> > Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > Canto 5

> > **************

> > Chapter Twenty-six: A Description of the Hellish Planets

> > *******

> > TEXT 1

> > râjovâca

> > maharsa etad vaicitryam lokasya katham iti.

> > râjâ uvâca--the King said; maharse--O great saint (Sukadeva Gosvâmî); etat--this; vaicitryam--variegatedness; lokasya--of the living entities; katham--how; iti--thus.

> > TRANSLATION

> > King Pariksit inquired from Sukadeva Gosvami: My dear sir, why are the living entities put into different material situations? Kindly explain this to me.

> > *******

> > TEXT 2

> > rsir uvâca

> > tri-gunatvât kartuh sraddhayâ karma-gatayah prthag-vidhâh sarvâ

> > eva sarvasya târatamyena bhavanti.

> > rsih uvâca--the great saint (Sukadeva Gosvâmî) said; tri-gunatvât--because of the three modes of material nature; kartuh--of the worker; sraddhayâ--because of the attitudes; karma-gatayah--destinations resulting from activity; prthak--different; vidhâh--varieties; sarvâh--all; eva--thus; sarvasya--of all of them; târatamyena--in different degrees; bhavanti--become possible.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 3

> > athedânîm pratisiddha-laksanasyâdharmasya tathaiva kartuh

> > sraddhâyâ vaisâdrsyât karma-phalam visadrsam bhavati yâ hy anâdy-

> > avidyayâ krta-kâmânâm tat-parinâma-laksanâh srtayah sahasrasah

> > pravrttâs tâsâm prâcuryenânuvarnayisyâmah.

> > atha--thus; idânîm--now; pratisiddha--by what is forbidden; laksanasya--symptomized; adharmasya--of impious activities; tathâ--so also; eva--certainly; kartuh--of the performer; sraddhâyâh--of faith; vaisâdrsyât--by the difference; karma-phalam--the reaction of fruitive activities; visadrsam--different; bhavati--is; yâ--which; hi--indeed; anâdi--from time immemorial; avidyayâ--by ignorance; krta--performed; kâmânâm--of persons possessing many lusty desires; tat-parinâma-laksanâh--the symptoms of the results of such impious desires; srtayah--hellish conditions of life; sahasrasah--by thousands upon thousands; pravrttâh--resulted; tâsâm--them; prâcuryena--very widely; anuvarnayisyâmah--I shall explain.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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 planets since time immemorial. I shall try to describe them as far as possible.

> > *******

> > TEXT 4

> > rajovaca

> > narakâ nâma bhagavan kim desa-visesâ athavâ bahis tri-lokyâ

> > âhosvid antarâla iti.

> > râjâ uvâca--the King said; narakâh--the hellish regions; nâma--named; bhagavan--O my Lord; kim--whether; desa-visesâh--a particular country; athavâ--or; bahih--outside; tri-lokyâh--the three worlds (the universe); âhosvit--or; antarâle--in the intermediate spaces within the universe; iti--thus.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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?

> > *******

> > TEXT 5

> > rsir uvâca

> > antarâla eva tri jagatyâs tu disi daksinasyâm adhastâd bhûmer

> > uparistâc ca jalâd yasyâm agnisvâttâdayah pitr-ganâ-disi svânâm

> > gotrânâm paramena samâdhinâ satyâ evâsisa âsâsânâ nivasanti.

> > rsih uvâca--the great sage replied; antarâle--in the intermediate space; eva--certainly; tri jagatyâh--of the three worlds; tu--but; disi--in the direction; daksinasyâm--southern; adhastât--beneath; bhûmeh--on the earth; uparistât--a little above; ca--and; jalât--the Garbhodaka Ocean; yasyâm--in which; agnisvâttâ-âdayah--headed by Agnisvâttâ; pitr-ganâh--the persons known as pitâs; disi--direction; svânâm--their own; gotrânâm--of the families; paramena--with great; samâdhinâ--absorption in thoughts of the Lord; satyâh--in truth; eva--certainly; âsisah--blessings; âsâsânâh--desiring; nivasanti--they live.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The great sage Sukadeva Gosvami answered: All the hellish planets 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 planetary 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 6

> > yatra ha vâva bhagavân pitr-râjo vaivasvatah sva-visayam prâpitesu

> > sva-purusairjantusu samparetesu yathâ-karmâvadyam dosam

> > evânullanghita-bhagavac-châsanah sagano damam dhârayati.

> > yatra--where; ha vâva--indeed; bhagavân--the most powerful; pitrrâjah--Yamarâja, the king of the pitâs; vaivasvatah--the son of the sun-god; sva-visayam--his own kingdom; prâpitesu--when caused to reach; sva-purusaih--by his own messengers; jantusu--the human beings; samparetesu--dead; yathâ-karma-avadyam--according to how much they have violated the rules and regulations of conditional life; dosam--the fault; eva--certainly; anullanghita-bhagavat-sâsanah--who never oversteps the Supreme Personality of Godhead's order; saganah--along with his followers; damam--punishment; dhârayati--executes.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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 planets for suitable punishments.

> > *******

> > TEXT 7

> > tatra haike narakân eka-vimsatim ganayanti atha tâms te râjan

> > nâma-rûpa-laksanato 'nukramisyâmas tâmisro 'ndhatâmisro rauravo

> > mahârauravah kumbhîpâkah kâlasûtram asipatravanam

> > sûkaramukham andhakûpah krmibhojanah sandamsas taptasûrmir

> > vajrakantaka-sâlmalî vaitaranî pûyodah prânarodho visasanam

> > lâlâbhaksah sârameyâdanam avîcir ayahpânam iti. kinca ksârakar-

> > damo raksogana-bhojanah sûlaproto dandasûko 'vata-nirodhanah

> > paryâvartanah sûcîmukham ity astâ-vimsatir narakâ

> > vividha-yâtanâ-bhûmayah.

