Shloka 2

Viṣṇv-ekapūjya-nirṇaya; Gaṅgā-Viṣṇupadī-māhātmya; Kali-yuga doṣa; Puṣkara-dharma of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

सज्जनान्सौम्यरूपेण धारणाद्धर्मनामकः / स एव सूर्यपुत्रोभूद्यमसंज्ञामवाप सः / पापिनां शिक्षकत्त्वात्स यम इत्युच्यते बुधैः

Transliteration

sajjanānsaumyarūpeṇa dhāraṇāddharmanāmakaḥ / sa eva sūryaputrobhūdyamasaṃjñāmavāpa saḥ / pāpināṃ śikṣakattvātsa yama ityucyate budhaiḥ

Translation

Do nâng đỡ và gìn giữ người hiền bằng hình tướng nhu hòa, Ngài được gọi là Dharma. Chính vị ấy, con của Thái Dương, nhận danh xưng “Yama”; và vì dạy dỗ, chế ngự kẻ tội lỗi, bậc trí gọi Ngài là “Yama”.

Word by Word

• sat-janān: good people
• sat-janān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• saumya-rūpeṇa: by a gentle form
• saumya-rūpeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumya (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• dhāraṇāt: because of sustaining/supporting
• dhāraṇāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhāraṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• dharma-nāmakaḥ: named ‘Dharma’
• dharma-nāmakaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + nāmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (epithet)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• sūrya-putraḥ: son of the Sun
• sūrya-putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• abhūt: became/was born
• abhūt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• yama-saṃjñām: the name ‘Yama’
• yama-saṃjñām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃjñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• avāpa: obtained/received
• avāpa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• pāpinām: of sinners
• pāpinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• śikṣakatvāt: because of being an instructor/punisher
• śikṣakatvāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikṣaka-tva (प्रातिपदिक; √śikṣ + अक + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; भाववाचक (state of being an instructor)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• yamaḥ: Yama
• yamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात

• ucyate: is called
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), आत्मनेपद

• budhaiḥ: by the wise
• budhaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yama is Dharma’s function: gentle sustenance of the good and corrective instruction of the sinful.

Vedantic Theme: Rta/Dharma as cosmic order; ethical causality under divine governance.

Application: Cultivate dharma (truthfulness, non-harm, self-control) to align with the ‘gentle’ aspect of Dharma and avoid punitive correction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: realm/court

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Yama as judge and Dharma as regulator (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Dharma
• Yama
• Surya

FAQs

What is the importance of Yama being called Dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse explains that Yama is ‘Dharma’ when he upholds and protects the virtuous—his function is not only punishment but maintaining moral order.

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

By identifying Yama as the moral governor who disciplines sinners, the verse frames the post-death journey as a karma-based process overseen by Yama as judge and instructor.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live in alignment with dharma: protect truthfulness, restraint, and duty—so the afterlife governance symbolized by Yama is experienced as order and guidance rather than fear.