Shloka 1

Naraka-varṇana: The Hellish Planets and the Karmic Logic of Punishment

Devanagari script

राजोवाच महर्ष एतद्वैचित्र्यं लोकस्य कथमिति ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

rājovāca maharṣa etad vaicitryaṁ lokasya katham iti.

Translation

King Parīkṣit said: O great sage, how does this diversity of conditions among living beings arise? Kindly explain it to me.

Synonyms

• राजा: the king
• राजा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संबोधनार्थे वक्ता

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महर्षे: O great sage
• महर्षे: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेष्य-निर्देश

• वैचित्र्यम्: variety; diversity
• वैचित्र्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैचित्र्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• लोकस्य: of the world
• लोकस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: प्रश्न (Interrogative modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्यचिह्न (Quotative/Marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्य-समाप्ति सूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

Purport

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that the different hellish planets within this universe are held slightly above the Garbhodaka Ocean and remain situated there. This chapter describes how all sinful persons go to these hellish planets and how they are punished there by the assistants of Yamarāja. Different individuals with different bodily features enjoy or suffer various reactions according to their past deeds.

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about why there are different life conditions in the world?

This verse introduces Parīkṣit’s inquiry that the world’s diversity arises from causes that Śukadeva will explain—primarily the workings of karma and dharma leading to different results.

Why did King Parikshit ask this question to the sage?

Hearing descriptions of cosmic arrangements, Parīkṣit seeks the underlying reason for unequal experiences—happiness, suffering, and various destinations—prompting the explanation of karmic consequences in this chapter.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

It encourages ethical living and responsibility: our choices shape future outcomes, so aligning actions with dharma and devotion helps create auspicious results.