Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 5 · Chapter 26
राजोवाच महर्ष एतद्वैचित्र्यं लोकस्य कथमिति ॥ १ ॥
rajovaca maharsa etad vaicitryam lokasya katham iti.
King Pariksit inquired from Sukadeva Gosvami: My dear sir, why are the living entities put into different material situations? Kindly explain this to me.
ऋषिरुवाच त्रिगुणत्वात्कर्तु: श्रद्धया कर्मगतय: पृथग्विधा: सर्वा एव सर्वस्य तारतम्येन भवन्ति ॥ २ ॥
rsir uvaca tri-gunatvat kartuh sraddhaya karma-gatayah prthag-vidhah sarva eva sarvasya taratamyena bhavanti.
The great sage Sukadeva Gosvami said: My dear King, in this material world there are three kinds of activities—those in the mode of goodness, the mode of passion and the mode of ignorance. Because all people are influenced by the three modes of material nature, the results of their activities are also divided into three. One who acts in the mode of goodness is religious and happy, one who acts in passion achieves mixed misery and happiness, and one who acts under the influence of ignorance is always unhappy and lives like an animal. Because of the varying degrees to which the living entities are influenced by the different modes of nature, their destinations are also of different varieties.
अथेदानीं प्रतिषिद्धलक्षणस्याधर्मस्य तथैव कर्तु: श्रद्धाया वैसादृश्यात्कर्मफलं विसदृशं भवति या ह्यनाद्यविद्यया कृतकामानां तत्परिणामलक्षणा: सृतय: सहस्रश: प्रवृत्तास्तासां प्राचुर्येणानुवर्णयिष्याम: ॥ ३ ॥
athedanim pratisiddha-laksanasyadharmasya tathaiva kartuh sraddhaya vaisadrsyat karma-phalam visadrsam bhavati ya hy anady-avidyaya krta-kamanam tat-parinama-laksanah srtayah sahasrasah pravrttas tasam pracuryenanuvarnayisyamah.
Just as by executing various pious activities one achieves different positions in heavenly life, by acting impiously one achieves different positions in hellish life. Those who are activated by the material mode of ignorance engage in impious activities, and according to the extent of their ignorance, they are placed in different grades of hellish life. If one acts in the mode of ignorance because of madness, his resulting misery is the least severe. One who acts impiously but knows the distinction between pious and impious activities is placed in a hell of intermediate severity. And for one who acts impiously and ignorantly because of atheism, the resultant hellish life is the worst. Because of ignorance, every living entity has been carried by various desires into thousands of different hellish planes since time immemorial. I shall try to describe them as far as possible.
राजोवाच नरका नाम भगवन्किं देशविशेषा अथवा बहिस्त्रिलोक्या आहोस्विदन्तराल इति ॥ ४ ॥
rajovaca naraka nama bhagavan kim desa-visesa athava bahis tri-lokya ahosvid antarala iti.
King Pariksit inquired from Sukadeva Gosvami: My dear lord, are the hellish regions outside the universe, within the covering of the universe, or in different places on this planet?
ऋषिरुवाच अन्तराल एव त्रिजगत्यास्तु दिशि दक्षिणस्यामधस्ताद्भूमेरुपरिष्टाच्च जलाद्यस्यामग्निष्वात्तादय: पितृगणा दिशि स्वानां गोत्राणां परमेण समाधिना सत्या एवाशिष आशासाना निवसन्ति ॥ ५ ॥
rsir uvaca antarala eva tri-jagatyas tu disi daksinasyam adhastad bhumer uparistac ca jalad yasyam agnisvattadayah pitr-gana disi svanam gotranam paramena samadhina satya evasisa asasana nivasanti.
The great sage Sukadeva Gosvami answered: All the hellish planes are situated in the intermediate space between the three worlds and the Garbhodaka Ocean. They lie on the southern side of the universe, beneath Bhu-mandala, and slightly above the water of the Garbhodaka Ocean. Pitrloka is also located in this region between the Garbhodaka Ocean and the lower planeary systems. All the residents of Pitrloka, headed by Agnisvatta, meditate in great samadhi on the Supreme Personality of Godhead and always wish their families well.
यत्र ह वाव भगवान् पितृराजो वैवस्वत: स्वविषयं प्रापितेषु स्वपुरुषैर्जन्तुषु सम्परेतेषु यथाकर्मावद्यं दोषमेवानुल्लङ्घितभगवच्छासन: सगणो दमं धारयति ॥ ६ ॥
yatra ha vava bhagavan pitr-rajo vaivasvatah sva-visayam prapitesu sva-purusair jantusu samparetesu yatha-karmavadyam dosam evanullanghita-bhagavac-chasanah sagano damam dharayati.
The King of the pitas is Yamaraja, the very powerful son of the sun-god. He resides in Pitrloka with his personal assistants and, while abiding by the rules and regulations set down by the Supreme Lord, has his agents, the Yamadutas, bring all the sinful men to him immediately upon their death. After bringing them within his jurisdiction, he properly judges them according to their specific sinful activities and sends them to one of the many hellish planes for suitable punishments.
