Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 18
Naraka-varṇana: The Hellish Planets and the Karmic Logic of Punishment
यस्त्विह वा असंविभज्याश्नाति यत्किञ्चनोपनतमनिर्मितपञ्चयज्ञो वायससंस्तुत: स परत्र कृमिभोजने नरकाधमे निपतति तत्र शतसहस्रयोजने कृमिकुण्डे कृमिभूत: स्वयं कृमिभिरेव भक्ष्यमाण: कृमिभोजनो यावत्तदप्रत्ताप्रहूतादोऽनिर्वेशमात्मानं यातयते ॥ १८ ॥
yas tv iha vā asaṁvibhajyāśnāti yat kiñcanopanatam anirmita-pañca-yajño vāyasa-saṁstutaḥ sa paratra kṛmibhojane narakādhame nipatati tatra śata-sahasra-yojane kṛmi-kuṇḍe kṛmi-bhūtaḥ svayaṁ kṛmibhir eva bhakṣyamāṇaḥ kṛmi-bhojano yāvat tad aprattāprahūtādo ’nirveśam ātmānaṁ yātayate.
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 Kṛmibhojana. 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 Kṛmibhojana for as many years as there are yojanas in the width of the lake.
As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (3.13) :
FAQs
This verse states that one who eats selfishly without distributing food to others and without honoring sacred duties (pañca-yajñas) incurs severe karmic reactions and falls into the hell called Kṛmibhojana.
Śukadeva explains the destinations created by karma to instruct Parīkṣit on dharma and detachment, strengthening his resolve to hear and remember the Lord rather than live in selfish, sinful habits.
Before eating, offer food in gratitude and devotion, share with others (especially guests and the needy), and live responsibly—so daily life becomes purified rather than driven by selfish consumption.