> > tatra--there; ha--certainly; eke--some; narakân--the hellish planets; eka-vimsatim--twenty-one; ganayanti--count; atha--therefore; tân--them; te--unto you; râjan--O King; nâma-rûpa-laksanatah--according to their names, forms and symptoms; anukramisyâmah--we shall outline one after another; tâmisrah--Tâmisra; andha-tâmisrah--Andhatâmisra; rauravah--Raurava; mahâ-rauravah--Mahâraurava; kumbhî-pâkah--Kumbhîpâka; kâla-sûtram--Kâlasûtra; asi-patravanam--Asi-patravana; sûkara-mukham--Sûkaramukha; andha-kûpah--Andhakûpa; krmi-bhojanah--Krmibhojana; sandamsah--Sandamsa; tapta-sûrmih--Taptasûrmi; vajra-kantaka-sâlmalî--Vajrakantaka-sâlmalî; vaitaranî--Vaitaranî; pûyodah--Pûyoda; prâna-rodhah--Prânarodha; visasanam--Visasana; lâlâ-bhaksah--Lâlâbhaksa; sârameyâdanam--Sârameyâdana; avîcih--Avîci; ayah-pânam--Ayahpâna; iti--thus; kinca--some more; ksâra-kardamah--Ksârakardama; raksah-gana-bhojanah--Raksogana-bhojana; sûla-protah--Sûlaprota; danda-sûkah--Dandasûka; avata-nirodhanah--Avata-nirodhana; paryâvartanah--Paryâvartana; sûcî-mukham--Sûcîmukha; iti--in this way; astâ-vimsatih--twenty-eight; narakâh--hellish planets; vividha--various; yâtanâ-bhûmayah--lands of suffering in hellish conditions.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Some authorities say that there is a total of twenty-one hellish planets, 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 planets are meant for punishing the living entities.

> > *******

> > TEXT 8

> > tatra yas tu para-vittâpatya-kalatrâny apaharati sa hi kâla-pâsa-

> > baddho yama-purusair ati-bhayânakais tâmisre narake balân nipâtyate

> > anasanânudapâna-danda-tâdana-santarjanâdibhir yâtanâbhir

> > yâtyamâno jantur yatra kasmalam âsâdita ekadaiva mûrcchâm upayâti

> > tâmisra-prâye.

> > tatra--in those hellish planets; yah--a person who; tu--but; para-vitta-apatya-kalatrâni--the money, wife and children of another; apaharati--takes away; sah--that person; hi--certainly; kâla-pâsa-baddhah--being bound by the ropes of time or Yamarâja; yama-purusaih--by the assistants of Yamarâja; ati-bhayânakaih--who are very fearful; tâmisre narake--into the hell known as Tâmisra; balât--by force; nipâtyate--is thrown; anasana--starvation; anudapâna--without water; danda-tâdana--beaten with rods; santarjana-âdibhih--by scolding and so on; yâtanâbhih--by severe punishments; yâtyamânah--being punished; jantuh--the living entity; yatra--where; kasmalam--misery; âsâditah--obtained; ekadâ--sometimes; eva--certainly; mûrcchâm--fainting; upayâti--obtains; tâmisra-prâye--in that condition, which is almost entirely dark.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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 planet known as Tamisra. On this very dark planet, 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 9

> > evam evândhatâmisre yas tu vancayitvâ purusam dârâdin upayunkte

> > yatra sarîrî nipâtyamâno yâtanâ-stho vedanayâ nasta-matir nasta-drstis

> > ca bhavati yathâ vanaspatir vrscyamâna-mûlas tasmâd andhatâmisram

> > tam upadisanti.

> > evam--in this way; eva--certainly; andhatâmisre--in the hellish planet known as Andhatâmisra; yah--the person who; tu--but; vancayitvâ--cheating; purusam--another person; dâra-âdin--the wife and children; upayunkte--enjoys; yatra--where; sarîrî--the embodied person; nipâtyamânah--being forcibly thrown; yâtanâ-sthah--always situated in extremely miserable conditions; vedanayâ--by such suffering; nasta--lost; matih--whose consciousness; nasta--lost; drstih--whose sight; ca--also; bhavati--becomes; yathâ--as much as; vanaspatih--the trees; vrscyamâna--being cut; mûlah--whose root; tasmât--because of this; andhatâmisram--Andhatâmisra; tam--that; upadisanti--they call.

> > *******

> > TEXT 10

> > yas tv iha vâ etad aham iti mamedam iti bhûta-drohena kevalam

> > sva-kutumbam evânudinam prapusnâti sa tad iha vihâya svayam eva

> > tadasubhena raurave nipatati.

> > yah--one who; tu--but; iha--in this life; vâ--or; etat--this body; aham--I; iti--thus; mama--mine; idam--this; iti--thus; bhûta-drohena--by envy of other living entities; kevalam--alone; sva-kutumbam--his family members; eva--only; anudinam--day to day; prapusnâti--supports; sah--such a person; tat--that; iha--here; vihâya--giving up; svayam--personally; eva--certainly; tat--of that; asubhena--by the sin; raurave--in Raurava; nipatati--he falls down.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 11

> > ye tv iha yathaivâmunâ vihimsitâ jantavah paratra yama-yâtanâm

> > upagatam ta eva ruravo bhûtvâ tathâ tam eva vihimsanti tasmâd

> > rauravam ity âhû rurur iti sarpâd ati-krûra-sattvasyâpadesah.

