Shloka 9

Yama-mārga (Adhvan) and the Courts of Yama: Vaivasvatī and Chitragupta

यद्यस्य यादृशं पापं स पन्थास्तस्य तादृशः / सुदीनाः कृपणा मूढा दुः खैर्व्याप्तास्तरन्ति तम्

yadyasya yādṛśaṃ pāpaṃ sa panthāstasya tādṛśaḥ / sudīnāḥ kṛpaṇā mūḍhā duḥ khairvyāptāstaranti tam

جس نے جیسا گناہ کیا ہو، ویسا ہی راستہ اس کے لیے بن جاتا ہے؛ دکھوں میں گھِرے، نہایت خستہ، بے بس اور گمراہ ہو کر وہ اس (ہولناک) راہ سے گزرتے ہیں۔

यत्whatever
यत्:
सम्बन्ध (Correlative marker)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम (Pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (correlative)
यस्यof whom
यस्य:
सम्बन्ध (Possessor)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन
यादृशम्of what kind
यादृशम्:
विशेषण (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootयादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण to पापम्
पापम्sin
पापम्:
कर्ता (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootपाप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन
सःthat
सः:
कर्ता (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
पन्थाःpath
पन्थाः:
कर्ता (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootपथिन्/पन्था (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
तस्यof him
तस्य:
सम्बन्ध (Possessor)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन
तादृशःof that same kind
तादृशः:
विशेषण (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootतादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण to पन्थाः
सुदीनाःvery miserable
सुदीनाः:
कर्ता (Subject)
TypeAdjective
Rootसुदीन (प्रातिपदिक: सु + दीन)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Plural)
कृपणाःwretched
कृपणाः:
कर्ता (Subject)
TypeAdjective
Rootकृपण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
मूढाःdeluded
मूढाः:
कर्ता (Subject)
TypeAdjective
Rootमूढ (प्रातिपदिक; from मुह्)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
दुःखैःby sufferings
दुःखैः:
करण (Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootदुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन
व्याप्ताःpervaded/overwhelmed
व्याप्ताः:
विशेषण (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootव्याप् (धातु) + क्त (Kta)
Formभूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण to (they)
तरन्तिcross
तरन्ति:
क्रिया (Action)
TypeVerb
Rootतॄ (धातु)
Formलट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद
तम्that (path)
तम्:
कर्म (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

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

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Concept: Karma is individualized: the quality of one’s sin shapes the quality of one’s post-death experience and route.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as niyati within saṃsāra; avidyā (mūḍhatā) sustains suffering until discernment and detachment arise.

Application: Perform self-audit and restraint; adopt expiations where appropriate; cultivate clarity (viveka) to avoid actions that generate future suffering.

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Type: road/pathway

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: repeated motif that each being meets a path/torment corresponding to their deeds; Adjacent verses describing specific torments and the role of yamadūtas in enforcing karma-phala

G
Garuda
S
Sinners
P
Pretas

FAQs

This verse states that the post-death route and experience are directly shaped by the specific nature of one’s sins—karma is not abstract; it determines the very “path” one must undergo.

It explains that the departed (often described in Preta Kanda contexts) traverses a route corresponding to their misconduct, and that this journey is marked by misery, helplessness, and confusion born from suffering.

Treat actions as future consequences in motion: reduce harm, cultivate dharma, and correct unethical habits early—because the text frames the after-death journey as a direct continuation of one’s moral choices.