Shloka 23
Viṣṇu-sahasranāma—Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Recitation (विष्णोर्नामसहस्रम्)
पापोंके कारण दुर्गम नरकमें पड़े हुए प्राणी भूख-प्याससे पीड़ित हो अतामें जलते हुए पकाये जाते हैं। वहाँ उस यातनासे निकल भागनेका कोई उपाय नहीं है ।।
andhakāraṃ tamo ghoraṃ praviśanty alpabuddhayaḥ | tatra dharmaṃ pravakṣyāmi yena durgāṇi santaret ||
अन्धकारं तमो घोरं प्रविशन्त्यल्पबुद्धयः । तत्र धर्मं प्रवक्ष्यामि येन दुर्गाणि संतरेत् ॥
यम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ignorance and poor discernment lead beings into dreadful darkness and suffering; therefore one should learn and follow dharma, which is presented as the means to cross beyond perilous states such as naraka.
Yama, speaking as a moral instructor, describes the grim fate awaiting the undiscerning and then announces that he will teach dharma as a practical means of deliverance from such hard-to-escape suffering.