तत्र हैके नरकानेकविंशतिं गणयन्ति अथ तांस्ते राजन्नामरूपलक्षणतोऽनुक्रमिष्यामस्तामिस्रोऽन्धतामिस्रो रौरवो महारौरव: कुम्भीपाक: कालसूत्रमसिपत्रवनं सूकरमुखमन्धकूप: कृमिभोजन: सन्दंशस्तप्तसूर्मिर्वज्रकण्टकशाल्मली वैतरणी पूयोद: प्राणरोधो विशसनं लालाभक्ष: सारमेयादनमवीचिरय:पानमिति । किञ्च क्षारकर्दमो रक्षोगणभोजन: शूलप्रोतो दन्दशूकोऽवटनिरोधन: पर्यावर्तन: सूचीमुखमित्यष्टाविंशतिर्नरका विविधयातनाभूमय: ॥ ७ ॥
tatra haike narakan eka-vimsatim ganayanti atha tams te rajan nama-rupa-laksanato ’nukramisyamas tamisro ’ndhatamisro rauravo maharauravah kumbhipakah kalasutram asipatravanam sukaramukham andhakupah krmibhojanah sandamsas taptasurmir vajrakantaka-salmali vaitarani puyodah pranarodho visasanam lalabhaksah sarameyadanam avicir ayahpanam iti; kinca ksarakardamo raksogana-bhojanah sulaproto dandasuko ’vata-nirodhanah paryavartanah sucimukham ity asta-vimsatir naraka vividha-yatana-bhumayah.
Some authorities say that there is a total of twenty-one hellish planes, and some say twenty-eight. My dear King, I shall outline all of them according to their names, forms and symptoms. The names of the different hells are as follows: Tamisra, Andhatamisra, Raurava, Maharaurava, Kumbhipaka, Kalasutra, Asi-patravana, Sukaramukha, Andhakupa, Krmibhojana, Sandamsa, Taptasurmi, Vajrakantaka-salmali, Vaitarani, Puyoda, Pranarodha, Visasana, Lalabhaksa, Sarameyadana, Avici, Ayahpana, Ksarakardama, Raksogana-bhojana, Sulaprota, Dandasuka, Avata-nirodhana, Paryavartana and Sucimukha. All these planes are meant for punishing the living entities.
तत्र यस्तु परवित्तापत्यकलत्राण्यपहरति स हि कालपाशबद्धो यमपुरुषैरतिभयानकैस्तामिस्रे नरके बलान्निपात्यते अनशनानुदपानदण्डताडनसन्तर्जनादिभिर्यातनाभिर्यात्यमानो जन्तुर्यत्र कश्मलमासादित एकदैव मूर्च्छामुपयाति तामिस्रप्राये ॥ ८ ॥
tatra yas tu para-vittapatya-kalatrany apaharati sa hi kala-pasa-baddho yama-purusair ati-bhayanakais tamisre narake balan nipatyate anasananudapana-danda-tadana-santarjanadibhir yatanabhir yatyamano jantur yatra kasmalam asadita ekadaiva murccham upayati tamisra-praye.
My dear King, a person who appropriates another’s legitimate wife, children or money is arrested at the time of death by the fierce Yamadutas, who bind him with the rope of time and forcibly throw him into the hellish plane known as Tamisra. On this very dark plane, the sinful man is chastised by the Yamadutas, who beat and rebuke him. He is starved, and he is given no water to drink. Thus the wrathful assistants of Yamaraja cause him severe suffering, and sometimes he faints from their chastisement.
एवमेवान्धतामिस्रे यस्तु वञ्चयित्वा पुरुषं दारादीनुपयुङ्क्ते यत्र शरीरी निपात्यमानो यातनास्थो वेदनया नष्टमतिर्नष्टदृष्टिश्च भवति यथा वनस्पतिर्वृश्च्यमानमूलस्तस्मादन्धतामिस्रं तमुपदिशन्ति ॥ ९ ॥
evam evandhatamisre yas tu vancayitva purusam daradin upayunkte yatra sariri nipatyamano yatana-stho vedanaya nasta-matir nasta-drstis ca bhavati yatha vanaspatir vrscyamana-mulas tasmad andhatamisram tam upadisanti.
The destination of a person who slyly cheats another man and enjoys his wife and children is the hell known as Andhatamisra. There his condition is exactly like that of a tree being chopped at its roots. Even before reaching Andhatamisra, the sinful living being is subjected to various extreme miseries. These afflictions are so severe that he loses his intelligence and sight. It is for this reason that learned sages call this hell Andhatamisra.
यस्त्विह वा एतदहमिति ममेदमिति भूतद्रोहेण केवलं स्वकुटुम्बमेवानुदिनं प्रपुष्णाति स तदिह विहाय स्वयमेव तदशुभेन रौरवे निपतति ॥ १० ॥
yas tv iha va etad aham iti mamedam iti bhuta-drohena kevalam sva-kutumbam evanudinam prapusnati sa tad iha vihaya svayam eva tad-asubhena raurave nipatati.
A person who accepts his body as his self works very hard day and night for money to maintain his own body and the bodies of his wife and children. While working to maintain himself and his family, he may commit violence against other living entities. Such a person is forced to give up his body and his family at the time of death, when he suffers the reaction for his envy of other creatures by being thrown into the hell called Raurava.
ये त्विह यथैवामुना विहिंसिता जन्तव: परत्र यमयातनामुपगतं त एव रुरवो भूत्वा तथा तमेव विहिंसन्ति तस्माद्रौरवमित्याहू रुरुरिति सर्पादतिक्रूरसत्त्वस्यापदेश: ॥ ११ ॥
ye tv iha yathaivamuna vihimsita jantavah paratra yama-yatanam upagatam ta eva ruravo bhutva tatha tam eva vihimsanti tasmad rauravam ity ahu rurur iti sarpad ati-krura-sattvasyapadesah.
In this life, an envious person commits violent acts against many living entities. Therefore after his death, when he is taken to hell by Yamaraja, those living entities who were hurt by him appear as animals called rurus to inflict very severe pain upon him. Learned scholars call this hell Raurava. Not generally seen in this world, the ruru is more envious than a snake.
एवमेव महारौरवो यत्र निपतितं पुरुषं क्रव्यादा नाम रुरवस्तं क्रव्येण घातयन्ति य: केवलं देहम्भर: ॥ १२ ॥
evam eva maharauravo yatra nipatitam purusam kravyada nama ruravas tam kravyena ghatayanti yah kevalam dehambharah.
