Shloka 57

Kāraṇānvēṣaṇam: The 32 Marks of Hari, Defects (Doṣas), Death-Omens, and Hari’s Omnipresence in Social & Household Life

Devanagari script

अष्टादशभिर्लक्षणैः संयुतस्तु वैवस्वतस्तदभावैश्चतुर्दशभिः / मित्रस्तु सप्तदशभिर्लक्षणैः संयुतः खग

Transliteration

aṣṭādaśabhirlakṣaṇaiḥ saṃyutastu vaivasvatastadabhāvaiścaturdaśabhiḥ / mitrastu saptadaśabhirlakṣaṇaiḥ saṃyutaḥ khaga

Translation

O ibon (Garuda), si Vaivasvata (Yama) ay napuspos ng labingwalong natatanging tanda, at nakikilala rin sa kawalan ng labing-apat na (ibang) tanda. Ngunit si Mitra ay napuspos ng labimpitong natatanging tanda.

Word by Word

• aṣṭādaśabhiḥ: by eighteen
• aṣṭādaśabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭādaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (Numeral) Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• lakṣaṇaiḥ: with characteristics
• lakṣaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• saṃyutaḥ: endowed
• saṃyutaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-√yuj (युज् धातु)
• Form: PPP (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• vaivasvataḥ: Vaivasvata (name)
• vaivasvataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaivasvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tad-abhāvaiḥ: with those absences
• tad-abhāvaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक) + abhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• caturdaśabhiḥ: by fourteen
• caturdaśabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caturdaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (Numeral) Instrumental, Plural

• mitraḥ: Mitra (name)
• mitraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tu: and/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• saptadaśabhiḥ: by seventeen
• saptadaśabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saptadaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (Numeral) Instrumental, Plural

• lakṣaṇaiḥ: with characteristics
• lakṣaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• saṃyutaḥ: endowed
• saṃyutaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-√yuj (युज् धातु)
• Form: PPP (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• khaga: O bird (Garuda)
• khaga: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic governance is structured: deities/forces (Yama, Mitra) are characterized by defined laksanas and absences, reflecting lawful order rather than arbitrariness.

Vedantic Theme: Rta/Dharma as cosmic law: karmic adjudication operates through determinate principles; the universe is intelligible.

Application: Cultivate ethical clarity and accountability: live as though actions are measured by an impartial order (Yama), and practice truth/contract-keeping (Mitra’s associative sphere).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: divine court/realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa passages on Yama’s court and karmic judgment (contextual linkage, though this verse is classificatory)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Yama (Vaivasvata)
• Mitra

FAQs

What is the importance of describing Yama’s ‘lakṣaṇas’ in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Yama (Vaivasvata) as a specifically identifiable cosmic authority in the after-death order, distinguished by enumerated marks, reinforcing his doctrinal role in judging and regulating beings after death.

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

Indirectly: by distinguishing Yama among divine beings through defined ‘lakṣaṇas,’ the text situates him as the key administrator encountered in the post-death narrative, where souls are assessed according to karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat ethical conduct (dharma) as real and consequential: the verse reminds practitioners that the afterlife framework is governed by definite principles and authorities, encouraging accountability in actions.