Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 26

Kapila’s Analysis of Materialistic Life, Death, and the Path to Hell

Kāla, Karma, and Yamadūtas

Devanagari script

जीवतश्चान्त्राभ्युद्धार: श्वगृध्रैर्यमसादने । सर्पवृश्चिकदंशाद्यैर्दशद्‌भिश्चात्मवैशसम् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

jīvataś cāntrābhyuddhāraḥ śva-gṛdhrair yama-sādane sarpa-vṛścika-daṁśādyair daśadbhiś cātma-vaiśasam

Translation

His entrails are pulled out by the hounds and vultures of hell, even though he is still alive to see it, and he is subjected to torment by serpents, scorpions, gnats and other creatures that bite him.

Synonyms

• jīvataḥ: of a living (being)
• jīvataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jīvat (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; शतृ-प्रत्यय from √jīv जīv)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (contextual); शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• antra-abhyuddhāraḥ: pulling out of the intestines
• antra-abhyuddhāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antra (प्रातिपदिक) + abhyuddhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘अन्त्राणाम् अभ्युद्धारः’

• śva-gṛdhraiḥ: by dogs and vultures
• śva-gṛdhraiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvan (प्रातिपदिक) + gṛdhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: ‘श्वानः च गृध्राः च’

• yama-sādane: in Yama’s abode
• yama-sādane: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक) + sādana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘यमस्य सादनम्’

• sarpa-vṛścika-daṁśa-ādyaiḥ: by snakes, scorpions, biting creatures, etc.
• sarpa-vṛścika-daṁśa-ādyaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarpa (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛścika (प्रातिपदिक) + daṁśa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); समाहार/निर्देश-तत्पुरुष: ‘सर्प-वृश्चिक-दंश-आदयः’ (snakes, scorpions, biting insects, etc.)

• daśadbhiḥ: by ten (kinds)
• daśadbhiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśat (प्रातिपदिक; संख्याशब्द)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ātma-vaiśasam: self-inflicted misery
• ātma-vaiśasam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + vaiśasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘आत्मनः वैषसम्’ (self-caused ruin/torment)

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about punishment in Yamaloka?

This verse describes severe torments in Yama’s abode, emphasizing that such suffering is the consequence of one’s own sinful actions.

Why does Lord Kapila describe these hellish sufferings to Devahuti?

Kapila instructs Devahuti on the dangers of sinful, sense-driven life so she may develop detachment and take up the path of devotion and liberation.

What is the practical lesson of this shloka for modern life?

It warns that harmful choices bring painful reactions; therefore one should live ethically, restrain the senses, and cultivate devotion to avoid self-created suffering.