Shloka 23
पापोंके कारण दुर्गम नरकमें पड़े हुए प्राणी भूख-प्याससे पीड़ित हो अतामें जलते हुए पकाये जाते हैं। वहाँ उस यातनासे निकल भागनेका कोई उपाय नहीं है ।। अन्थकाररं तमो घोरें प्रविशन्त्यल्पबुद्धय: । तत्र धर्म प्रवक्ष्यामि येन दुर्गाणि संतरेत्,मन्दबुद्धि मनुष्य ही नरकके घोर दुःखमय अन्धकारमें प्रवेश करते हैं। उस अवसरके लिये मैं धर्मका उपदेश करता हूँ, जिससे मनुष्य दुर्गम नरकसे पार हो सकता है
andhakāraṃ tamo ghoraṃ praviśanty alpabuddhayaḥ | tatra dharmaṃ pravakṣyāmi yena durgāṇi santaret ||
Those of little understanding enter a dreadful darkness—sheer gloom. Therefore I shall declare the path of dharma by which one may cross beyond such hard-to-pass states.
यम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ignorance and poor discernment lead beings into dreadful darkness and suffering; therefore one should learn and follow dharma, which is presented as the means to cross beyond perilous states such as naraka.
Yama, speaking as a moral instructor, describes the grim fate awaiting the undiscerning and then announces that he will teach dharma as a practical means of deliverance from such hard-to-escape suffering.