Devi Bhagavatam 4.21.24 — Devi as Supreme Shakti, Skandha 4, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 24

The Description of the Killing of Devaki's First Son by Kamsa

Devanagari script

भुनक्ति विविधान् भोगान्स्वर्गे वा नरकेऽथवा । भोगान्ते च यदोत्पत्तेः समयस्तस्य जायते

Transliteration

bhunakti vividhān bhogānsvarge vā narake'thavā | bhogānte ca yadotpatteḥ samayastasya jāyate

Translation

...erlebt sie verschiedene Genüsse oder Qualen im Himmel oder in der Hölle. Wenn die Erfahrung endet und die Zeit für die Wiedergeburt kommt...

Word by Word

• bhunakti: enjoys/experiences
• bhunakti: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj
• Form: Lat, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• vividhān: various
• vividhān: Karma-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• bhogān: experiences
• bhogān: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhoga
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• svarge: in heaven
• svarge: Adhikaraṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarga
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• narake: in hell
• narake: Adhikaraṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: naraka
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• athavā: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā
• Form: Disjunctive

• bhogānte: at the end of enjoyment
• bhogānte: Adhikaraṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhogānta
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• yadā: when
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā
• Form: Adverb

• utpatteḥ: of birth
• utpatteḥ: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: utpatti
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• samayaḥ: time
• samayaḥ: Kartṛ
• Type: Noun
• Root: samaya
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tasya: his/its
• tasya: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: tad
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• jāyate: is born
• jāyate: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan
• Form: Lat, Atmanepada, 3rd Person, Singular

Speaker

Vasudeva

Shakti Theology

Devi Form: null

Mahavidya Connection: null

Shakti Manifestation: null

Tattva Discussed: Karma

Devi Narrative

Demon Antagonist: null

Devi Weapon Used: null

Narrative Source: null

Story Arc Position: null

Tantra Dimension

Mantra Referenced: null

Yantra Referenced: null

Kundalini Element: null

Chakra Referenced: null

Tantric Practice Type: null

Bhakti & Stuti

Stuti Type: null

Recitation Occasion: null

Phala Shruti: null

Devotee Offering Stuti: null

Cosmic Feminine

Maya Aspect: null

Creation Role: null

Shakti Philosophy: null

Relation To Brahman: null

Vyasa-Janamejaya Dialogue

Narrator: Vyasa

Listener: Janamejaya

Dialogue Context: Cycle of Rebirth

Narrative Layer: embedded

Ritual Context

Text: None

Philosophical Significance

Text: Emphasizes the cyclical nature of existence. Even celestial enjoyment or infernal suffering cannot break the cycle; only spiritual liberation (Moksha) can.

Characters & Entities

• Svarga
• Naraka

FAQs

Are heaven and hell permanent in this philosophy?

No, they are temporary. The soul experiences enjoyments or torments only until that specific karma is exhausted (bhogante), after which it must be reborn on earth.