Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 32
Naraka-varṇana: The Hellish Planets and the Karmic Logic of Punishment
ये त्विह वा अनागसोऽरण्ये ग्रामे वा वैश्रम्भकैरुपसृतानुपविश्रम्भय्य जिजीविषून् शूलसूत्रादिषूपप्रोतान्क्रीडनकतया यातयन्ति तेऽपि च प्रेत्य यमयातनासु शूलादिषु प्रोतात्मान: क्षुत्तृड्भ्यां चाभिहता: कङ्कवटादिभिश्चेतस्ततस्तिग्मतुण्डैराहन्यमाना आत्मशमलं स्मरन्ति ॥ ३२ ॥
ye tv iha vā anāgaso ’raṇye grāme vā vaiśrambhakair upasṛtān upaviśrambhayya jijīviṣūn śūla-sūtrādiṣūpaprotān krīḍanakatayā yātayanti te ’pi ca pretya yama-yātanāsu śūlādiṣu protātmānaḥ kṣut-tṛḍbhyāṁ cābhihatāḥ kaṅka-vaṭādibhiś cetas tatas tigma-tuṇḍair āhanyamānā ātma-śamalaṁ smaranti.
この世において、村や森で助けを求めてやってきた動物や鳥たちを保護し、安心させた後に、槍や糸で突き刺して玩具のように弄び、大きな苦痛を与える者たちがいる。死後、そのような者たちはヤマラージャの従者によってシューラプロータ（Śūlaprota）と呼ばれる地獄に連れて行かれ、そこで針のように鋭い槍で体を突き刺される。彼らは飢えと渇きに苦しみ、ハゲタカやサギのような鋭い嘴を持つ鳥たちが四方から襲いかかり、彼らの肉を引き裂く。拷問と苦しみの中で、彼らは過去に犯した罪深い行いを思い出すのである。
FAQs
This verse states that those who deceive innocent beings and torture them for sport receive corresponding punishments after death in Yama’s realms, where they themselves are impaled, starved, and attacked by sharp-beaked birds, forcing remembrance of their sin.
In Canto 5 Chapter 26, Shukadeva explains karmic consequences to warn Parikshit (and listeners) that cruelty and deceit have specific reactions, encouraging dharma, compassion, and devotion rather than sinful enjoyment.
Do not exploit trust or harm vulnerable beings—whether people or animals—for entertainment or gain; cultivate compassion (dayā) and nonviolence (ahiṁsā), knowing that actions create consequences.