Punishment in the hell called Maharaurava is compulsory for a person who maintains his own body by hurting others. In this hell, ruru animals known as kravyada torment him and eat his flesh.
यस्त्विह वा उग्र: पशून् पक्षिणो वा प्राणत उपरन्धयति तमपकरुणं पुरुषादैरपि विगर्हितममुत्र यमानुचरा: कुम्भीपाके तप्ततैले उपरन्धयन्ति ॥ १३ ॥
yas tv iha va ugrah pasun paksino va pranata uparandhayati tam apakarunam purusadair api vigarhitam amutra yamanucarah kumbhipake tapta-taile uparandhayanti.
For the maintenance of their bodies and the satisfaction of their tongues, cruel persons cook poor animals and birds alive. Such persons are condemned even by man-eaters. In their next lives they are carried by the Yamadutas to the hell known as Kumbhipaka, where they are cooked in boiling oil.
यस्त्विह ब्रह्मध्रुक स कालसूत्रसंज्ञके नरके अयुतयोजनपरिमण्डले ताम्रमये तप्तखले उपर्यधस्तादग्न्यर्काभ्यामतितप्यमानेऽभिनिवेशित: क्षुत्पिपासाभ्यां च दह्यमानान्तर्बहि:शरीर आस्ते शेते चेष्टतेऽवतिष्ठति परिधावति च यावन्ति पशुरोमाणि तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि ॥ १४ ॥
yas tv iha brahma-dhruk sa kalasutra-samjnake narake ayuta-yojana-parimandale tamramaye tapta-khale upary-adhastad agny-arkabhyam ati-tapyamane ’bhinivesitah ksut-pipasabhyam ca dahyamanantar-bahih-sarira aste sete cestate ’vatisthati paridhavati ca yavanti pasu-romani tavad varsa-sahasrani.
The killer of a brahmana is put into the hell known as Kalasutra, which has a circumference of eighty thousand miles and which is made entirely of copper. Heated from below by fire and from above by the scorching sun, the copper surface of this plane is extremely hot. Thus the murderer of a brahmana suffers from being burned both internally and externally. Internally he is burning with hunger and thirst, and externally he is burning from the scorching heat of the sun and the fire beneath the copper surface. Therefore he sometimes lies down, sometimes sits, sometimes stands up and sometimes runs here and there. He must suffer in this way for as many thousands of years as there are hairs on the body of an animal.
यस्त्विह वै निजवेदपथादनापद्यपगत: पाखण्डं चोपगतस्तमसिपत्रवनं प्रवेश्य कशया प्रहरन्ति तत्र हासावितस्ततो धावमान उभयतोधारैस्तालवनासिपत्रैश्छिद्यमानसर्वाङ्गो हा हतोऽस्मीति परमया वेदनया मूर्च्छित: पदे पदे निपतति स्वधर्महा पाखण्डानुगतं फलं भुङ्क्ते ॥ १५ ॥
yas tv iha vai nija-veda-pathad anapady apagatah pakhandam copagatas tam asi-patravanam pravesya kasaya praharanti tatra hasav itas tato dhavamana ubhayato dharais tala-vanasi-patrais chidyamana-sarvango ha hato ’smiti paramaya vedanaya murcchitah pade pade nipatati sva-dharmaha pakhandanugatam phalam bhunkte.
If a person deviates from the path of the Vedas in the absence of an emergency, the servants of Yamaraja put him into the hell called Asi-patravana, where they beat him with whips. When he runs hither and thither, fleeing from the extreme pain, on all sides he runs into palm trees with leaves like sharpened swords. Thus injured all over his body and fainting at every step, he cries out, Oh, what shall I do now! How shall I be saved This is how one suffers who deviates from the accepted religious principles.
यस्त्विह वै राजा राजपुरुषो वा अदण्ड्ये दण्डं प्रणयति ब्राह्मणे वा शरीरदण्डं स पापीयान्नरकेऽमुत्र सूकरमुखे निपतति तत्रातिबलैर्विनिष्पिष्यमाणावयवो यथैवेहेक्षुखण्ड आर्तस्वरेण स्वनयन् क्वचिन्मूर्च्छित: कश्मलमुपगतो यथैवेहादृष्टदोषा उपरुद्धा: ॥ १६ ॥
yas tv iha vai raja raja-puruso va adandye dandam pranayati brahmane va sarira-dandam sa papiyan narake ’mutra sukaramukhe nipatati tatratibalair vinispisyamanavayavo yathaiveheksukhanda arta-svarena svanayan kvacin murcchitah kasmalam upagato yathaiveha-drsta-dosa uparuddhah.
In his next life, a sinful king or governmental representative who punishes an innocent person, or who inflicts corporal punishment upon a brahmana, is taken by the Yamadutas to the hell named Sukaramukha, where the most powerful assistants of Yamaraja crush him exactly as one crushes sugarcane to squeeze out the juice. The sinful living entity cries very pitiably and faints, just like an innocent man undergoing punishments. This is the result of punishing a faultless person.
यस्त्विह वै भूतानामीश्वरोपकल्पितवृत्तीनामविविक्तपरव्यथानां स्वयं पुरुषोपकल्पितवृत्तिर्विविक्तपरव्यथो व्यथामाचरति स परत्रान्धकूपे तदभिद्रोहेण निपतति तत्र हासौ तैर्जन्तुभि: पशुमृगपक्षिसरीसृपैर्मशकयूकामत्कुणमक्षिकादिभिर्ये के चाभिद्रुग्धास्तै: सर्वतोऽभिद्रुह्यमाणस्तमसि विहतनिद्रानिर्वृतिरलब्धावस्थान: परिक्रामति यथा कुशरीरे जीव: ॥ १७ ॥
yas tv iha vai bhutanam isvaropakalpita-vrttinam avivikta-para-vyathanam svayam purusopakalpita-vrttir vivikta-para-vyatho vyatham acarati sa paratrandhakupe tad-abhidrohena nipatati tatra hasau tair jantubhih pasu-mrga-paksi-sarisrpair masaka-yuka-matkuna-maksikadibhir ye ke cabhidrugdhas taih sarvato ’bhidruhyamanas tamasi vihata-nidra-nirvrtir alabdhavasthanah parikramati yatha kusarire jivah.
