Shloka 59
Post-cremation Ripening of Karma and the Principal Narakas
महाज्वाली दुहितरं स्नुषां गच्छति यस्तु वै / वेदो विक्रीयते यैश्च वेदं दूषयते तु यः
mahājvālī duhitaraṃ snuṣāṃ gacchati yastu vai / vedo vikrīyate yaiśca vedaṃ dūṣayate tu yaḥ
Sesungguhnya, sesiapa yang melanggar anak perempuannya sendiri atau menantu perempuan (snushā) akan memasuki seksaan menyala-nyala bernama Mahājvālī. Demikian juga mereka yang memperdagangkan Veda, dan orang yang merosakkan atau menajiskan Veda, turut menerima hukuman itu.
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)
Afterlife Stage: Naraka
Concept: Incest/adultery with protected kin and commodification/defilement of Veda are extreme adharma leading to fiery retribution.
Vedantic Theme: Violation of dharma and śruti-apacāra intensifies tamas and binds the jiva to severe karmaphala; śruti is not merchandise but a sacred means of knowledge.
Application: Maintain strict boundaries in family ethics; treat sacred learning with reverence; do not sell, falsify, or weaponize scripture for gain.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Type: naraka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: named narakas and their corresponding sins (surrounding 2.3 verses)
FAQs
This verse treats sacred knowledge as inviolable: monetizing the Veda or distorting it is presented as a grave adharma that leads to severe post-death consequences.
It indicates that certain acts—sexual violation within the family and profanation of the Veda—result in the soul being directed to intense hellish torments such as Mahājvālī, reflecting karmic retribution in Yama’s jurisdiction.
Maintain strict ethical boundaries in relationships and treat spiritual texts with integrity—study and teach responsibly, without exploitation, distortion, or fraudulent commercialization.