduce harm, deceit, and exploitation; adopt regular self-audit of actions and intentions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: moral-judicial domain

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: repeated framing of Yama as dharma-rāja; pāpa leads to fear/naraka, puṇya to sukha/svarga

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of Yama in the Garuda Purana’s teaching on dharma and karma?

This verse frames Yama not as a mere punisher but as a dharma-aligned judge: fear arises for the sinful due to their own karma, while the righteous experience protection and well-being.

How does this verse explain the soul’s experience after death?

It implies that post-death encounters with Yama’s realm are experienced differently according to one’s deeds—terror for those bound to papa, and comfort for those established in dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live in dharma—truthfulness, restraint, and ethical duty—so that accountability (social or spiritual) becomes a source of peace rather than fear.