Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 27

Kapila’s Analysis of Materialistic Life, Death, and the Path to Hell

Kāla, Karma, and Yamadūtas

Devanagari script

कृन्तनं चावयवशो गजादिभ्यो भिदापनम् । पातनं गिरीशृङ्गेभ्यो रोधनं चाम्बु-गर्तयोः ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

kṛntanaṁ cāvayavaśo gajādibhyo bhidāpanam pātanaṁ giri-śṛṅgebhyo rodhanaṁ cāmbu-gartayoḥ

Translation

次に、彼の手足は切り落とされ、象によって引き裂かれる。彼は山の頂上から突き落とされ、水の中や洞窟の中に閉じ込められる。

Synonyms

• kṛntanam: cutting
• kṛntanam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛntana (प्रातिपदिक; भाव/क्रिया-नाम from √kṛt/√kṛnt कृन्त्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd; Nominative/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); क्रियानाम (action noun)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• avayavaśaḥ: limb by limb
• avayavaśaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: avayava (प्रातिपदिक) + śas (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/विभक्त्यर्थे अव्यय (adverbial formation with -śas): ‘अवयवशः’ = भागभागेन/अवयवेन अवयवेन (piece by piece)

• gaja-ādibhyaḥ: from elephants and the like
• gaja-ādibhyaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), बहुवचन (Plural); ‘गज-आदयः’ (elephants etc.) + पञ्चमी

• bhidāpanam: causing to be split/cleft
• bhidāpanam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhidāpana (प्रातिपदिक; causative action noun from √bhid भिद्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); णिच्-प्रेरणार्थक धातुजन्य क्रियानाम (causative action noun)

• pātanam: throwing down
• pātanam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātana (प्रातिपदिक; causative action noun from √pat पत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); क्रियानाम

• giri-śṛṅgebhyaḥ: from mountain peaks
• giri-śṛṅgebhyaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक) + śṛṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘गिरेः शृङ्गम्’ (mountain-peak) + पञ्चमी

• rodhanam: confinement/blocking
• rodhanam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rodhana (प्रातिपदिक; action noun from √rudh/√rudh? ‘to obstruct’/√rudh रुध्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); क्रियानाम

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ambu-gartayoḥ: in/into the two water-pits
• ambu-gartayoḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambu (प्रातिपदिक) + garta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine; gartā as pit/ditch often f.), षष्ठी/सप्तमी (6th/7th; Genitive/Locative), द्विवचन (Dual); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘अम्बुनः गर्ता’ (water-pit)

Characters & Entities

• Lord Kapila

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about punishments in hell (naraka)?

In Canto 3, Lord Kapila describes specific hellish sufferings—being cut apart, torn by beasts, thrown from heights, and confined in water pits—as reactions to sinful karma.

Why did Lord Kapila describe such terrifying punishments to Devahuti?

Kapila instructs Devahuti on the law of karma, showing the grave consequences of sin so that one becomes detached from wrongdoing and turns toward liberation through devotion.

How can this verse be applied in modern life?

It encourages ethical living and self-restraint by reminding us that harmful actions carry severe reactions, and it motivates sincere bhakti and repentance to break karmic habits.