मानवसर्गः, चातुर्वर्ण्य-गुणकर्म, यज्ञ-प्रतिपादनम्, आश्रमधर्म-फल, नरकवर्णनम्
तामिस्रम् अन्धतामिस्रं महारौरवरौरवौ असिपत्रवनं घोरं कालसूत्रम् अवीचिमत्
tāmisram andhatāmisraṃ mahārauravarauravau asipatravanaṃ ghoraṃ kālasūtram avīcimat
ມີນະລົກຊື່ ຕາມິສຣ ແລະ ອັນທະຕາມິສຣ; ມະຫາຣອຣະວ ແລະ ຣອຣະວ; ປ່າໃບດາບ ອະສິປັດຣະວະນ; ກາລະສູດຣ ແລະ ອະວີຈິມັດ—ແດນນ່າຢ້ານທັງຫຼາຍ।
Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)
They function as doctrinal markers of karmic consequence—specific realms that symbolize how particular forms of adharma mature into corresponding suffering after death.
In the Parāśara–Maitreya teaching frame, Parāśara enumerates Narakas to show that the cosmos is ethically structured: actions (karma) inevitably bear fruit (phala) within Vishnu’s ordered universe.
Even when describing punishment realms, the Purana underscores Vishnu as the supreme regulator of cosmic order—karma operates within His sovereignty, guiding beings toward dharma and eventual liberation.