Shloka 18
नरक-निर्णयः, पाप-कर्म-फल-व्यवस्था, प्रायश्चित्त-क्रमः, तथा हरि-स्मरण-परमत्वम्
असत्प्रतिग्रहीता तु नरके यात्य् अधोमुखे अयाज्ययाजकस् तत्र तथा नक्षत्रसूचकः
asatpratigrahītā tu narake yāty adhomukhe ayājyayājakas tatra tathā nakṣatrasūcakaḥ
But the one who accepts gifts from the unworthy descends to Adhomukha hell, as does the improper priest and the commercial astrologer.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Which unethical religious-economic practices lead to specific narakas
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: revealing
Concept: Ritual and knowledge become binding sins when commodified for the unworthy—accepting improper gifts, officiating forbidden sacrifices, or selling astrology for gain leads to degrading consequences.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Maintain integrity in religious service and counsel; avoid transactional spirituality and refuse unethical patronage.
Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is a mode of service within the Lord’s order; abusing sacred functions for profit distorts one’s śeṣatva (dependence/service) and thus incurs karmic correction under His rule.
FAQs
In this verse, Adhomukha is presented as a specific hell assigned to ethical and ritual abuses—especially corrupt acceptance of gifts and professionalized religious misconduct—illustrating the Purana’s view that social and ritual integrity is protected by karmic law.
Parāśara frames it as a direct dharmic violation: performing rites for patrons who are not eligible undermines yajña’s sanctity, and thus leads to a defined hellish consequence, reinforcing that ritual is governed by qualification and purity, not mere payment.
Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Vishnu Purana’s moral universe assumes his sovereignty: dharma and karmic retribution function as part of the cosmic order sustained by the Supreme Reality, ensuring that exploitation of sacred acts cannot override divine law.