Adhyaya 14 — The Messenger of Yama Explains Karmic Retribution and the Causes of Naraka Torments
मृताः पुनश्च नरकं पुनर्जाताश्च तादृशम् ।
व्याधिमृच्छन्ति कल्पान्तपरिमाणं नराधिप ॥
mṛtāḥ punaś ca narakaṃ punarjātāś ca tādṛśam /
vyādhim ṛcchanti kalpāntaparimāṇaṃ narādhipa
Nach dem Tod gehen sie abermals in die Hölle; und wenn sie wiedergeboren werden, begegnen ihnen solche Krankheiten — dies währt bis zu einem Maß, das bis zum Ende eines Äons (kalpa) andauert, o König.
Adharma can generate repeating cycles of suffering across lives, implying that ethical repair must be deep—transforming character, not merely enduring punishment.
Touches cosmological time (kalpa) but functions mainly as karma-dharma instruction rather than manvantara or genealogy.
‘Until kalpa’s end’ dramatizes how ignorance can feel endless; liberation requires insight and right action that cut the recurrence, not just temporary relief.