Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 37
Naraka-varṇana: The Hellish Planets and the Karmic Logic of Punishment
एवंविधा नरका यमालये सन्ति शतश: सहस्रशस्तेषु सर्वेषु च सर्व एवाधर्मवर्तिनो ये केचिदिहोदिता अनुदिताश्चावनिपते पर्यायेण विशन्ति तथैव धर्मानुवर्तिन इतरत्र इह तु पुनर्भवे त उभयशेषाभ्यां निविशन्ति ॥ ३७ ॥
evaṁ-vidhā narakā yamālaye santi śataśaḥ sahasraśas teṣu sarveṣu ca sarva evādharma-vartino ye kecid ihoditā anuditāś cāvani-pate paryāyeṇa viśanti tathaiva dharmānuvartina itaratra iha tu punar-bhave ta ubhaya-śeṣābhyāṁ niviśanti.
Dans la province de Yamarāja se trouvent des centaines et des milliers d’enfers de ce genre. Tous ceux qui vivent dans l’irréligion —ceux que j’ai cités comme ceux que je n’ai pas cités— y entrent tour à tour selon la mesure de leurs fautes. Les justes, eux, gagnent d’autres mondes, tels les planètes des devas; mais lorsque les fruits du mérite ou du péché sont épuisés, les uns comme les autres reviennent renaître sur la terre.
This corresponds to the beginning of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s instructions in Bhagavad-gītā. Tathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ: within this material world, one is simply meant to change from one body to another in different planetary systems. Ūrdhvaṁ gacchanti sattva-sthā: those in the mode of goodness are elevated to the heavenly planets. Adho gacchanti tāmasāḥ: similarly, those too engrossed in ignorance enter the hellish planetary systems. Both of them, however, are subjected to the repetition of birth and death. In Bhagavad-gītā it is stated that even one who is very pious returns to earth after his enjoyment in the higher planetary systems is over ( kṣīṇe puṇye martya-lokaṁ viśanti ). Therefore, going from one planet to another does not solve the problems of life. The problems of life will only be solved when we no longer have to accept a material body. This can be possible if one simply becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious. As Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9) :
FAQs
This verse states that Yamarāja’s realm contains countless hellish conditions, and all irreligious people—whether their specific sins are listed or not—enter appropriate hells in due course.
He was instructing Parīkṣit on the consequences of adharma and the moral law of karma, showing how actions lead to specific post-death destinations and future births.
Live with dharma and accountability: understand that choices carry consequences, cultivate ethical conduct and devotion, and avoid harmful actions that create suffering now and in future outcomes.