Shloka 1
Karma, Varṇa-Dharma, and Dāna as the Soul’s True Companion on the Path to Yama
कर्मविपाकादिनिरूपणं नाम सप्तचत्वारिंशो ऽध्यायः तार्क्ष्य उवाच / ये मर्त्यलोके निवसन्ति मानवास्ते सर्वजातौ निधनं प्रयान्ति / काले स्वकीये निजपुण्यसंख्यया वदन्ति लाक कथस्व तन्मे
karmavipākādinirūpaṇaṃ nāma saptacatvāriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ tārkṣya uvāca / ye martyaloke nivasanti mānavāste sarvajātau nidhanaṃ prayānti / kāle svakīye nijapuṇyasaṃkhyayā vadanti lāka kathasva tanme
ตารกษยะ (ครุฑ) กล่าวว่า—มนุษย์ทั้งหลายผู้พำนักในมรรตยโลก ไม่ว่ากำเนิดและฐานะใด ย่อมไปสู่ความตายเป็นแน่ แต่เมื่อถึงกาลของตน ตามประมาณแห่งบุญของตน ย่อมบรรลุโลกของตน ๆ ขอท่านจงบอกข้อนั้นแก่ข้าพเจ้าเถิด।
Garuda (Tārkṣya, Vinatā-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey
Concept: Death is inevitable for all; post-death attainment of worlds corresponds to one’s own accumulated merit (puṇya) and karmic measure at the appointed time.
Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra governed by karma and īśvara-niyati; prompts vairāgya and right action as preparation for higher ends.
Application: Live with awareness of finitude; prioritize puṇya-producing conduct (dāna, satya, ahiṃsā, devotion) and reduce harmful actions that bind future states.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: cosmic realm designation
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.48 (Karmavipāka-nirūpaṇa chapter heading and ensuing exposition)
FAQs
This verse frames the core principle: death is certain for all, and the destination after death (loka) is determined by one’s own accumulated merit (puṇya) and karmic results.
It indicates that at the soul’s appointed time (kāla), beings proceed to different realms according to their karmic account—introducing the Garuda Purana’s later descriptions of post-death states and destinations.
Live with dharma and cultivate puṇya through ethical conduct, charity, and right action, remembering that one’s choices shape one’s post-death outcome as taught in the Garuda Purana.