By the arrangement of the Supreme Lord, low-grade living beings like bugs and mosquitoes suck the blood of human beings and other animals. Such insignificant creatures are unaware that their bites are painful to the human being. However, first-class human beings—brahmanas, ksatriyas and vaisyas—are developed in consciousness, and therefore they know how painful it is to be killed. A human being endowed with knowledge certainly commits sin if he kills or torments insignificant creatures, who have no discrimination. The Supreme Lord punishes such a man by putting him into the hell known as Andhakupa, where he is attacked by all the birds and beasts, reptiles, mosquitoes, lice, worms, flies, and any other creatures he tormented during his life. They attack him from all sides, robbing him of the pleasure of sleep. Unable to rest, he constantly wanders about in the darkness. Thus in Andhakupa his suffering is just like that of a creature in the lower species.
यस्त्विह वा असंविभज्याश्नाति यत्किञ्चनोपनतमनिर्मितपञ्चयज्ञो वायससंस्तुत: स परत्र कृमिभोजने नरकाधमे निपतति तत्र शतसहस्रयोजने कृमिकुण्डे कृमिभूत: स्वयं कृमिभिरेव भक्ष्यमाण: कृमिभोजनो यावत्तदप्रत्ताप्रहूतादोऽनिर्वेशमात्मानं यातयते ॥ १८ ॥
yas tv iha va asamvibhajyasnati yat kincanopanatam anirmita-panca-yajno vayasa-samstutah sa paratra krmibhojane narakadhame nipatati tatra sata-sahasra-yojane krmi-kunde krmi-bhutah svayam krmibhir eva bhaksyamanah krmi-bhojano yavat tad aprattaprahutado ’nirvesam atmanam yatayate.
A person is considered no better than a crow if after receiving some food, he does not divide it among guests, old men and children, but simply eats it himself, or if he eats it without performing the five kinds of sacrifice. After death he is put into the most abominable hell, known as Krmibhojana. In that hell is a lake 100,000 yojanas (800,000 miles) wide and filled with worms. He becomes a worm in that lake and feeds on the other worms there, who also feed on him. Unless he atones for his actions before his death, such a sinful man remains in the hellish lake of Krmibhojana for as many years as there are yojanas in the width of the lake.
यस्त्विह वै स्तेयेन बलाद्वा हिरण्यरत्नादीनि ब्राह्मणस्य वापहरत्यन्यस्य वानापदि पुरुषस्तममुत्र राजन् यमपुरुषा अयस्मयैरग्निपिण्डै: सन्दंशैस्त्वचि निष्कुषन्ति ॥ १९ ॥
yas tv iha vai steyena balad va hiranya-ratnadini brahmanasya vapaharaty anyasya vanapadi purusas tam amutra rajan yama-purusa ayasmayair agni-pindaih sandamsais tvaci niskusanti.
My dear King, a person who in the absence of an emergency robs a brahmana—or, indeed, anyone else—of his gems and gold is put into a hell known as Sandamsa. There his skin is torn and separated by red-hot iron balls and tongs. In this way, his entire body is cut to pieces.
यस्त्विह वा अगम्यां स्त्रियमगम्यं वा पुरुषं योषिदभिगच्छति तावमुत्र कशया ताडयन्तस्तिग्मया सूर्म्या लोहमय्या पुरुषमालिङ्गयन्ति स्त्रियं च पुरुषरूपया सूर्म्या ॥ २० ॥
yas tv iha va agamyam striyam agamyam va purusam yosid abhigacchati tav amutra kasaya tadayantas tigmaya surmya lohamayya purusam alingayanti striyam ca purusa-rupaya surmya.
A man or woman who indulges in sexual intercourse with an unworthy member of the opposite sex is punished after death by the assistants of Yamaraja in the hell known as Taptasurmi. There such men and women are beaten with whips. The man is forced to embrace a red-hot iron form of a woman, and the woman is forced to embrace a similar form of a man. Such is the punishment for illicit sex.
यस्त्विह वै सर्वाभिगमस्तममुत्र निरये वर्तमानं वज्रकण्टकशाल्मलीमारोप्य निष्कर्षन्ति ॥ २१ ॥
yas tv iha vai sarvabhigamas tam amutra niraye vartamanam vajrakantaka-salmalim aropya niskarsanti.
A person who indulges in sex indiscriminately—even with animals—is taken after death to the hell known as Vajrakantaka-salmali. In this hell there is a silk-cotton tree full of thorns as strong as thunderbolts. The agents of Yamaraja hang the sinful man on that tree and pull him down forcibly so that the thorns very severely tear his body.
ये त्विह वै राजन्या राजपुरुषा वा अपाखण्डा धर्मसेतून् भिन्दन्ति ते सम्परेत्य वैतरण्यां निपतन्ति भिन्नमर्यादास्तस्यां निरयपरिखाभूतायां नद्यां यादोगणैरितस्ततो भक्ष्यमाणा आत्मना न वियुज्यमानाश्चासुभिरुह्यमाना: स्वाघेन कर्मपाकमनुस्मरन्तो विण्मूत्रपूयशोणितकेशनखास्थिमेदोमांसवसावाहिन्यामुपतप्यन्ते ॥ २२ ॥
ye tv iha vai rajanya raja-purusa va apakhanda dharma-setun bhindanti te samparetya vaitaranyam nipatanti bhinna-maryadas tasyam niraya-parikha-bhutayam nadyam yado-ganair itas tato bhaksyamana atmana na viyujyamanas casubhir uhyamanah svaghena karma-pakam anusmaranto vin-mutra-puya-sonita-kesa-nakhasthi-medo-mamsa-vasa-vahinyam upatapyante.