> > ye--those who; tu--but; iha--in this life; yathâ--as much as; eva--certainly; amunâ--by him; vihimsitâh--who were hurt; jantavah--the living entities; paratra--in the next life; yama-yâtanâm upagatam--being subjected to miserable conditions by Yamarâja; te--those living entities; eva--indeed; ruravah--rurus (a kind of envious animal); bhûtvâ--becoming; tathâ--that much; tam--him; eva--certainly; vihimsanti--they hurt; tasmât--because of this; rauravam--Raurava; iti--thus; âhuh--learned scholars say; ruruh--the animal known as ruru; iti--thus; sarpât--than the snake; ati-krûra--much more cruel and envious; sattvasya--of the entity; apadesah--the name.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 12

> > evam eva mahârauravo yatra nipatitam purusam kravyâdâ nâma

> > ruravas tam kravyena ghâtayanti yah kevalam dehambharah.

> > evam--thus; eva--certainly; mahâ-rauravah--the hell known as Mahâraurava; yatra--where; nipatitam--being thrown; purusam--a person; kravyâdâh nâma--named kravyâda; ruravah--the ruru animals; tam--him (the condemned person); kravyena--for eating his flesh; ghâtayanti--kill; yah--who; kevalam--only; dehambharah--intent upon maintaining his own body.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 13

> > yas tv iha vâ ugrah pasûn paksino vâ prânata uparandhayati tam

> > apakarunam purusâdair api vigarhitam amutra yamânucarâh

> > kumbhîpâke tapta-taile uparandhayanti.

> > yah--a person who; tu--but; iha--in this life; vâ--or; ugrah--very cruel; pasûn--animals; paksinah--birds; vâ--or; prânatah--in a live condition; uparandhayati--cooks; tam--him; apakarunam--very cruel-hearted; purusa-âdaih--by those who eat human flesh; api--even; vigarhitam--condemned; amutra--in the next life; yama-anucarâh--the servants of Yamarâja; kumbhipâke--in the hell known as Kumbhîpâka; tapta-taile--in boiling oil; uparandhayanti--cook.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 14

> > yas tv iha brahma-dhruk sa kâlasûtra-samjnake narake ayuta-yojana-

> > parimandale tâmramaye tapta-khale upary-adhastâd agny-arkâbhyâm

> > ati-tapyamâne 'bhinivesitah ksut-pipâsâbhyâm ca dahyamânântar-

> > bahih-sarîra âste sete cestate 'vatisthati paridhâvati ca yâvanti

> > pasuromâni tâvad varsa-sahasrâni.

> > yah--anyone who; tu--but; iha--in this life; brahma-dhruk--the killer of a brâhmana; sah--such a person; kâlasûtra-samjnake--named Kâlasûtra; narake--in the hell; ayuta-yojana-parimandale--having a circumference of eighty thousand miles; tâmra-maye--made of copper; tapta--heated; khale--in a level place; upari-adhastât--above and beneath; agni--by fire; arkâbhyâm--and by the sun; ati-tapyamâne--which is being heated; abhinivesitah--being made to enter; ksut-pipâsâbhyâm--by hunger and thirst; ca--and; dahyamâna--being burned; antah--internally; bahih--externally; sarîrah--whose body; âste--remains; sete--sometimes lies; cestate--sometimes moves his limbs; avatisthati--sometimes stands; paridhâvati--sometimes runs here and there; ca--also; yâvanti--as many; pasu-români--hairs on the body of an animal; tâvat--that long; varsa-sahasrâni--thousands of years.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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 planet 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 15

> > yas tv iha vai nija-veda-pathâd anâpady apagatah pâkhandam

> > copagatas tam asi-patravanam pravesya kasayâ praharanti tatra hâsâv

> > itas tato dhâvamâna ubhayato dhârais tâla-vanâsi-patrais chidyamâna-

> > sarvângo hâ hato 'smîti paramayâ vedanayâ mûrcchitah pade pade

> > nipatati sva-dharmahâ pâkhandânugatam phalam bhunkte.

> > yah--anyone who; tu--but; iha--in this life; vai--indeed; nija-veda-pathât--from his own path, recommended by the Vedas; anâpadi--even without an emergency; apagatah--deviated; pâkhandam--a concocted, atheistic system; ca--and; upagatah--gone to; tam--him; asi-patravanam--the hell known as Asi-patravana; pravesya--making enter; kasayâ--with a whip; praharanti--they beat; tatra--there; ha--certainly; asau--that; itah tatah--here and there; dhâvamânah--running; ubhayatah--on both sides; dhâraih--by the edges; tâla-vana-asi-patraih--by the swordlike leaves of palm trees; chidyamâna--being cut; sarva-angah--whose entire body; hâ--alas; hatah--killed; asmi--I am; iti--thus; paramayâ--with severe; vedanayâ--pain; mûrcchitah--fainted; pade pade--at every step; nipatati--falls down; sva-dharma-hâ--the killer of his own principles of religion; pâkhanda-anugatam phalam--the result of accepting an atheistic path; bhunkte--he suffers.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 16

> > yas tv iha vai râjâ râja-puruso vâ adandye dandam pranayati

> > brâhmane vâ sarîra-dandam sa pâpîyân narake 'mutra sûkaramukhe

> > nipatati tatrâtibalair vinispisyamânâvayavo yathaiveheksukhanda

> > ârtasvarena svanayan kvacin mûrcchitah kasmalam upagato

> > yathaivehâdrsta-dosâ uparuddhâh.

