Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

एवमेव महारौरवो यत्र निपतितं पुरुषं क्रव्यादा नाम रुरवस्तं क्रव्येण घातयन्ति य: केवलं देहम्भर: ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

evam eva mahārauravo yatra nipatitaṁ puruṣaṁ kravyādā nāma ruravas taṁ kravyeṇa ghātayanti yaḥ kevalaṁ dehambharaḥ.

Translation

Likewise, the hell called Mahāraurava awaits one who maintains his own body by harming others. There, ruru beasts known as kravyāda torment him and devour his flesh.

Synonyms

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of manner

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• mahā-rauravaḥ: (the hell) Mahāraurava
• mahā-rauravaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + raurava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: 'great Raurava'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Relative adverb (सम्बन्ध-अव्यय) of place

• nipatitam: fallen down
• nipatitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-pat (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies puruṣam

• puruṣam: a man/person
• puruṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kravyādāḥ: flesh-eaters
• kravyādāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kravya (प्रातिपदिक) + ada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'flesh-eaters' (kravyaṃ adanti); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• nāma: named/called
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) indicating naming/appellation

• ruravaḥ: Ruravas
• ruravaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rurava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); apposition to kravyādāḥ

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• kravyeṇa: with flesh
• kravyeṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kravya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ghātayanti: they kill/strike down
• ghātayanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ghātaya (causative of han √हन्) (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); Causative (णिच्)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kevalam: only/merely
• kevalam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially 'only'

• dehaṁ-bharaḥ: one who lives only for bodily maintenance
• dehaṁ-bharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक) + bhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'one who bears the body' (dehasya bharaḥ); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Purport

The animalistic person who lives simply in the bodily concept of life is not excused. He is put into the hell known as Mahāraurava and attacked by ruru animals known as kravyādas.

FAQs

What is Mahāraurava hell in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

Mahāraurava is a hellish region described in Canto 5, Chapter 26, where flesh-eating beings called Kravyādas torment those who lived merely for bodily maintenance, absorbed in material survival and gratification.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe hellish punishments to Mahārāja Parīkṣit?

Śukadeva explains the karmic results of sinful and bodily-centered living to awaken detachment and urgency for devotional surrender, guiding Parīkṣit toward exclusive remembrance of the Lord.

How can I apply the teaching of 'dehambhara' in modern life?

Use the body as a tool for dharma and bhakti—keep it healthy and responsible, but don’t make bodily comfort the goal; prioritize sādhana, service, and God-centered choices over mere consumption and survival-anxiety.