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Shloka 9

The Preta’s Staged Journey to Yama’s City: Monthly Śrāddha Supports, Vaitaraṇī Crossing, and the Witnesses of Deeds

Devanagari script

यमदूतोदितं वाक्यं पक्षिन्नैवं त्वया श्रुतम् / एवमुक्तस्ततः सर्वैर्हन्यमानः स मुद्गरैः

Transliteration

yamadūtoditaṃ vākyaṃ pakṣinnaivaṃ tvayā śrutam / evamuktastataḥ sarvairhanyamānaḥ sa mudgaraiḥ

Translation

اے پر والے! کیا تُو نے یم کے دوتوں کا کہا ہوا کلام نہیں سنا؟ یوں کہے جانے پر وہ سب کے سب اسے گُرزوں سے مارتے رہے۔

Word by Word
यमदूत-उदितम्uttered by Yama’s messengers
यमदूत-उदितम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootयमदूत (प्रातिपदिक) + उदित (कृदन्त; √वद्/√उद्?; here ‘उदित’ = ‘said/uttered’)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कृदन्त (क्त) ‘उदित’; तत्पुरुषसमास (यमदूतैः उदितम्)
वाक्यम्statement, words
वाक्यम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootवाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन
पक्षिन्O bird
पक्षिन्:
Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootपक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन
नnot
न:
Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)
एवम्thus
एवम्:
Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम् (अव्यय)
Formप्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: thus)
त्वयाby you
त्वया:
Karana (Agent in passive/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootयुष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formतृतीया (3), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
श्रुतम्heard
श्रुतम्:
Kriya (Result/क्रियाफल)
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु (धातु)
Formकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मणि भाव (heard)
एवम्thus
एवम्:
Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम् (अव्यय)
Formप्रकारवाचक अव्यय
उक्तःhaving been addressed
उक्तः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootवच् (धातु)
Formकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे (having been spoken to / addressed)
ततःthen
ततः:
Sambandha (Sequence/क्रम)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः (अव्यय)
Formअपादान/क्रमवाचक अव्यय (then/from there)
सर्वैःby all (of them)
सर्वैः:
Karana (Agent in passive/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; ‘all (of them)’
हन्यमानःbeing beaten
हन्यमानः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Rootहन् (धातु)
Formकृदन्त (शानच्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मणि (being struck)
सःhe
सः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
मुद्गरैःwith clubs/mallets
मुद्गरैः:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootमुद्गर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ignoring instruction of Yama’s messengers leads to immediate suffering; cosmic order enforces moral causality.

Vedantic Theme: ऋत/धर्म as governing order; suffering as consequence of avidyā-driven resistance.

Application: Heed ethical counsel early; accept correction; cultivate humility and responsiveness to moral instruction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: road/path

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: punishments by Yamadūtas; beating/torment motifs for resistant pretas; narrative address to Garuḍa (‘pakṣin’) framing

Characters & Entities
Y
Yamadutas
Y
Yama
G
Garuda (Pakshin)

FAQs

This verse highlights Yamadutas as executors of karmic justice: they question the condemned and then enforce consequences, showing that actions lead to tangible results after death.

It depicts a stage where the soul (as a preta/condemned being) is confronted by Yama’s messengers and subjected to punishment, emphasizing the post-death accountability described in the Preta Kanda.

Live with restraint and dharma—avoid harmful actions—since the Garuda Purana frames unethical conduct as leading to suffering after death under Yama’s jurisdiction.

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