Shloka 55
Post-cremation Ripening of Karma and the Principal Narakas
भूमेरधस्तात्ते सर्वे रौरवाद्याः प्रकीर्तिताः / रोघो गोघ्नो भ्रूणहा च अग्निदाता नरः पतेत्
bhūmeradhastātte sarve rauravādyāḥ prakīrtitāḥ / rogho goghno bhrūṇahā ca agnidātā naraḥ patet
Unter der Erde werden all jene Höllen verkündet, beginnend mit Raurava und den übrigen. Ein Krankheitsstifter, ein Kuhmörder, ein Embryonentöter und wer einen Menschen dem Feuer ausliefert—ein solcher Mensch fällt in jene Höllen.
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Naraka
Concept: Certain acts (disease-causing harm, cow-killing, embryo-slaying, consigning a person to fire) are grave adharma leading to naraka.
Vedantic Theme: Ahimsa and loka-saṅgraha as supports of dharma; violation produces binding karmic descent.
Application: Avoid violence and social harms; protect vulnerable life; uphold sanctity of cow (as dharmic symbol) and human life; seek prāyaścitta if transgressed.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Type: subterranean hell-regions
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Raurava and other narakas described; later verses detailing punishments for go-hatyā and bhrūṇa-hatyā
FAQs
This verse links concrete actions (like go-hatya and bhrunahatya) to karmic consequences, using the naraka framework to teach moral restraint and accountability.
It implies that certain grave sins propel the soul toward narakas (hell-realms) described as existing below the earth, where suffering corresponds to the nature of the wrongdoing.
Avoid harm to life and society—protect the vulnerable, refrain from cruelty and violence, and live with compassion and responsibility to reduce destructive karmic outcomes.