Shloka 3
Pātāla and Naraka Enumeration; Brahmāṇḍa-Āvaraṇa and Nārāyaṇa’s Pervasion
कृष्णा शुक्लारुणा पीता शर्करा शैलकाञ्चना / भूयस्तत्र दैतेया वसन्ति च भुजङ्गमाः
kṛṣṇā śuklāruṇā pītā śarkarā śailakāñcanā / bhūyastatra daiteyā vasanti ca bhujaṅgamāḥ
तेथे काळी, पांढरी, अरुण व पिवळी अशी भूमी आहे—कुठे खड्यासारखी, कुठे शैलासारखी, कुठे सुवर्णासारखी। तसेच तेथे दैत्य व भुजंग (सर्प) वसतात.
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: The lower realms can be splendid (golden) yet spiritually perilous; appearance and value diverge.
Vedantic Theme: Viveka between satya and māyika ābhāsa; sensory brilliance does not equal auspiciousness.
Application: Practice discernment: do not equate wealth/shine with goodness; be cautious of environments that amplify fear, aggression, or obsession.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: subterranean landscapes
Related Themes: Garuda Purana descriptions of nāgas/daityas and subterranean regions (cosmology context)
FAQs
They function as a cosmographic map of Yama’s domain, conveying the dread and otherworldly nature of the post-death path and framing the moral seriousness of karma.
It depicts the kind of terrifying, non-human regions said to be encountered in Yama’s realm—settings that contextualize why dharma and proper rites are emphasized elsewhere in the text.
Use it as a reminder to live ethically (dharma) and to take death-related duties seriously—such as prayer, charity, and family rites—so fear and confusion around death are reduced.