Shloka 28
Nārada Explains the Allegory of King Purañjana
Deha–Indriya–Manaḥ Mapping and the Remedy of Bhakti
शुक्लात्प्रकाशभूयिष्ठाँल्लोकानाप्नोति कर्हिचित् । दु:खोदर्कान् क्रियायासांस्तम:शोकोत्कटान् क्वचित् ॥ २८ ॥
śuklāt prakāśa-bhūyiṣṭhāḻ lokān āpnoti karhicit duḥkhodarkān kriyāyāsāṁs tamaḥ-śokotkaṭān kvacit
From sattva one sometimes attains higher, radiant worlds; from rajas come toilsome actions whose fruit is sorrow; and from tamas arise darkness, grief, and intense suffering.
There are three planetary systems — upper, middle and lower. Those influenced by the mode of goodness are given places in the upper planetary systems — Brahmaloka (Satyaloka), Tapoloka, Janaloka and Maharloka. Those influenced by the mode of passion are given places in the Bhūrloka and Bhuvarloka. Those influenced by the mode of ignorance are given places in Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talātala, Mahātala, Rasātala, Pātāla or the animal kingdom. Qualitatively the living entity is the same as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but because of his forgetfulness he gets different bodies in different planetary systems. At the present moment human society is overly influenced by the mode of passion, and consequently people are engaged in working in big factories. They forget how distressful it is to live in such places. In Bhagavad-gītā such activities are described as ugra-karma, that is, distressful activities. Those who utilize the energies of the worker are called capitalists, and those who actually perform the work are called laborers. In actuality they are both capitalists, and the workers are in the modes of passion and ignorance. The result is that there is always a distressful situation. In contrast to these men are those influenced by the mode of goodness — the karmīs and jñānīs. The karmīs, under the direction of Vedic instructions, try to elevate themselves to higher planetary systems. The jñānīs try to merge into the existence of Brahman, the impersonal feature of the Lord. In this way all classes of living entities in various species of life are existing within this material world. This explains superior and inferior life-forms within the material world.
FAQs
This verse states that sattvic actions can elevate one to brighter, more refined realms, while strenuous fruitive work can lead to suffering, and tamasic influence can lead to dark destinations filled with grief.
Nārada instructs the king—who was inclined toward ritualistic, result-driven activity—that karma yields mixed and temporary outcomes, urging him toward a higher, liberating path (ultimately bhakti).
Choose actions that increase clarity and compassion (sattva), avoid obsessive result-driven striving that breeds distress, and consciously reject habits that deepen ignorance and depression—while orienting life toward devotion and inner transformation.