Shloka 11

Saṃsāra-cakra, Preta’s 12-day Transit to Yama, Re-embodiment, and Karma-Vipāka Catalog of Sins and Rebirths

Devanagari script

ततश्च मरणं तत्तद्धर्मामाप्नोति मानवः / एवं संसारचक्रे ऽस्मिन् भ्राम्यते घटीयन्त्रवत्

Transliteration

tataśca maraṇaṃ tattaddharmāmāpnoti mānavaḥ / evaṃ saṃsāracakre 'smin bhrāmyate ghaṭīyantravat

Translation

At saka dumarating ang kamatayan; ang tao ay umaabot sa tadhanang naaayon sa sarili niyang dharma (mga gawa at batas ng moralidad). Kaya sa gulong ng saṃsāra na ito, siya’y patuloy na umiikot—gaya ng mekanismo ng gulong-tubig.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Temporal/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय; कालबोधक (then)

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

• मरणम्: death
• मरणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (समासपूर्वपद/पुनरुक्ति)

• तत्: that (each)
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (पुनरुक्ति)

• धर्मान्: conditions/laws/duties (respective states)
• धर्मान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• आप्नोति: attains/undergoes
• आप्नोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु; आपॢ प्राप्तौ)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मानवः: a human being
• मानवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारबोधक-अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• संसारचक्रे: in the wheel of transmigration
• संसारचक्रे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक; संसारचक्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (संसारस्य चक्रे)

• अस्मिन्: in this
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भ्राम्यते: wanders/whirls about
• भ्राम्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• घटीयन्त्रवत्: like a water-wheel device
• घटीयन्त्रवत्: Sambandha (Comparison/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: घटी + यन्त्र + वत् (प्रातिपदिक; घटीयन्त्रवत्)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त तुलनाबोधक-अव्यय (simile: like ...)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Death follows life; post-death destiny accords with one’s dharma/karma; the jiva revolves in samsara like a water-wheel.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandhana and punarjanma; necessity of moksha as escape from cyclicity.

Application: Live with ethical accountability; prioritize practices that break the cycle—bhakti, jnana, and disciplined conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: karma-phala and rebirth discussions; imagery of samsara-chakra and Yama’s adjudication elsewhere

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of karma and dharma at death in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that at death a person reaches the outcome that corresponds to his dharma—implying that one’s deeds and moral choices shape post-death destiny and further rebirth.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It presents saṃsāra as a revolving wheel: driven by one’s accumulated actions, the being continues to circle through repeated states (birth/death), much like a water-wheel that keeps turning.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with dharma—truthfulness, restraint, compassion, and duty—because the text links one’s end-of-life outcome and future course directly to one’s conduct.