Shloka 3
Post-cremation Ripening of Karma and the Principal Narakas
श्रीभगवानुवाच / नरकाणां सहस्राणि वर्तन्ते ह्यरुणानुज / शक्यं विस्तरतो नैव वक्तुं प्राधान्यतो ब्रुवे
śrībhagavānuvāca / narakāṇāṃ sahasrāṇi vartante hyaruṇānuja / śakyaṃ vistarato naiva vaktuṃ prādhānyato bruve
Tuhan Yang Maha Mulia bersabda: “Wahai adinda Aruṇa, terdapat ribuan neraka. Tidak mungkin dihuraikan semuanya dengan terperinci; maka Aku akan menyebutnya menurut pembahagian yang utama.”
Lord Vishnu (Śrī Bhagavān)
Afterlife Stage: Naraka
Concept: Multiplicity of karmic consequences; teachings are given by principal categories rather than exhaustive enumeration.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala-niyati (lawful fruition of action) within saṃsāra; the Lord as teacher revealing dharma through consequence.
Application: Treat ethical choices as having specific results; cultivate truthfulness and restraint by remembering that consequences are many and precise.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: general enumeration of many narakas and their causes (naraka-bheda-prakaraṇa); Subsequent verses 2.3.4–2.3.7 detailing Raurava as an example of principal division
FAQs
This verse frames the teaching method: Narakas are many, so the text emphasizes the main categories to warn beings about karmic consequences and encourage dharmic conduct.
It introduces that post-death outcomes include numerous hell-realms; the soul’s destination is tied to karma, and the Lord will outline the principal punishments rather than an exhaustive catalog.
Treat the teaching as an ethical checklist: avoid harmful actions, cultivate restraint and responsibility, and live dharmically to reduce suffering-producing karma.