Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 148

Āśauca, Daśāha Piṇḍa-Rites, Vṛṣotsarga, Sāpiṇḍīkaraṇa, and the Yama-mārga

Path to Yama

Devanagari script

दंष्ट्राकरालवदनं भृकुटीदारुणाकृतिम् / विरूपैर्भोषणैर्वक्त्रैर्वृतं व्याधिशतैः प्रभुम्

Transliteration

daṃṣṭrākarālavadanaṃ bhṛkuṭīdāruṇākṛtim / virūpairbhoṣaṇairvaktrairvṛtaṃ vyādhiśataiḥ prabhum

Translation

他看见死亡之主：獠牙外露，面容狰狞；眉蹙如怒，形相可怖；周围簇拥着形貌怪异、面目骇人的随从，又被百般病苦所环绕。

Word by Word

• daṃṣṭrā: fangs
• daṃṣṭrā: Samasa-anga (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṃṣṭrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (fang) — समासाङ्ग

• karāla: terrible
• karāla: Samasa-anga (Compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग प्रातिपदिक (terrible/gaping) — समासाङ्ग

• vadanam: mouth/face
• vadanam: Karma (Object complement/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadana (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: दंष्ट्रा-कराल-वदनम् = 'having a mouth terrible with fangs'

• bhṛkuṭī: frown
• bhṛkuṭī: Samasa-anga (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛkuṭī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (frown/knitted brow) — समासाङ्ग

• dāruṇa: terrible
• dāruṇa: Samasa-anga (Compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रातिपदिक (terrible) — समासाङ्ग

• ākṛtim: form/appearance
• ākṛtim: Karma (Object complement/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ākṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: भृकुटी-दारुण-आकृतिम् = 'of terrible form (with a dreadful frown)'

• virūpaiḥ: with deformed/ugly
• virūpaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: virūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• bhoṣaṇaiḥ: ornaments/adornments
• bhoṣaṇaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhoṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; 'ornaments/adornments' (here: frightful adornments)

• vaktraiḥ: faces/mouths
• vaktraiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; 'with faces/mouths'

• vṛtam: surrounded
• vṛtam: Karma (Object complement/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, वृत), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'surrounded/covered'

• vyādhi: disease
• vyādhi: Samasa-anga (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyādhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (disease) — समासाङ्ग

• śataiḥ: with hundreds
• śataiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास: व्याधि-शतैः = 'with hundreds of diseases'

• prabhum: the lord
• prabhum: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'lord/master' (refers to Yama)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The terrifying form symbolizes the inescapability of karmic consequence and the soul’s confrontation with its deeds.

Vedantic Theme: Adhyasa-bhaya (fear born of identification) contrasted with dharma-niyama; impetus toward viveka and self-restraint.

Application: Avoid papa through disciplined conduct; contemplate consequences to strengthen ethical resolve and reduce harmful impulses.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: court/assembly hall

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: descriptions of Yamadutas and punitive imagery surrounding Yama’s court; Garuda Purana: catalogues of narakas and punishments that follow karmic adjudication

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Pretas

FAQs

What is the importance of Yama’s frightening depiction in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses a terrifying vision of Yama—fangs, fierce brow, and grotesque attendants—to convey the moral gravity of karma and the dread experienced by the unprepared preta in Yama’s domain.

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

In the Preta Kanda narrative, the departed being (preta) encounters fearsome sights in Yama’s realm; the “hundreds of afflictions” symbolize karmically-driven suffering that accompanies the soul’s post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with restraint and dharma, reduce harmful actions that generate fear and suffering, and support traditional death rites (e.g., śrāddha/pinda offerings where applicable) as a disciplined reminder of impermanence and accountability.