A person who is born into a responsible family—such as a ksatriya, a member of royalty or a government servant—but who neglects to execute his prescribed duties according to religious principles, and who thus becomes degraded, falls down at the time of death into the river of hell known as Vaitarani. This river, which is a moat surrounding hell, is full of ferocious aquatic animals. When a sinful man is thrown into the River Vaitarani, the aquatic animals there immediately begin to eat him, but because of his extremely sinful life, he does not leave his body. He constantly remembers his sinful activities and suffers terribly in that river, which is full of stool, urine, pus, blood, hair, nails, bones, marrow, flesh and fat.
ये त्विह वै वृषलीपतयो नष्टशौचाचारनियमास्त्यक्तलज्जा: पशुचर्यां चरन्ति ते चापि प्रेत्य पूयविण्मूत्रश्लेष्ममलापूर्णार्णवे निपतन्ति तदेवातिबीभत्सितमश्नन्ति ॥ २३ ॥
ye tv iha vai vrsali-patayo nasta-saucacara-niyamas tyakta-lajjah pasu-caryam caranti te capi pretya puya-vin-mutra-slesma-mala-purnarnave nipatanti tad evatibibhatsitam asnanti.
The shameless husbands of lowborn sudra women live exactly like animals, and therefore they have no good behavior, cleanliness or regulated life. After death, such persons are thrown into the hell called Puyoda, where they are put into an ocean filled with pus, stool, urine, mucus, saliva and similar things. Sudras who could not improve themselves fall into that ocean and are forced to eat those disgusting things.
ये त्विह वै श्वगर्दभपतयो ब्राह्मणादयो मृगयाविहारा अतीर्थे च मृगान्निघ्नन्ति तानपि सम्परेताँल्लक्ष्यभूतान् यमपुरुषा इषुभिर्विध्यन्ति ॥ २४ ॥
ye tv iha vai sva-gardabha-patayo brahmanadayo mrgaya vihara atirthe ca mrgan nighnanti tan api samparetal laksya-bhutan yama-purusa isubhir vidhyanti.
If in this life a man of the higher classes (brahmana, ksatriya and vaisya) is very fond of taking his pet dogs, mules or asses into the forest to hunt and kill animals unnecessarily, he is placed after death into the hell known as Pranarodha. There the assistants of Yamaraja make him their targets and pierce him with arrows.
ये त्विह वै दाम्भिका दम्भयज्ञेषु पशून् विशसन्ति तानमुष्मिँल्लोके वैशसे नरके पतितान्निरयपतयो यातयित्वा विशसन्ति ॥ २५ ॥
ye tv iha vai dambhika dambha-yajnesu pasun visasanti tan amusmil loke vaisase narake patitan niraya-patayo yatayitva visasanti.
A person who in this life is proud of his eminent position, and who heedlessly sacrifices animals simply for material prestige, is put into the hell called Visasana after death. There the assistants of Yamaraja kill him after giving him unlimited pain.
यस्त्विह वै सवर्णां भार्यां द्विजो रेत: पाययति काममोहितस्तं पापकृतममुत्र रेत:कुल्यायां पातयित्वा रेत: सम्पाययन्ति ॥ २६ ॥
yas tv iha vai savarnam bharyam dvijo retah payayati kama-mohitas tam papa-krtam amutra retah-kulyayam patayitva retah sampayayanti.
If a foolish member of the twice-born classes (brahmana, ksatriya and vaisya) forces his wife to drink his semen out of a lusty desire to keep her under control, he is put after death into the hell known as Lalabhaksa. There he is thrown into a flowing river of semen, which he is forced to drink.
ये त्विह वै दस्यवोऽग्निदा गरदा ग्रामान् सार्थान् वा विलुम्पन्ति राजानो राजभटा वा तांश्चापि हि परेत्य यमदूता वज्रदंष्ट्रा: श्वान: सप्तशतानि विंशतिश्च सरभसं खादन्ति ॥ २७ ॥
ye tv iha vai dasyavo ’gnida garada graman sarthan va vilumpanti rajano raja-bhata va tams capi hi paretya yamaduta vajra-damstrah svanah sapta-satani vimsatis ca sarabhasam khadanti.
In this world, some persons are professional plunderers who set fire to others’ houses or administer poison to them. Also, members of the royalty or government officials sometimes plunder mercantile men by forcing them to pay income tax and by other methods. After death such demons are put into the hell known as Sarameyadana. On that plane there are 720 dogs with teeth as strong as thunderbolts. Under the orders of the agents of Yamaraja, these dogs voraciously devour such sinful people.
यस्त्विह वा अनृतं वदति साक्ष्ये द्रव्यविनिमये दाने वा कथञ्चित्स वै प्रेत्य नरकेऽवीचिमत्यध:शिरा निरवकाशे योजनशतोच्छ्रायाद् गिरिमूर्ध्न: सम्पात्यते यत्र जलमिव स्थलमश्मपृष्ठमवभासते तदवीचिमत्तिलशो विशीर्यमाणशरीरो न म्रियमाण: पुनरारोपितो निपतति ॥ २८ ॥
yas tv iha va anrtam vadati saksye dravya-vinimaye dane va kathancit sa vai pretya narake ’vicimaty adhah-sira niravakase yojana-satocchrayad giri-murdhnah sampatyate yatra jalam iva sthalam asma-prstham avabhasate tad avicimat tilaso visiryamana-sariro na mriyamanah punar aropito nipatati.
