Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

मन्दमारु तसंयोगैरुत्सवैर्विविधैस्तथा / व्याख्यानैर्विविधैर्युक्तः शङ्खवादित्रनिः स्वनैः

Transliteration

mandamāru tasaṃyogairutsavairvividhaistathā / vyākhyānairvividhairyuktaḥ śaṅkhavāditraniḥ svanaiḥ

Translation

สถานนั้นมีสายลมอ่อนเย็นพัดประคอง มีงานฉลองนานาประการและธรรมเทศนาหลากหลายประกอบอยู่ และก้องกังวานด้วยเสียงสังข์และดุริยางค์ต่าง ๆ

Word by Word

• मन्दमारुतसंयोगैः: by/with connections of gentle winds
• मन्दमारुतसंयोगैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + मारुत (प्रातिपदिक) + संयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; समासः—(मन्दमारुतस्य संयोगाः) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• उत्सवैः: with festivals
• उत्सवैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्सव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• विविधैः: various
• विविधैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (उत्सवैः/व्याख्यानैः सह)

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—समुच्चय/उपपद (adverb/conjunctive sense: 'and also/likewise')

• व्याख्यानैः: with explanations/discourses
• व्याख्यानैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• विविधैः: various
• विविधैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (व्याख्यानैः सह)

• युक्तः: endowed/filled
• युक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) → युक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; 'युक्त' = endowed/connected

• शङ्खवादित्रनिःस्वनैः: with the sounds of conches and instruments
• शङ्खवादित्रनिःस्वनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + वादित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + निःस्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; समासः—(शङ्खवादित्रयोः निःस्वनाः) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic order (ṛta/dharma) manifests as harmony—festive rites, instruction, and auspicious sound even within the realm of judgment.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-niyati (divine governance) and the intelligibility of moral law; the universe as a structured, meaningful order.

Application: Cultivate dharmic living and reflective listening (śravaṇa) to align with moral order; keep sacred sound (mantra, conch, kīrtana) as a daily stabilizer.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: city/royal precinct

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: descriptions of Yamaloka city/assembly and the administrative order of Yama and his attendants (contextual sequence around 2.33)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of sacred sounds like the conch (śaṅkha) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents conch and instrument sounds as markers of an auspicious, dharmic environment—signifying purity, celebration, and spiritually elevating influence.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda’s after-death context, such descriptions indicate a благоприятная (auspicious) state or realm associated with merit—where uplifting breezes, festivals, and dharma-discourses surround the experiencer.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate dharmic surroundings: participate in satsanga and scriptural talks (vyākhyāna), keep sacred sound (conch/chanting) in rituals, and celebrate festivals with ethical conduct.