> > yah--anyone who; tu--but; iha--in this life; vai--indeed; râjâ--a king; râja-purusah--a king's man; vâ--or; adandye--unto one not punishable; dandam--punishment; pranayati--inflicts; brâhmane--unto a brâhmana; vâ--or; sarîra-dandam--corporal punishment; sah--that person, king or government officer; pâpîyân--the most sinful; narake--in the hell; amutra--in the next life; sûkaramukhe--named Sûkaramukha; nipatati--falls down; tatra--there; ati-balaih--by very strong assistants of Yamarâja; vinispisyamâna--being crushed; avayavah--the different parts of whose body; yathâ--like; eva--certainly; iha--here; iksu-khandah--sugarcane; ârta-svarena--with a pitiable sound; svanayan--crying; kvacit--sometimes; mûrcchitah--fainted; kasmalam upagatah--becoming illusioned; yathâ--just like; eva--indeed; iha--here; adrsta-dosâh--who is not at fault; uparuddhâh--arrested for punishment.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 17

> > yas tv iha vai bhûtânâm îsvaropakalpita-vrttînâm avivikta-para-

> > vyathânâm svayam purusopakalpita-vrttir vivikta-para-vyatho vyathâm

> > âcarati sa paratrândhakûpe tad-abhidrohena nipatati tatra hâsau tair

> > jantubhih pasu-mrga-paksi-sarîsrpair masaka-yûkâ-matkuna-

> > maksikâdibhirye ke câbhidrugdhâs taih sarvato 'bhidruhyamânas

> > tamasi vihata-nidrâ-nirvrtir alabdhâvasthânah parikrâmati yathâ

> > kusarîre jîvah.

> > yah--any person who; tu--but; iha--in this life; vai--indeed; bhûtânâm--to some living entities; îsvara--by the supreme controller; upakalpita--designed; vrttînâm--whose means of livelihood; avivikta--not understanding; para-vyathânâm--the pain of others; svayam--himself; purusa-upakalpita--designed by the Supreme personality of Godhead; vrttih--whose livelihood; vivikta--understanding; para-vyathah--the painful conditions of others; vyathâm âcarati--but still causes pain; sah--such a person; paratra--in his next life; andhakûpe--to the hell named Andhakûpa; tat--to them; abhidrohena--by the sin of malice; nipatati--falls down; tatra--there; ha--indeed; asau--that person; taih jantubhih--by those respective living entities; pasu--animals; mrga--wild beasts; paksi--birds; sarîsrpaih--snakes; masaka--mosquitoes; yûkâ--lice; matkuna--worms; maksika-âdibhih--flies and so on; ye ke--whoever else; ca--and; abhidrugdhâh--persecuted; taih--by them; sarvatah--everywhere; abhidruhyamânah--being injured; tamasi--in the darkness; vihata--disturbed; nidrâ-nirvrtih--whose resting place; alabdha--not being able to obtain; avasthânah--a resting place; parikrâmati--wanders; yathâ--just as; kusarîre--in a low-grade body; jîvah--a living entity.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 18

> > yas tv iha vâ asamvibhajyâsnâti yat kincanopanatam anirmita-panca-yajno

> > vâyasa-samstutah sa paratra krmibhojane narakâdhame nipatati

> > tatra sata-sahasra-yojane krmi-kunde krmi-bhûtah svayam krmibhir

> > eva bhaksyamânah krmi-bhojano yâvat tad aprattâprahûtâdo 'nirvesam

> > âtmânam yâtayate.

> > yah--any person who; tu--but; iha--in this life; vâ--or; asamvibhajya--without dividing; asnâti--eats; yat kincana--whatever; upanatam--obtained by Krsna's grace; anirmita--not performing; panca-yajnah--the five kinds of sacrifice; vâyasa--with the crows; samstutah--who is described as equal; sah--such a person; paratra--in the next life; krmibhojane--named Krmibhojana; naraka-adhame--into the most abominable of all hells; nipatati--falls down; tatra--there; sata-sahasra-yojane--measuring 100,000 yojanas (800,000 miles); krmi-kunde--in a lake of worms; krmi-bhûtah--becoming one of the worms; svayam--he himself; krmibhih--by the other worms; eva--certainly; bhaksyamânah--being eaten; krmi-bhojanah--eating worms; yâvat--as long as; tat--that lake is wide; apratta-aprahûta--unshared and unoffered food; adah--one who eats; anirvesam--who has not performed atonement; âtmânam--to himself; yâtayate--gives pain.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 19

> > yas tv iha vai steyena balâd vâ hiranya-ratnâdîni brâhmanasya

> > vâpaharaty anyasya vânâpadi purusas tam amutra râjan yama-purusâ

> > ayasmayair agni-pindaih sandamsais tvaci niskusanti.

> > yah--any person who; tu--but; iha--in this life; vai--indeed; steyena--by thievery; balât--by force; vâ--or; hiranya--gold; ratna--gems; âdîni--and so on; brâhmanasya--of a brâhmana; vâ--or; apaharati--steals; anyasya--of others; vâ--or; anâpadi--not in a calamity; purusah--a person; tam--him; amutra--in the next life; râjan--O King; yama-purusâh--the agents of Yamarâja; ayah-mayaih--made of iron; agni-pindaih--balls heated in fire; sandamsaih--with tongs; tvaci--on the skin; niskusanti--tear to pieces.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 20

> > yas tv iha vâ agamyâm striyam agamyam vâ purusam yosid

> > abhigacchati tâv amutra kasayâ tâdayantas tigmayâ sûrmyâ lohamayyâ

> > purusam âlingayanti striyam ca purusa-rûpayâ sûrmyâ.