A person who in this life bears false witness or lies while transacting business or giving charity is severely punished after death by the agents of Yamaraja. Such a sinful man is taken to the top of a mountain eight hundred miles high and thrown headfirst into the hell known as Avicimat. This hell has no shelter and is made of strong stone resembling the waves of water. There is no water there, however, and thus it is called Avicimat (waterless). Although the sinful man is repeatedly thrown from the mountain and his body broken to tiny pieces, he still does not die but continuously suffers chastisement.
यस्त्विह वै विप्रो राजन्यो वैश्यो वा सोमपीथस्तत्कलत्रं वा सुरां व्रतस्थोऽपि वा पिबति प्रमादतस्तेषां निरयं नीतानामुरसि पदाऽऽक्रम्यास्ये वह्निना द्रवमाणं कार्ष्णायसं निषिञ्चन्ति ॥ २९ ॥
yas tv iha vai vipro rajanyo vaisyo va soma-pithas tat-kalatram va suram vrata-stho ’pi va pibati pramadatas tesam nirayam nitanam urasi padakramyasye vahnina dravamanam karsnayasam nisincanti.
Any brahmana or brahmana’s wife who drinks liquor is taken by the agents of Yamaraja to the hell known as Ayahpana. This hell also awaits any ksatriya, vaisya, or person under a vow who in illusion drinks soma-rasa. In Ayahpana the agents of Yamaraja stand on their chests and pour hot melted iron into their mouths.
अथ च यस्त्विह वा आत्मसम्भावनेन स्वयमधमो जन्मतपोविद्याचारवर्णाश्रमवतो वरीयसो न बहु मन्येत स मृतक एव मृत्वा क्षारकर्दमे निरयेऽवाक्शिरा निपातितो दुरन्ता यातना ह्यश्नुते ॥ ३० ॥
atha ca yas tv iha va atma-sambhavanena svayam adhamo janma-tapo-vidyacara-varnasramavato variyaso na bahu manyeta sa mrtaka eva mrtva ksarakardame niraye ’vak-sira nipatito duranta yatana hy asnute.
A lowborn and abominable person who in this life becomes falsely proud, thinking I am great and who thus fails to show proper respect to one more elevated than he by birth, austerity, education, behavior, caste or spiritual order, is like a dead man even in this lifetime, and after death he is thrown headfirst into the hell known as Ksarakardama. There he must great suffer great tribulation at the hands of the agents of Yamaraja.
ये त्विह वै पुरुषा: पुरुषमेधेन यजन्ते याश्च स्त्रियो नृपशून्खादन्ति तांश्च ते पशव इव निहता यमसदने यातयन्तो रक्षोगणा: सौनिका इव स्वधितिनावदायासृक्पिबन्ति नृत्यन्ति च गायन्ति च हृष्यमाणा यथेह पुरुषादा: ॥ ३१ ॥
ye tv iha vai purusah purusa-medhena yajante yas ca striyo nr-pasun khadanti tams ca te pasava iva nihata yama-sadane yatayanto rakso-ganah saunika iva svadhitinavadayasrk pibanti nrtyanti ca gayanti ca hrsyamana yatheha purusadah.
There are men and women in this world who sacrifice human beings to Bhairava or Bhadra Kali and then eat their victims’ flesh. Those who perform such sacrifices are taken after death to the abode of Yamaraja, where their victims, having taken the form of Raksasas, cut them to pieces with sharpened swords. Just as in this world the man-eaters drank their victims’ blood, dancing and singing in jubilation, their victims now enjoy drinking the blood of the sacrificers and celebrating in the same way.
ये त्विह वा अनागसोऽरण्ये ग्रामे वा वैश्रम्भकैरुपसृतानुपविश्रम्भय्य जिजीविषून् शूलसूत्रादिषूपप्रोतान्क्रीडनकतया यातयन्ति तेऽपि च प्रेत्य यमयातनासु शूलादिषु प्रोतात्मान: क्षुत्तृड्भ्यां चाभिहता: कङ्कवटादिभिश्चेतस्ततस्तिग्मतुण्डैराहन्यमाना आत्मशमलं स्मरन्ति ॥ ३२ ॥
ye tv iha va anagaso ’ranye grame va vaisrambhakair upasrtan upavisrambhayya jijivisun sula-sutradisupaprotan kridanakataya yatayanti te ’pi ca pretya yama-yatanasu suladisu protatmanah ksut-trdbhyam cabhihatah kanka-vatadibhis cetas tatas tigma-tundair ahanyamana atma-samalam smaranti.
In this life some people give shelter to animals and birds that come to them for protection in the village or forest, and after making them believe that they will be protected, such people pierce them with lances or threads and play with them like toys, giving them great pain. After death such people are brought by the assistants of Yamaraja to the hell known as Sulaprota, where their bodies are pierced with sharp, needlelike lances. They suffer from hunger and thirst, and sharp-beaked birds such as vultures and herons come at them from all sides to tear at their bodies. Tortured and suffering, they can then remember the sinful activities they committed in the past.
ये त्विह वै भूतान्युद्वेजयन्ति नरा उल्बणस्वभावा यथा दन्दशूकास्तेऽपि प्रेत्य नरके दन्दशूकाख्ये निपतन्ति यत्र नृप दन्दशूका: पञ्चमुखा: सप्तमुखा उपसृत्य ग्रसन्ति यथा बिलेशयान् ॥ ३३ ॥
ye tv iha vai bhutany udvejayanti nara ulbana-svabhava yatha dandasukas te ’pi pretya narake dandasukakhye nipatanti yatra nrpa dandasukah panca-mukhah sapta-mukha upasrtya grasanti yatha bilesayan.
Those who in this life are like envious serpents, always angry and giving pain to other living entities, fall after death into the hell known as Dandasuka. My dear King, in this hell there are serpents with five or seven hoods. These serpents eat such sinful persons just as snakes eat mice.
