Shloka 8
Naraka-varṇana: The Hellish Planets and the Karmic Logic of Punishment
तत्र यस्तु परवित्तापत्यकलत्राण्यपहरति स हि कालपाशबद्धो यमपुरुषैरतिभयानकैस्तामिस्रे नरके बलान्निपात्यते अनशनानुदपानदण्डताडनसन्तर्जनादिभिर्यातनाभिर्यात्यमानो जन्तुर्यत्र कश्मलमासादित एकदैव मूर्च्छामुपयाति तामिस्रप्राये ॥ ८ ॥
tatra yas tu para-vittāpatya-kalatrāṇy apaharati sa hi kāla-pāśa-baddho yama-puruṣair ati-bhayānakais tāmisre narake balān nipātyate anaśanānudapāna-daṇḍa-tāḍana-santarjanādibhir yātanābhir yātyamāno jantur yatra kaśmalam āsādita ekadaiva mūrcchām upayāti tāmisra-prāye.
My dear King, a person who appropriates another’s legitimate wife, children or money is arrested at the time of death by the fierce Yamadūtas, who bind him with the rope of time and forcibly throw him into the hellish planet known as Tāmisra. On this very dark planet, the sinful man is chastised by the Yamadūtas, who beat and rebuke him. He is starved, and he is given no water to drink. Thus the wrathful assistants of Yamarāja cause him severe suffering, and sometimes he faints from their chastisement.
FAQs
In 5.26.8, Śukadeva explains that one who steals another’s wealth, wife, or even children is seized by Yama’s messengers and thrown into the hell called Tāmisra, where he suffers starvation, thirst, beating, and terror.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks these descriptions to Mahārāja Parīkṣit while explaining the destinations created by karma and the consequences of grave adharma.
It warns against exploiting others through theft, coercion, or violating family bonds; a devotee cultivates integrity, respect for others’ relationships and property, and seeks purification through bhakti rather than sin-driven enjoyment.