> > yah--any person who; tu--but; iha--in this life; vâ--or; agamyâm--unsuitable; striyam--a woman; agamyam--unsuitable; vâ--or; purusam--a man; yosit--a woman; abhigacchati--approaches for sexual intercourse; tau--both of them; amutra--in the next life; kasayâ--by whips; tâdayantah--beating; tigmayâ--very hot; sûrmyâ--by an image; loha-mayyâ--made of iron; purusam--the man; âlingayanti--they embrace; striyam--the woman; ca--also; purusa-rûpayâ--in the form of a man; sûrmyâ--by an image.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 21

> > yas tv iha vai sarvâbhigamas tam amutra niraye vartamânam

> > vajrakantaka-sâlmalîm âropya niskarsanti.

> > yah--anyone who; tu--but; iha--in this life; vai--indeed; sarva-abhigamah--indulges in sex life indiscriminately, with both men and animals; tam--him; amutra--in the next life; niraye--in the hell; vartamânam--existing; vajrakantaka-sâlmalîm--a silk-cotton tree with thorns like thunderbolts; âropya--mounting him on; niskarsanti--they pull him out.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 22

> > ye tv iha vai râjanya râja-purusâ vâ apâkhandâ dharma-setûn

> > bhindanti te samparetya vaitaranyâm nipatanti bhinna-maryâdâs

> > tasyâm niraya-parikhâ-bhûtâyâm nadyâm yâdo-ganair itas tato

> > bhaksyamânâ-âtmanâ na viyujyamânâs câsubhir uhyamânâh svâghena

> > karma-pâkam anusmaranto vin-mûtra-pûya-sonita-kesa-nakhâsthi-

> > medo-mâmsa-vasâ-vâhinyâm upatapyante.

> > ye--persons who; tu--but; iha--in this life; vai--indeed; râjanyâh--members of the royal family, or ksatriyas; râja-purusâh--government servants; vâ--or; apâkhandâh--although born in responsible families; dharma-setûn--the bounds of prescribed religious principles; bhindanti--transgress; te--they; samparetya--after dying; vaitaranyâm--named Vaitaranî; nipatanti--fall down; bhinna-maryâdâh--who have broken the regulative principles; tasyâm--in that; niraya-parikhâ-bhûtâyâm--the moat surrounding hell; nadyâm--in the river; yâdah-ganaih--by ferocious aquatic animals; itah tatah--here and there; bhaksyamânâh--being eaten; âtmanâ--with the body; na--not; viyujyamânâh--being separated; ca--and; asubhih--the life airs; uhyamânâh--being carried; sva-aghena--by his own sinful activities; karma-pâkam--the result of his impious activities; anusmarantah--remembering; vit--of stool; mûtra--urine; pûya--pus; sonita--blood; kesa--hair; nakha--nails; asthi--bones; medah--marrow; mâmsa--flesh; vasâ--fat; vâhinyâm--in the river; upatapyante--are afflicted with pain.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 23

> > ye tv iha vai vrsalî-patayo nasta-saucâcâra-niyamâs tyakta-lajjâh

> > pasu-caryâm caranti te câpi pretya pûya-vin-mûtra-slesma-malâ-pûrnârnave

> > nipatanti tad evâtibîbhatsitam asnanti.

> > ye--persons who; tu--but; iha--in this life; vai--indeed; vrsalî-patayah--the husbands of the sûdras; nasta--lost; sauca-âcâra-niyamâh--whose cleanliness, good behavior and regulated life; tyakta-lajjâh--without shame; pasu-caryâm--the behavior of animals; caranti--they execute; te--they; ca--also; api--indeed; pretya--dying; pûya--of pus; vit--stool; mûtra--urine; slesma--mucus; malâ--saliva; pûrna--full; arnave--in an ocean; nipatanti--fall; tat--that; eva--only; atibîbhatsitam--extremely disgusting; asnanti--they eat.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 24

> > ye tv iha vai sva-gardabha-patayo brâhmanâdayo mrgayâ vihârâ

> > atîrthe ca mrgân nighnanti tân api samparetâl laksya-bhûtân

> > yamapurusâ isubhir vidhyanti.

> > ye--those who; tu--but; iha--in this life; vai--or; sva--of dogs; gardabha--and asses; patayah--maintainers; brâhmana-adayah--brâhmanas, ksatriyas and vaisyas; mrgayâ vihârâh--taking pleasure in hunting animals in the forest; atîrthe--other than prescribed; ca--also; mrgân--animals; nighnanti--kill; tân--them; api--indeed; samparetân--having died; laksya-bhûtân--becoming the targets; yama-purusâh--the assistants of Yamarâja; isubhih--by arrows; vidhyanti--pierce.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 25

> > ye tv iha vai dâmbhikâ dambha-yajnesu pasûn visasanti tân amusmil

> > loke vaisase narake patitân niraya-patayo yâtayitvâ visasanti.

> > ye--persons who; tu--but; iha--in this life; vai--indeed; dâmbhikâh--very proud of wealth and a prestigious position; dambha-yajnesu--in a sacrifice performed to increase prestige; pasûn--animals; visasanti--kill; tân--them; amusmin loke--in the next world; vaisase--Vaisasa or Visasana; narake--into the hell; patitân--fallen; niraya-patayah--assistants of Yamarâja; yâtayitvâ--causing sufficient pain; visasanti--kill.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 26

> > yas tv iha vai savarnâm bhâryâm dvijo retah pâyayati kâma-mohitas

> > tam pâpa-krtam amutra retah-kulyâyâm pâtayitvâ retah sampâyayanti.

