Shloka 28
Kapila’s Analysis of Materialistic Life, Death, and the Path to Hell
Kāla, Karma, and Yamadūtas
यास्तामिस्रान्धतामिस्रा रौरवाद्याश्च यातना: । भुङ्क्ते नरो वा नारी वा मिथ: सङ्गेन निर्मिता: ॥ २८ ॥
yās tāmisrāndha-tāmisrā rauravādyāś ca yātanāḥ bhuṅkte naro vā nārī vā mithaḥ saṅgena nirmitāḥ
जो स्त्री-पुरुष अवैध संग (व्यभिचार) में लिप्त रहते हैं, वे तामिस्र, अन्धतामिस्र और रौरव आदि नरकों की भीषण यातनाएं भोगते हैं।
Materialistic life is based on sex life. The existence of all the materialistic people, who are undergoing severe tribulation in the struggle for existence, is based on sex. Therefore, in the Vedic civilization sex life is allowed only in a restricted way: it is for the married couple and only for begetting children. But when sex life is indulged in for sense gratification illegally and illicitly, both the man and the woman await severe punishment in this world or after death. In this world also they are punished by virulent diseases like syphilis and gonorrhea, and in the next life, as we see in this passage of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, they are put into different kinds of hellish conditions to suffer. In Bhagavad-gītā, First Chapter, illicit sex life is also very much condemned, and it is said that one who produces children by illicit sex life is sent to hell. It is confirmed here in the Bhāgavatam that such offenders are put into hellish conditions of life in Tāmisra, Andha-tāmisra and Raurava.
FAQs
This verse states that sufferings such as Tāmisra, Andha-tāmisra, and Raurava are endured by men and women, and that these torments arise from mutual attachment and the actions produced by such association.
In the Canto 3 narration, Śukadeva explains karmic reactions and the hells to show how choices and attachments generate future suffering, encouraging Parīkṣit (and listeners) toward dharma and devotion.
Choose uplifting company and avoid relationships rooted in exploitation, intoxication, or greed—because harmful attachment tends to produce harmful actions and predictable suffering.