ये त्विह वा अन्धावटकुसूलगुहादिषु भूतानि निरुन्धन्ति तथामुत्र तेष्वेवोपवेश्य सगरेण वह्निना धूमेन निरुन्धन्ति ॥ ३४ ॥
ye tv iha va andhavata-kusula-guhadisu bhutani nirundhanti tathamutra tesv evopavesya sagarena vahnina dhumena nirundhanti.
Those who in this life confine other living entities in dark wells, granaries or mountain caves are put after death into the hell known as Avata-nirodhana. There they themselves are pushed into dark wells, where poisonous fumes and smoke suffocate them and they suffer very severely.
यस्त्विह वा अतिथीनभ्यागतान् वा गृहपतिरसकृदुपगतमन्युर्दिधक्षुरिव पापेन चक्षुषा निरीक्षते तस्य चापि निरये पापदृष्टेरक्षिणी वज्रतुण्डा गृध्रा: कङ्ककाकवटादय: प्रसह्योरु- बलादुत्पाटयन्ति ॥ ३५ ॥
yas tv iha va atithin abhyagatan va grha-patir asakrd upagata-manyur didhaksur iva papena caksusa niriksate tasya capi niraye papa-drster aksini vajra-tunda grdhrah kanka-kaka-vatadayah prasahyoru-balad utpatayanti.
A householder who receives guests or visitors with cruel glances, as if to burn them to ashes, is put into the hell called Paryavartana, where he is gazed at by hard-eyed vultures, herons, crows and similar birds, which suddenly swoop down and pluck out his eyes with great force.
यस्त्विह वा आढ्याभिमतिरहङ्कृतिस्तिर्यक्प्रेक्षण: सर्वतोऽभिविशङ्की अर्थव्ययनाशचिन्तया परिशुष्यमाणहृदयवदनो निर्वृतिमनवगतो ग्रह इवार्थमभिरक्षति स चापि प्रेत्य तदुत्पादनोत्कर्षणसंरक्षणशमलग्रह: सूचीमुखे नरके निपतति यत्र ह वित्तग्रहं पापपुरुषं धर्मराजपुरुषा वायका इव सर्वतोऽङ्गेषु सूत्रै: परिवयन्ति ॥ ३६ ॥
yas tv iha va adhyabhimatir ahankrtis tiryak-preksanah sarvato ’bhivisanki artha-vyaya-nasa-cintaya parisusyamana-hrdaya-vadano nirvrtim anavagato graha ivartham abhiraksati sa capi pretya tad-utpadanotkarsana-samraksana-samala-grahah sucimukhe narake nipatati yatra ha vitta-graham papa-purusam dharmaraja-purusa vayaka iva sarvato ’ngesu sutraih parivayanti.
One who in this world or this life is very proud of his wealth always thinks, I am so rich. Who can equal me His vision is twisted, and he is always afraid that someone will take his wealth. Indeed, he even suspects his superiors. His face and heart dry up at the thought of losing his wealth, and therefore he always looks like a wretched fiend. He is not in any way able to obtain actual happiness, and he does not know what it is to be free from anxiety. Because of the sinful things he does to earn money, augment his wealth and protect it, he is put into the hell called Sucimukha, where the officials of Yamaraja punish him by stitching thread through his entire body like weavers manufacturing cloth.
एवंविधा नरका यमालये सन्ति शतश: सहस्रशस्तेषु सर्वेषु च सर्व एवाधर्मवर्तिनो ये केचिदिहोदिता अनुदिताश्चावनिपते पर्यायेण विशन्ति तथैव धर्मानुवर्तिन इतरत्र इह तु पुनर्भवे त उभयशेषाभ्यां निविशन्ति ॥ ३७ ॥
evam-vidha naraka yamalaye santi satasah sahasrasas tesu sarvesu ca sarva evadharma-vartino ye kecid ihodita anuditas cavani-pate paryayena visanti tathaiva dharmanuvartina itaratra iha tu punar-bhave ta ubhaya-sesabhyam nivisanti.
My dear King Pariksit, in the province of Yamaraja there are hundreds and thousands of hellish planes. The impious people I have mentioned—and also those I have not mentioned—must all enter these various planes according to the degree of their impiety. Those who are pious, however, enter other planeary systems, namely the planes of the demigods. Nevertheless, both the pious and impious are again brought to earth after the results of their pious or impious acts are exhausted.
निवृत्तिलक्षणमार्ग आदावेव व्याख्यात: । एतावानेवाण्डकोशो यश्चतुर्दशधा पुराणेषु विकल्पित उपगीयते यत्तद्भगवतो नारायणस्य साक्षान्महापुरुषस्य स्थविष्ठं रूपमात्ममायागुणमयमनुवर्णितमादृत: पठति शृणोति श्रावयति स उपगेयं भगवत: परमात्मनोऽग्राह्यमपि श्रद्धाभक्तिविशुद्धबुद्धिर्वेद ॥ ३८ ॥
nivrtti-laksana-marga adav eva vyakhyatah; etavan evanda-koso yas caturdasadha puranesu vikalpita upagiyate yat tad bhagavato narayanasya saksan maha-purusasya sthavistham rupam atmamaya-gunamayam anuvarnitam adrtah pathati srnoti sravayati sa upageyam bhagavatah paramatmano ’grahyam api sraddha-bhakti-visuddha-buddhir veda.
In the beginning (the Second and Third Cantos of Srimad-Bhagavatam) I have already described how one can progress on the path of liberation. In the Puranas the vast universal existence, which is like an egg divided into fourteen parts, is described. This vast form is considered the external body of the Lord, created by His energy and qualities. It is generally called the virat-rupa. If one reads the description of this external form of the Lord with great faith, or if one hears about it or explains it to others to propagate bhagavata-dharma, or Krsna consciousness, his faith and devotion in spiritual consciousness, Krsna consciousness, will gradually increase. Although developing this consciousness is very difficult, by this process one can purify himself and gradually come to an awareness of the Supreme Absolute Truth.
