Mahabharata — Svargarohana Parva, Shloka 14
स्वर्गारोहणपर्व — तृतीयोऽध्यायः
Indra and Dharma’s Consolation; Celestial Gaṅgā Purification
पूर्व नरकभाग् यस्तु पश्चात् स्वर्गमुपैति सः । भूयिष्ठं पापकर्मा यः स पूर्व स्वर्गमश्षुते
pūrvaṁ narakabhāg yas tu paścāt svargam upaiti saḥ | bhūyiṣṭhaṁ pāpakarmā yaḥ sa pūrvaṁ svargam aśnute ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Celui qui subit d’abord sa part d’enfer atteint ensuite le ciel. Mais celui dont le trésor de péchés est plus grand jouit d’abord du ciel, et ne rencontre qu’ensuite les conséquences douloureuses.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that beings with mixed karma may experience both suffering (naraka) and enjoyment (svarga), and the order can differ: one may suffer first and then enjoy, while one with a predominance of sinful karma may enjoy first but later face painful retribution.
In Svargārohaṇa, the text reflects on the moral logic behind post-death destinies. Vaiśampāyana explains how the fruits of deeds can manifest in different sequences, clarifying why some may appear to receive happiness before suffering, or vice versa.