> > yah--any person who; tu--but; iha--in this life; vai--indeed; savarnâm--of the same caste; bhâryâm--his wife; dvijah--a person of a higher caste (such as a brâhmana, ksatriya or vaisya); retah--the semen; pâyayati--causes to drink; kâma-mohitah--being deluded by lusty desires; tam--him; pâpa-krtam--performing sin; amutra--in the next life; retah-kulyâyâm--in a river of semen; pâtayitvâ--throwing; retah--semen; sampâyayanti--force to drink.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 27

> > ye tv iha vai dasyavo 'gnidâ garadâ grâmân sârthân vâ vilumpanti

> > râjâno râja-bhatâ vâ tâms câpi hi paretya yamadûtâ vajra-damstrâh

> > svânah sapta-satâni vimsatis ca sarabhasam khâdanti.

> > ye--persons who; tu--but; iha--in this life; vai--indeed; dasyavah--thieves and plunderers; agni-dâh--who set fire; garadâh--who administer poison; grâmân--villages; sârthân--the mercantile class of men; vâ--or; vilumpanti--plunder; râjânah--kings; râja-bhatâh--government officials; vâ--or; tân--them; ca--also; api--indeed; hi--certainly; paretya--having died; yamadûtâh--the assistants of Yamarâja; vajra-damstrâh--having mighty teeth; svânah--dogs; sapta-satâni--seven hundred; vimsatih--twenty; ca--and; sarabhasam--voraciously; khâdanti--devour.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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 planet 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 28

> > yas tv iha vâ anrtam vada ti sâksye dravya-vinimaye dâne vâ kathancit

> > sa vai pretya narake 'vîcimaty adhah-sirâ niravakâse yojana-

> > satocchrâyâd giri-mûrdhnah sampâtyate yatra jalam iva sthalam asma-

> > prstham avabhâsate tad avîcimat tilaso visîryamâna-sarîro na

> > mriyamânah punar âropito nipatati.

> > yah--anyone who; tu--but; iha--in this life; vâ--or; anrtam--a lie; vadati--speaks; sâksye--giving witness; dravya-vinimaye--in exchange for goods; dâne--in giving charity; va--or; kathancit--somehow; sah--that person; vai--indeed; pretya--after dying; narake--in the hell; avîcimati--named Avîcimat (having no water); adhah-sirâh--with his head downward; niravakâse--without support; yojana-sata--of eight hundred miles; ucchrâyât--having a height; giri--of a mountain; mûrdhnah--from the top; sampâtyate--is thrown; yatra--where; jalam iva--like water; sthalam--land; asma-prstham--having a surface of stone; avabhâsate--appears; tat--that; avîcimat--having no water or waves; tilosah--in pieces as small as seeds; visîryamâna--being broken; sarîrah--the body; na mriyamânah--not dying; punah--again; âropitah--raised to the top; nipatati--falls down.

> > *******

> > TEXT 29

> > yas tv iha vai vipro râjanyo vaisyo vâ soma-pîthas tat-kalatram vâ

> > surâm vrata-stho 'pi vâ pibati pramâdatas tesâm nirayam nîtânâm urasi

> > padâkramyâsye vahninâ dravamânam kârsnâyasam nisincanti.

> > yah--anyone who; tu--but; iha--in this life; vai--indeed; viprah--a learned brâhmana; râjanyah--a ksatriya; vaisyah--a vaisya; vâ--or; soma-pîthah--drink soma-rasa; tat--his; kalatram--wife; vâ--or; surâm--liquor; vrata-sthah--being situated in a vow; api--certainly; vâ--or; pibati--drinks; pramâdatah--out of illusion; tesâm--of all of them; nirayam--to hell; nîtânâm--being brought; urasi--on the chest; padâ--with the foot; âkramya--stepping; asye--in the mouth; vahninâ--by fire; dravamânam--melted; kârsnâyasam--iron; nisincanti--they pour into.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 30

> > atha ca yas tv iha vâ âtma-sambhâvanena svayam adhamo janma-

> > tapo-vidyâcâra-varnâsramavato varîyaso na bahu manyeta sa mrtaka eva

> > mrtvâ ksârakardame niraye 'vâk-sirâ nipâtito durantâ yâtanâ hy asnute.

> > atha--furthermore; ca--also; yah--anyone who; tu--but; iha--in this life; vâ--or; âtma-sambhâvanena--by false prestige; svayam--himself; adhamah--very degraded; janma--good birth; tapah--austerities; vidyâ--knowledge; âcâra--good behavior; varna-âsrama-vatah--in terms of strictly following the principles of varnâsrama; varîyasah--of one who is more honorable; na--not; bahu--much; manyeta--respects; sah--he; mrtakah--a dead body; eva--only; mrtvâ--after dying; ksârakardame--named Ksârakardama; niraye--in the hell; avâk-sirâ--with his head downward; nipâtitah--thrown; durantâh yâtanâh--severe painful conditions; hi--indeed; asnute--suffers.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 31

> > ye tv iha vai purusâh purusa-medhena yajante yâs ca striyo nr-pasûn

> > khâdanti tâms ca te pasava iva nihatâ yama-sadane yâtayanto

> > rakso-ganâh saunikâ iva svadhitinâvadâyâsrk pibanti nrtyanti ca gâyanti ca

> > hrsyamânâ yatheha purusâdâh.

> > ye--persons who; tu--but; iha--in this life; vai--indeed; purusâh--men; purusa-medhena--by sacrifice of a man; yajante--worship (the goddess Kâlî or Bhadra Kâlî); yâh--those who; ca--and; striyah--women; nr-pasûn--the men used as sacrifice; khâdanti--eat; tân--them; ca--and; te--they; pasavah iva--like the animals; nihatâh--being slain; yama-sadane--in the abode of Yamarâja; yâtayantah--punishing; raksah-ganâh--being Râksasas; saunikâh--the killers; iva--like; svadhitinâ--by a sword; avadâya--cutting to pieces; asrk--the blood; pibanti--drink; nrtyanti--dance; ca--and; gâyanti--sing; ca--also; hrsyamânâh--being delighted; yathâ--just like; iha--in this world; purusa-adâh--the man-eaters.

