Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 16
यम उवाच । शृणु देव प्रवक्ष्यामि यावन्तो नरकाः स्थिताः । कर्मणा येन गच्छेत मानवो द्विजसत्तम । एकविंशत्समाख्याता नरका मम मन्दिरे
yama uvāca | śṛṇu deva pravakṣyāmi yāvanto narakāḥ sthitāḥ | karmaṇā yena gaccheta mānavo dvijasattama | ekaviṃśatsamākhyātā narakā mama mandire
ଯମ କହିଲେ— “ହେ ମହାନୁଭାବ, ଶୁଣ; କେତେ ନରକ ଅଛି ଏବଂ କେଉଁ କର୍ମରେ ମନୁଷ୍ୟ ସେଠାକୁ ଯାଏ, ହେ ଦ୍ୱିଜଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ, ମୁଁ କହୁଛି। ମୋ ଧାମରେ ନରକ ଏକୋଇଶି ସଂଖ୍ୟାର ବୋଲି ଘୋଷିତ।”
Yama (Dharmarāja)
Listener: Brāhmaṇa (dvija-sattama)
Scene: Yama begins formal instruction: seated as Dharmarāja with staff, attendants/record-keepers nearby; the brāhmaṇa listens. A subtle motif of ‘21 compartments’ or beads suggests the count of hells.
FAQs
Dharma operates through specific karmic results; Yama’s system is orderly and knowable, not arbitrary.
Prabhāsa Kṣetra, where the Māhātmya reinforces ethical living for pilgrims through Yama’s authoritative exposition.
No direct ritual; it begins the formal enumeration and explanation of narakas and their karmic causes.
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