Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 16
Naraka-varṇana: The Hellish Planets and the Karmic Logic of Punishment
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 rājā rāja-puruṣo vā adaṇḍye daṇḍaṁ praṇayati brāhmaṇe vā śarīra-daṇḍaṁ sa pāpīyān narake ’mutra sūkaramukhe nipatati tatrātibalair viniṣpiṣyamāṇāvayavo yathaivehekṣukhaṇḍa ārta-svareṇa svanayan kvacin mūrcchitaḥ kaśmalam upagato yathaivehā-dṛṣṭa-doṣā uparuddhāḥ.
In his next life, a sinful king or governmental representative who punishes an innocent person, or who inflicts corporal punishment upon a brāhmaṇa, is taken by the Yamadūtas to the hell named Sūkaramukha, where the most powerful assistants of Yamarāja 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.
FAQs
This verse says that a king or official who punishes one who is not deserving of punishment commits a grave sin and is sent to the hell called Sūkaramukha, where he is crushed like sugarcane.
The verse highlights that inflicting bodily punishment on a brāhmaṇa is a severe violation of dharma; such abuse of sacred social order and spiritual protection brings heavy karmic reaction.
Leaders, judges, and administrators must avoid misuse of authority, ensure due process, and protect the innocent—because injustice and abuse of power create serious moral and karmic consequences.