श्रुत्वा स्थूलं तथा सूक्ष्मं रूपं भगवतो यति: । स्थूले निर्जितमात्मानं शनै: सूक्ष्मं धिया नयेदिति ॥ ३९ ॥
srutva sthulam tatha suksmam rupam bhagavato yatih sthule nirjitam atmanam sanaih suksmam dhiya nayed iti
One who is interested in liberation, who accepts the path of liberation and is not attracted to the path of conditional life, is called yati, or a devotee. Such a person should first control his mind by thinking of the virat-rupa, the gigantic universal form of the Lord, and then gradually think of the spiritual form of Krsna (sac-cid-ananda-vigraha (Bs.5.1)) after hearing of both forms. Thus one’s mind is fixed in samadhi. By devotional service one can then realize the spiritual form of the Lord, which is the destination of devotees. Thus his life becomes successful.
भूद्वीपवर्षसरिदद्रिनभ:समुद्र- पातालदिङ्नरकभागणलोकसंस्था । गीता मया तव नृपाद्भुतमीश्वरस्य स्थूलं वपु: सकलजीवनिकायधाम ॥ ४० ॥ तस्मात् सङ्कीर्तनं विष्णोर्जगन्मङ्गलमंहसाम् । महतामपि कौरव्य विद्ध्यैकान्तिकनिष्कृतम् ॥ ३१ ॥
bhu-dvipa-varsa-sarid-adri-nabhah-samudra- patala-din-naraka-bhagana-loka-samstha gita maya tava nrpadbhutam isvarasya sthulam vapuh sakala-jiva-nikaya-dhama
My dear King, I have now described for you this plane earth, other planeary systems, and their lands (varsas), rivers and mountains. I have also described the sky, the oceans, the lower planeary systems, the directions, the hellish planeary systems and the stars. These constitute the virat-rupa, the gigantic material form of the Lord, on which all living entities repose. Thus I have explained the wonderful expanse of the external body of the Lord. Its translation is as follows. Learned scholars who have full knowledge of all the Vedic scriptures agree that the incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are innumerable. These incarnations are classified into two divisions, called prabhava and vaibhava. According to the scriptures, prabhava incarnations are also classified in two divisions—those which are called eternal and those which are not vividly described. In this Fifth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, in Chapters Three through Six, there is a description of Rsabhadeva, but there is not an expanded description of His spiritual activities. Therefore He is considered to belong to the second group of prabhava incarnations. In Srimad-Bhagavatam, First Canto, Chapter Three, verse 13 it is said: astame merudevyam tu nabher jata urukramah darsayan vartma dhiranam sarvasrama-namaskrtam Lord Visnu appeared in the eighth incarnation as the son of Maharaja Nabhi (the son of Agnidhra) and his wife Merudevi. He showed the path of perfection, the paramahamsa stage of life, which is worshiped by all the followers of varnasrama-dharma Rsabhadeva is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and His body is spiritual (sac-cid-ananda-vigraha (Bs.5.1)). Therefore one might ask how it might be possible that he passed stool and urine. The Gaudiya vedanta acarya Baladeva Vidyabhusana has replied to this question in his book known as Siddhanta-ratna (First Portion, texts 65–68). Imperfect men call attention to Rsabhadeva’s passing stool and urine as a subject matter for the study of nondevotees, who do not understand the spiritual position of a transcendental body. Srimad-Bhagavatam (5.6.11) the illusioned and bewildered state of the materialists of this age is fully described. Elsewhere in Fifth Canto (5.5.19) Rsabhadeva stated, idam sariram mama durvibhavyam: This body of Mine is inconceivable for materialists This is also confirmed by Lord Krsna in Bhagavad-gita (9.11): avajananti mam mudha manusim tanum asritam param bhavam ajananto mama bhuta-mahesvaram Fools deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know My transcendental nature and My supreme dominion over all that be The human form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is extremely difficult to understand, and, in fact, for a common man it is inconceivable. Therefore Rsabhadeva has directly explained that His own body belongs to the spiritual platform. This being so. Rsabhadeva did not actually pass stool and urine. Even though He superficially seemed to pass stool and urine, that was also transcendental and cannot be imitated by any common man. It is also stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam that the stool and urine of Rsabhadeva were full of transcendental fragrance. One may imitate Rsabhadeva, but he cannot imitate Him by passing stool that is fragrant. The activities of Rsabhadeva, therefore, do not support the claims of a certain class of men known as arhat, who sometimes advertise that they are followers of Rsabhadeva. How can they be followers of Rsabhadeva while they act against the Vedic principles? Sukadeva Gosvami has related that after hearing about the characteristics of Lord Rsabhadeva, the King of Konka, Venka and Kutaka initiated a system of religious principles known as arhat. These principles were not in accord with Vedic principles, and therefore they are called pasanda-dharma. The members of the arhat community considered Rsabhadeva’s activities material. However, Rsabhadeva is an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore He is on the transcendental platform, and no one can compare to Him. Rsabhadeva personally exhibited the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Srimad-Bhagavatam (5.6.8), davanalas tad vanam alelihanah saha tena dadaha: at the conclusion of Rsabhadeva’s pastimes, an entire forest and the Lord’s body were burned to ashes in a great forest fire. In the same way, Rsabhadeva burned people’s ignorance to ashes. He exhibited the characteristics of a paramahamsa in His instructions to His sons. The principles of the arhat community, however, do not correspond to the teachings of Rsabhadeva. Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana remarks that in the Eighth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam there is another description of Rsabhadeva, but that Rsabhadeva is different from the one described in this canto. END OF THE FIFTH CANTO
