Shloka 9
Naraka-varṇana: The Hellish Planets and the Karmic Logic of Punishment
एवमेवान्धतामिस्रे यस्तु वञ्चयित्वा पुरुषं दारादीनुपयुङ्क्ते यत्र शरीरी निपात्यमानो यातनास्थो वेदनया नष्टमतिर्नष्टदृष्टिश्च भवति यथा वनस्पतिर्वृश्च्यमानमूलस्तस्मादन्धतामिस्रं तमुपदिशन्ति ॥ ९ ॥
evam evāndhatāmisre yas tu vañcayitvā puruṣaṁ dārādīn upayuṅkte yatra śarīrī nipātyamāno yātanā-stho vedanayā naṣṭa-matir naṣṭa-dṛṣṭiś ca bhavati yathā vanaspatir vṛścyamāna-mūlas tasmād andhatāmisraṁ tam upadiśanti.
The destination of a person who slyly cheats another man and enjoys his wife and children is the hell known as Andhatāmisra. There his condition is exactly like that of a tree being chopped at its roots. Even before reaching Andhatāmisra, the sinful living being is subjected to various extreme miseries. These afflictions are so severe that he loses his intelligence and sight. It is for this reason that learned sages call this hell Andhatāmisra.
FAQs
This verse says Andhatāmisra is the destination for one who cheats another and wrongfully takes his wife, children, or dependents; the soul suffers such pain that intelligence and even sight are lost, like a tree whose roots are cut.
Śukadeva explains Yamaloka’s punishments to show the law of karma—how adharma brings inevitable suffering—so Parīkṣit (and listeners) develop detachment from sin and turn toward bhakti and righteous living.
Do not exploit or manipulate others for relationships, family advantage, or control; live with integrity and protection of others’ rights, knowing that deception creates severe karmic consequences and spiritual darkness.