Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 31
Naraka-varṇana: The Hellish Planets and the Karmic Logic of Punishment
ये त्विह वै पुरुषा: पुरुषमेधेन यजन्ते याश्च स्त्रियो नृपशून्खादन्ति तांश्च ते पशव इव निहता यमसदने यातयन्तो रक्षोगणा: सौनिका इव स्वधितिनावदायासृक्पिबन्ति नृत्यन्ति च गायन्ति च हृष्यमाणा यथेह पुरुषादा: ॥ ३१ ॥
ye tv iha vai puruṣāḥ puruṣa-medhena yajante yāś ca striyo nṛ-paśūn khādanti tāṁś ca te paśava iva nihatā yama-sadane yātayanto rakṣo-gaṇāḥ saunikā iva svadhitināvadāyāsṛk pibanti nṛtyanti ca gāyanti ca hṛṣyamāṇā yatheha puruṣādāḥ.
Il y a des hommes et des femmes dans ce monde qui sacrifient des êtres humains à Bhairava ou Bhadra Kali, puis mangent la chair de leurs victimes. Ceux qui accomplissent de tels sacrifices sont emmenés après la mort dans la demeure de Yamaraja, où leurs victimes, ayant pris la forme de Rākṣasas, les coupent en morceaux avec des épées aiguisées. Tout comme dans ce monde les mangeurs d'hommes buvaient le sang de leurs victimes en dansant et en chantant de joie, leurs victimes prennent maintenant plaisir à boire le sang des sacrificateurs et à célébrer de la même manière.
FAQs
This verse condemns puruṣamedha performed as human sacrifice and states that such perpetrators are killed like animals and punished in Yama’s realm by rākṣasas who torment them violently.
Śukadeva explains the workings of karma and naraka to warn Parīkṣit (and all listeners) against adharmic acts and to inspire a turn toward dharma and devotion rather than cruelty and exploitation.
Avoid cruelty, exploitation, and violence done for pleasure or profit; cultivate compassion and dharmic living, and strengthen bhakti so one’s choices align with accountability before divine law.