Shloka 41

मानवसर्गः, चातुर्वर्ण्य-गुणकर्म, यज्ञ-प्रतिपादनम्, आश्रमधर्म-फल, नरकवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

तामिस्रम् अन्धतामिस्रं महारौरवरौरवौ असिपत्रवनं घोरं कालसूत्रम् अवीचिमत्

Transliteration

tāmisram andhatāmisraṃ mahārauravarauravau asipatravanaṃ ghoraṃ kālasūtram avīcimat

Translation

There are the hells named Tāmisra and Andhatāmisra; Mahāraurava and Raurava; the dreadful sword‑leaf forest, Asipatravana; Kālasūtra; and Avīcimat—terrifying realms.

Word by Word

• तामिस्रम्: Tāmisra (a hell)
• तामिस्रम्: Karma/Padārtha-nirdeśa (Item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तामिस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; नरकविशेषनाम (name of a hell)

• अन्धतामिस्रम्: Andhatāmisra (a hell)
• अन्धतामिस्रम्: Karma/Padārtha-nirdeśa (Item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्ध + तामिस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः: अन्ध-तामिस्रम् (dark Tāmisra)

• महारौरव: Mahāraurava
• महारौरव: Padārtha-nirdeśa (Item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + रौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; समासः: महा-रौरव (great Raurava)

• रौरवौ: Raurava (the two: Raurava and Mahāraurava)
• रौरवौ: Padārtha-nirdeśa (Item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; नरकविशेषनाम

• असिपत्रवनम्: Asipatravana (forest of sword-leaves)
• असिपत्रवनम्: Padārtha-nirdeśa (Item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि + पत्र + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः: असि-पत्र-वनम् (forest of sword-leaves)

• घोरम्: terrible
• घोरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• कालसूत्रम्: Kālasūtra (a hell)
• कालसूत्रम्: Padārtha-nirdeśa (Item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल + सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः: काल-सूत्रम् (thread/line of Time; hell-name)

• अवीचिमत्: Avīcimat (a hell)
• अवीचिमत्: Padārtha-nirdeśa (Item in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवीचि + मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive derivative): अवीचि-मत् (having 'avīci')

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Description and naming of narakas (hell-realms) where karmic suffering ripens

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Actions inevitably mature into corresponding experiences; grievous deeds lead to terrifying naraka-states described by name and quality.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Use the vivid karmic consequences as a restraint (saṃyama): avoid harm, deceit, and sacrilege; cultivate dharma and devotion to redirect life toward auspicious ends.

Vishishtadvaita: Moral order is upheld under the Lord’s governance: karmaphala operates as a divinely ordered system, urging surrender and righteous conduct.

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya

FAQs

What is the significance of Naraka names like Tāmisra and Andhatāmisra in the Vishnu Purana?

They function as doctrinal markers of karmic consequence—specific realms that symbolize how particular forms of adharma mature into corresponding suffering after death.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the moral logic behind these hells?

In the Parāśara–Maitreya teaching frame, Parāśara enumerates Narakas to show that the cosmos is ethically structured: actions (karma) inevitably bear fruit (phala) within Vishnu’s ordered universe.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when describing punishment realms, the Purana underscores Vishnu as the supreme regulator of cosmic order—karma operates within His sovereignty, guiding beings toward dharma and eventual liberation.