Shloka 29

Preta-mārga Supports (Dāna), Chitragupta’s Accounting, and the Enumeration of Narakas

Devanagari script

कस्मिंश्चित्समये पूर्णे महिषासनसंस्थितः / नरकान्वीक्ष्य धर्मात्मा नानाक्रन्दसमाकुलान्

Transliteration

kasmiṃścitsamaye pūrṇe mahiṣāsanasaṃsthitaḥ / narakānvīkṣya dharmātmā nānākrandasamākulān

Translation

ครั้นถึงกาลอันกำหนดครบถ้วน ผู้ทรงธรรมประทับบนอาสนะควาย แล้วทอดพระเนตรนรกทั้งหลายซึ่งอื้ออึงด้วยเสียงร่ำไห้คร่ำครวญนานาประการ।

Word by Word

• कस्मिन्: in some (which)
• कस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• चित्: some/any
• चित्: Niyamaka (Particle/नियामक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अनिश्चितार्थक-अव्यय (indefinite particle)

• समये: at a time
• समये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• पूर्णे: when completed/fulfilled
• पूर्णे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (समये)

• महिषासनसंस्थितः: seated on a buffalo-seat/throne
• महिषासनसंस्थितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महिष + आसन + संस्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (संस्थित = स्थित); समासः—तत्पुरुष (महिषस्य आसने संस्थितः)

• नरकान्: hells
• नरकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• वीक्ष्य: having seen
• वीक्ष्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• धर्मात्मा: the righteous-souled one
• धर्मात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहि (धर्मः आत्मा यस्य)

• नाना: various
• नाना: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (various)

• क्रन्दसमाकुलान्: filled with cries/wailing
• क्रन्दसमाकुलान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रन्द + समाकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (क्रन्दैः समाकुलाः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma’s governance is orderly and time-bound; the judge surveys consequences to administer proportionate retribution.

Vedantic Theme: Cosmic moral order (dharma/ṛta) operating impersonally through a righteous administrator; actions ripen into experienced realities.

Application: Contemplate consequences before acting; cultivate accountability and ethical restraint by remembering dharma’s oversight.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: royal court/tribunal

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Yama’s sabhā, Yamadūtas, and naraka-darśana sequences (internal thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Naraka

FAQs

What is the importance of Yama’s buffalo-throne (Mahishasana) in the Garuda Purana?

It signifies Yama’s role as the dharmic judge of the dead—enthroned as an authority who administers karmic results, here depicted as observing the hell-realms.

How does this verse explain the experience of Naraka (hell) in the Garuda Purana?

It portrays Naraka as a realm marked by intense suffering, emphasized through “various cries and lamentations,” indicating the painful fruition of harmful karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with dharma—avoid harmful actions that lead to suffering, and cultivate ethical conduct, compassion, and restraint to reduce negative karmic outcomes.