> > *******

> > TEXT 32

> > ye tv iha vâ anâgaso 'ranye grâme vâ vaisrambhakair upasrtân

> > upavisrambhayya jijîvisun sûla-sûtrâdisûpaprotân krîdanakatayâ

> > yâtayanti te 'pi ca pretya yama-yâtanâsu sûlâdisu protâtmânah

> > ksuttrdbhyâm câbhihatâh kanka-vatâdibhis cetas tatas tigma-tundair

> > âhanyamânâ âtma-samalam smaranti.

> > ye--persons who; tu--but; iha--in this life; vâ--or; anâgasah--who are faultless; aranye--in the forest; grâme--in the village; vâ--or; vaisrambhakaih--by means of good faith; upasrtân--brought near; upavisrambhayya--inspiring with confidence; jijîvisûn--who want to be protected; sûla-sûtra-âdisu--on a lance, thread, and so on; upaprotân--fixed; krîdanakatayâ--like a plaything; yâtayanti--cause pain; te--those persons; api--certainly; ca--and; pretya--after dying; yama-yâtanâsu--the persecutions of Yamarâja; sula-adisu--on lances and so on; prota-âtmânah--whose bodies are fixed; ksut-trdbhyâm--by hunger and thirst; ca--also; abhihatâh--overwhelmed; kanka-vata-âdibhih--by birds such as herons and vultures; ca--and; itah tatah--here and there; tigma-tundaih--having pointed beaks; âhanyamânâh--being tortured; âtma-samalam--own sinful activities; smaranti--they remember.

> > *******

> > TEXT 33

> > ye tv iha vai bhûtâny udvejayanti narâ ulbana-svabhâvâ yathâ

> > dandasûkâs te 'pi pretya narake dandasûkâkhyenipatanti yatra nrpa

> > dandasûkâh panca-mukhâh sapta-mukhâ upasrtya grasanti yathâ

> > bilesayân.

> > ye--persons who; tu--but; iha--in this life; vai--indeed; bhûtâni--to living entities; udvejayanti--cause unnecessary pain; narâh--men; ulbana-svabhâvâh--angry by nature; yathâ--just like; dandasûkâh--snakes; te--they; api--also; pretya--after dying; narake--in the hell; dandasûka-âkhye--named Dandasûka; nipatanti--fall down; yatra--where; nrpa--O King; dandasûkâh--serpents; panca-mukhâh--having five hoods; sapta-mukhâh--having seven hoods; upasrtya--reaching up; grasanti--eat; yathâ--just like; bilesayân--mice.

> > *******

> > TEXT 34

> > ye tv iha vâ andhâvata-kusûla-guhâdisu bhûtâni nirundhanti

> > tathâmutra tesv evopavesya sagarena vahninâ dhûmena nirundhanti.

> > ye--persons who; tu--but; iha--in this life; vâ--or; andha-avata--a blind well; kusûla--granaries; guha-âdisu--and in caves; bhûtâni--the living entities; nirundhanti--confine; tathâ--similarly; amutra--in the next life; tesu--in those same places; eva--certainly; upavesya--causing to enter; sagarena--with poisonous fumes; vahninâ--with fire; dhûmena--with smoke; nirundhanti--confine.

> > *******

> > TEXT 35

> > yas tv iha va atithîn abhyâgatân vâ grha-patir asakrd upagata-manyur

> > didhaksur iva pâpena caksusâ nirîksate tasya câpi niraye pâpa-drster

> > aksinî vajra-tundâ-grdhrâh kanka-kâka-vatâdayah prasahyoru-balâd

> > utpâtayanti.

> > yah--a person who; tu--but; iha--in this life; vâ--or; atithîn--guests; abhyâgatân--visitors; vâ--or; grha-patih--a householder; asakrt--many times; upagata--obtaining; manyuh--anger; didhaksuh--one desiring to burn; iva--like; pâpena--sinful; caksusâ--with eyes; nirîksate--looks at; tasya--of him; ca--and; api--certainly; niraye--in hell; pâpa-drsteh--of he whose vision has become sinful; aksinî--the eyes; vajra-tundâh--those who have powerful beaks; grdhrâh--vultures; kanka--herons; kâka--crows; vata-âdayah--and other birds; prasahya--violently; uru-balât--with great force; utpâtayanti--pluck out.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 36

> > yas tv iha vâ âdhyâbhimatir ahankrtis tiryak-preksanah sarvato

> > 'bhivisankî artha-vyaya-nâsa-cintayâ parisusyamâna-hrdaya-vadano

> > nirvrtim anavagato graha ivârtham abhiraksati sa câpi pretya

> > tadutpâdanotkarsana-samraksana-samala-grahah sûcîmukhe narake

> > nipatati yatra ha vitta-graham pâpa-purusam dharmarâja-purusâ

> > vâyakâ iva sarvato 'ngesu sûtraih parivayanti.

