Shloka 5

Vaitaraṇī: Torments of the Sinful, Sins Enumerated, and the Vaitaraṇī Go-dāna Rite

Devanagari script

शिशुमारैश्च मकरैर्वज्रकर्तरिकायुतैः / अन्यैश्च जलजीवैश्च हिंसकैर्मांसभेदिभिः

Transliteration

śiśumāraiśca makarairvajrakartarikāyutaiḥ / anyaiśca jalajīvaiśca hiṃsakairmāṃsabhedibhiḥ

Translation

ที่นั่นมีศิศุมารและมกร พร้อมเขี้ยวราวกรรไกรวัชระ และยังมีสัตว์น้ำอื่น ๆ อีก—ดุร้าย โหดเหี้ยม ฉีกเนื้อเป็นชิ้น

Word by Word

• शिशुमारैः: by dolphins/crocodile-like creatures
• शिशुमारैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; करण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मकरैः: by makaras (sea-monsters)
• मकरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; करण

• वज्र-कर्तरिका-आयुतैः: equipped with thunderbolt-like scissors (jaws)
• वज्र-कर्तरिका-आयुतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्तरिका (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘मकरैः/शिशुमारैः’ इत्यादीनां विशेषण

• अन्यैः: by other
• अन्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘जलजीवैः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• जल-जीवैः: by aquatic creatures
• जल-जीवैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; करण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• हिंसकैः: by violent ones
• हिंसकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिंसक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘जलजीवैः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• मांस-भेदिभिः: by flesh-tearing (creatures)
• मांस-भेदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक) + भेदिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘जलजीवैः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Harmful deeds yield harm: the sinner is subjected to हिंसक forces that ‘cut’ and ‘tear’ as karmic reflection.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as self-authored bondage; violent tendencies externalize as violent worlds until purification and surrender arise.

Application: Practice ahiṃsā and restraint; reduce cruelty in speech, consumption, and livelihood; support life-affirming actions (dāna, protection of beings).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: river

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: animal/creature torment motifs across narakas; Garuda Purana: Vaitaraṇī as a major obstacle crossed by merit/ritual support in nearby teachings

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Makaras
• Aquatic creatures

FAQs

What is the importance of this imagery of aquatic torment in the Garuda Purana?

It conveys how specific karmic consequences are experienced as vivid, embodied suffering in punitive realms, emphasizing the seriousness of harmful actions and the inevitability of karmic results.

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

Within the Preta Kanda narrative, the departed being can be led through frightening regions where punishments are administered; this verse depicts one such torment involving violent water-creatures, illustrating the perilous post-death journey shaped by karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate non-violence and ethical restraint, avoid actions that cause harm, and support dharmic conduct and prescribed rites for the departed—using the teaching as motivation for responsible living.