Shloka 11
Naraka-varṇana: The Hellish Planets and the Karmic Logic of Punishment
ये त्विह यथैवामुना विहिंसिता जन्तव: परत्र यमयातनामुपगतं त एव रुरवो भूत्वा तथा तमेव विहिंसन्ति तस्माद्रौरवमित्याहू रुरुरिति सर्पादतिक्रूरसत्त्वस्यापदेश: ॥ ११ ॥
ye tv iha yathaivāmunā vihiṁsitā jantavaḥ paratra yama-yātanām upagataṁ ta eva ruravo bhūtvā tathā tam eva vihiṁsanti tasmād rauravam ity āhū rurur iti sarpād ati-krūra-sattvasyāpadeśaḥ.
One who, in this world, out of envy commits violence against many living beings is, after death, taken by Yamarāja to hell. There, the very beings he injured appear as creatures called rurus and inflict upon him most terrible pain; therefore that hell is known as Raurava. The ruru, seldom seen in this world, is said to be more cruel and spiteful than a serpent.
According to Śrīdhara Svāmī, the ruru is also known as the bhāra-śṛṅga ( ati-krūrasya bhāra-śṛṅgākhya-sattvasya apadeśaḥ saṁjñā ). Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī confirms this in his Sandarbha: ruru-śabdasya svayaṁ muninaiva ṭīkā-vidhānāl lokeṣv aprasiddha evāyaṁ jantu-viśeṣaḥ. Thus although rurus are not seen in this world, their existence is confirmed in the śāstras.
FAQs
This verse says that those harmed in this world later become ruru-like tormentors in Yama’s realm and inflict the same suffering back upon the offender, which is why that hell is called Raurava.
In Canto 5, Śukadeva explains the consequences of sinful actions—especially cruelty and violence—so Parīkṣit (and listeners) understand karma, fear wrongdoing, and turn toward dharma and devotion.
Practice ahiṁsā—avoid harming others through actions, speech, or exploitation—knowing that cruelty creates severe reactions, while compassion supports spiritual progress.