Shloka 23
Kapila’s Analysis of Materialistic Life, Death, and the Path to Hell
Kāla, Karma, and Yamadūtas
तत्र तत्र पतञ्छ्रान्तो मूर्च्छित: पुनरुत्थित: । पथा पापीयसा नीतस्तरसा यमसादनम् ॥ २३ ॥
tatra tatra patañ chrānto mūrcchitaḥ punar utthitaḥ pathā pāpīyasā nītas tarasā yama-sādanam
While passing on that road to the abode of Yamarāja, he falls down in fatigue, and sometimes he becomes unconscious, but he is forced to rise again. In this way he is very quickly brought to the presence of Yamarāja.
FAQs
This verse says the sinful soul is driven forcibly along a very inauspicious path—repeatedly falling, fainting, and being made to rise—until taken swiftly to Yama’s abode for judgment.
Kapila instructs Devahuti on the painful results of adverse fruitive actions so she may develop detachment from sin and material enjoyment, and turn toward devotional and liberating spiritual practice.
It encourages mindful living—avoiding harmful actions and cultivating dharma and bhakti—by remembering that choices have consequences that shape one’s future experience beyond this life.