Shloka 65
Post-cremation Ripening of Karma and the Principal Narakas
एवमादीनि विक्रीणन् घोरे पूयवहे पतेत् / यः कुक्कुटान्निबध्नाति मार्जारान् सूकरांश्च तान् / पक्षिणश्च मृगांश्छा गान्सो ऽप्येवं नरकं व्रजेत्
evamādīni vikrīṇan ghore pūyavahe patet / yaḥ kukkuṭānnibadhnāti mārjārān sūkarāṃśca tān / pakṣiṇaśca mṛgāṃśchā gānso 'pyevaṃ narakaṃ vrajet
एवमादीनि विक्रीणन् घोरे पूयवहे नरके पतेत्। यः कुक्कुटान् मार्जारान् सूकरांश्च, पक्षिणो मृगान् छागांश्च निबध्नाति, सोऽपि एवं नरकं व्रजेत्।
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)
Afterlife Stage: Naraka
Concept: Commerce in cruelly obtained goods and the act of binding/tormenting animals generate heavy pāpa leading to Pūyavaha naraka.
Vedantic Theme: Ahimsā as a sattvic foundation; violence thickens avidyā and binds the jīva to painful karmic fruition.
Application: Avoid livelihoods that depend on animal cruelty; support humane practices; cultivate compassion and non-harm in diet, trade, and entertainment.
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: naraka (hell)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: naraka catalogues where specific sins map to specific hells; Garuda Purana: repeated condemnation of hiṃsā and animal-binding as pāpa-hetu
FAQs
This verse uses Pūyavaha as a specific karmic destination for cruelty-linked commerce and restraint of animals, reinforcing that harm (direct or indirect) leads to painful post-death consequences.
It connects particular actions—selling cruelty-related goods and binding animals—to a defined hell realm (Pūyavaha), showing a cause-and-effect route in Yama’s post-mortem justice system.
Avoid livelihoods or habits that depend on animal suffering, and practice non-violence and humane treatment—because karma includes both direct harm and harm supported through trade.