> > yah--any person who; tu--but; iha--in this world; vâ--or; âdhya-abhimatih--proud because of wealth; ahankrtih--egotistic; tiryak-preksanah--whose vision is crooked; sarvatah abhivisankî--always fearful of being cheated by others, even by superiors; artha-vyaya-nâsa-cintayâ--by the thought of expenditure and loss; parisusyamâna--dried up; hrdaya-vadanah--his heart and face; nirvrtim--happiness; anavagatah--not obtaining; grahah--a ghost; iva--like; artham--wealth; abhiraksati--protects; sah--he; ca--also; api--indeed; pretya--after dying; tat--of those riches; utpâdana--of the earning; utkarsana--increasing; samraksana--protecting; samala-grahah--accepting the sinful activities; sûcîmukhe--named Sûcîmukha; narake--in the hell; nipatati--falls down; yatra--where; ha--indeed; vitta-graham--as a money-grabbing ghost; pâpa-purusam--very sinful man; dharmarâja-purusâh--the commanding men of Yamarâja; vâyakâh iva--like expert weavers; sarvatah--all over; angesu--on the limbs of the body; sûtraih--by threads; parivayanti--stitch.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 37

> > evam-vidhâ narakâ yamâlaye santi satasah sahasrasas tesu sarvesu ca

> > sarva evâdharma-vartino ye kecid ihoditâ anuditâs câvani-pate

> > paryâyena visanti tathaiva dharmânuvartina itaratra iha tu

> > punarbhave ta ubhaya-sesâbhyâm nivisanti.

> > evam-vidhâh--of this sort; narakâh--the many hells; yama-âlaye--in the province of Yamarâja; santi--are; satasah--hundreds; sahasrasah--thousands; tesu--in those hellish planets; sarvesu--all; ca--also; sarve--all; eva--indeed; adharma-vartinah--persons not following the Vedic principles or regulative principles; ye kecit--whosoever; iha--here; uditâh--mentioned; anuditah--not mentioned; ca--and; avani-pate--O King; paryâyena--according to the degree of different kinds of sinful activity; visanti--they enter; tathâ eva--similarly; dharma-anuvartinah--those who are pious and act according to the regulative principles or Vedic injunctions; itaratra--elsewhere; iha--on this planet; tu--but; punah-bhave--into another birth; te--all of them; ubhaya-sesâbhyâm--by the remainder of the results of piety or vice; nivisanti--they enter.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear King Pariksit, in the province of Yamaraja there are hundreds and thousands of hellish planets. The impious people I have mentioned--and also those I have not mentioned--must all enter these various planets according to the degree of their impiety. Those who are pious, however, enter other planetary systems, namely the planets 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 38

> > nivrtti-laksana-mârga âdâv eva vyâkhyâtah. etâvân evânda-koso yas

> > caturdasadhâ purânesu vikalpita upagîyate yat tad bhagavato

> > nârâyanasya sâksân mahâ-purusasya sthavistham rûpam âtmamâyâ-

> > gunamayam anuvarnitam âdrtah pathati srnoti srâvayati sa upageyam

> > bhagavatah paramâtmano 'grâhyam api sraddhâ-bhakti-visuddha-

> > buddhir veda.

> > nivrtti-laksana-mârgah--the path symptomized by renunciation, or the path of liberation; âdau--in the beginning (the Second and Third Cantos); eva--indeed; vyâkhyâtah--described; etâvân--this much; eva--certainly; anda-kosah--the universe, which resembles a big egg; yah--which; caturdasa-dhâ--in fourteen parts; purânesu--in the Purânas; vikalpitah--divided; upagîyate--is described; yat--which; tat--that; bhagavatah--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nârâyanasya--of Lord Nârâyana; sâksât--directly; mahâ-purusasya--of the Supreme Person; sthavistham--the gross; rûpam--form; âtma-mâyâ--of His own energy; guna--of the qualities; mayam--consisting; anuvarnitam--described; âdrtah--venerating; pathati--one reads; srnoti--or hears; srâvayati--or explains; sah--that person; upageyam--song; bhagavatah--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; paramâtmanah--of the Supersoul; agrâhyam--difficult to understand; api--although; sraddhâ--by faith; bhakti--and devotion; visuddha--purified; buddhih--whose intelligence; veda--understands.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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 virata-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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 39

> > srutvâ sthûlam tathâ sûksmam

> > rûpam bhagavato yatih

> > sthûle nirjitam âtmânam

> > sanaih sûksmam dhiyâ nayed iti

> > srutvâ--after hearing of (from the disciplic succession); sthûlam--gross; tathâ--as well as; sûksmam--subtle; rûpam--form; bhagavatah--of the Supreme personality of Godhead; yatih--a sannyâsî or devotee; sthûle--the gross form; nirjitam--conquered; âtmânam--the mind; sanaih--gradually; sûksmam--the subtle, spiritual form of the Lord; dhiyâ--by intelligence; nayet--one should lead it to; iti--thus.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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 virata-rupa, the gigantic universal form of the Lord, and then gradually think of the spiritual form of Krsna [sac-cid-ananda-vigraha] 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.

> > *******

> > TEXT 40

> > bhû-dvîpa-varsa-sarid-adri-nabhah-samudra-

> > pâtâla-din-naraka-bhâgana-loka-samsthâ

> > gîtâ mayâ tava nrpâdbhutam îsvarasya

> > sthûlam vapuh sakala jîva-nikâya-dhâma

> > bhû--of this planet earth; dvîpa--and other different planetary systems; varsa--of tracts of land; sarit--rivers; adri--mountains; nabhah--the sky; samudra--oceans; pâtâla--lower planets; dik--directions; naraka--the hellish planets; bhâgana-loka--the luminaries and higher planets; samsthâ--the situation; gîtâ--described; mayâ--by me; tava--for you; nrpa--O King; adbhutam--wonderful; îsvarasya--of the Supreme personality of Godhead; sthûlam--gross; vapuh--body; sakala jîva-nikâya--of all the masses of living entities; dhâma--which is the place of repose.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear King, I have now described for you this planet earth, other planetary systems, and their lands [varsas], rivers and mountains. I have also described the sky, the oceans, the lower planetary systems, the directions, the hellish planetary systems and the stars. These constitute the virata-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.

> > Back to the running text