Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 123

An exposition on the fruits of charity and on entry into a body

Garbhotpatti, Piṇḍa-śarīra, and Antya-kāla-kriyā

Devanagari script

केशग्राहैः समाक्रान्ता नीयन्ते यमकिङ्करैः / पापिष्ठास्त्वधमास्तार्क्ष्य दयाधर्मविविर्जिताः

Transliteration

keśagrāhaiḥ samākrāntā nīyante yamakiṅkaraiḥ / pāpiṣṭhāstvadhamāstārkṣya dayādharmavivirjitāḥ

Translation

Bị nắm giật tóc, họ bị các sứ giả của Diêm Vương lôi đi. Ôi Tārkṣya (Garuda), đó là hạng người tội lỗi nhất và hèn kém nhất—không có lòng từ bi và cũng chẳng có chánh pháp.

Word by Word

• keśa-grāhaiḥ: by hair-graspers (by seizing the hair)
• keśa-grāhaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: keśa (प्रातिपदिक) + grāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; केशानां ग्राहाः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• samākrāntāḥ: overpowered, seized
• samākrāntāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-krām (धातु) → samākrānta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• nīyante: are led away
• nīyante: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nī (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• yama-kiṅkaraiḥ: by Yama's servants
• yama-kiṅkaraiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक) + kiṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; यमस्य किङ्कराः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• pāpiṣṭhāḥ: most sinful
• pāpiṣṭhāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpin (प्रातिपदिक) → pāpiṣṭha (तद्धित/तरप्-तमप् superlative)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; अतिशयार्थे तमप् (superlative)

• tu: but, indeed
• tu: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ

• adhamāḥ: lowest, vile
• adhamāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• tārkṣya: O Tārkṣya (Garuda)
• tārkṣya: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tārkṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• dayā-dharma-vivirjitāḥ: devoid of compassion and righteousness
• dayā-dharma-vivirjitāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dayā (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + vi-vṛj (धातु) → vivirjita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; dayā ca dharmaś ca (द्वन्द्व) तयोः vivirjitāḥ (वियुक्ताः) इति समासः (समाहार-तत्पुरुषभाव)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Tārkṣya)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cruelty and adharma lead to punitive post-mortem consequences administered by Yama’s agents.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyati (inevitability of results) within saṃsāra; ethical failure binds the jīva to suffering.

Application: Cultivate dayā (compassion) and dharma in conduct; avoid harm and exploitation, remembering accountability beyond death.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: otherworldly court/road of Yama

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of Yamadūtas dragging sinners; recurring motif of hair-seizure and forced transport

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Yamakiṅkaras (Yama’s messengers)

FAQs

What is the importance of compassion (dayā) and dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames compassion and dharma as defining virtues; those who lack them are counted among the worst sinners and are forcibly taken by Yama’s messengers.

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

It depicts the punitive escort of the gravely sinful: Yamakiṅkaras seize and drag them, indicating an involuntary, painful transition toward Yama’s judgment rather than a peaceful passage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate compassion and live by dharma—avoid cruelty and unethical conduct—since the text links a merciless, unrighteous life with severe consequences after death.