Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 13

Naraka-varṇana: The Hellish Planets and the Karmic Logic of Punishment

Devanagari script

यस्त्विह वा उग्र: पशून् पक्षिणो वा प्राणत उपरन्धयति तमपकरुणं पुरुषादैरपि विगर्हितममुत्र यमानुचरा: कुम्भीपाके तप्ततैले उपरन्धयन्ति ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

yas tv iha vā ugraḥ paśūn pakṣiṇo vā prāṇata uparandhayati tam apakaruṇaṁ puruṣādair api vigarhitam amutra yamānucarāḥ kumbhīpāke tapta-taile uparandhayanti.

Translation

Ang malupit na tao na, upang itaguyod ang katawan at pagbigyan ang dila, ay nagluluto ng mga hayop o ibon habang buhay pa, ay kinokondena maging ng mga kumakain ng tao. Sa susunod na buhay, hihilahin siya ng mga Yamadūta sa impiyernong Kumbhīpāka at pakukuluan sa kumukulong langis.

Synonyms

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक निपात)

• ugraḥ: cruel/fierce
• ugraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ugra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies yaḥ

• paśūn: animals
• paśūn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• pakṣiṇaḥ: birds
• pakṣiṇaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक निपात)

• prāṇataḥ: to the point of death / of their life
• prāṇataḥ: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablatival adverb (पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्यय): 'from life/breath' i.e., to death

• uparandhayati: he restrains/oppresses
• uparandhayati: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-randh (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• apakaruṇam: merciless
• apakaruṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + karuṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); negative adjective

• puruṣa-ādaiḥ: by men and others
• puruṣa-ādaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'by men and others' (puruṣādayaḥ); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) meaning 'also/even'

• vigarhitam: condemned
• vigarhitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-garh (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies tam

• amutra: there (hereafter)
• amutra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: amutra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of place: 'there (in the other world)'

• yama-anucarāḥ: Yama's servants
• yama-anucarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक) + anucara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: 'attendants of Yama'; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kumbhīpāke: in (the hell) Kumbhīpāka
• kumbhīpāke: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumbhīpāka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tapta-taile: in hot oil
• tapta-taile: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + taila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya: 'heated oil'; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• uparandhayanti: they oppress/torment
• uparandhayanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-randh (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Yamānucaras

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about cruelty to animals?

In Canto 5, Chapter 26, this verse states that those who violently torment and kill animals or birds are judged merciless and are punished after death by Yama’s attendants in the hell called Kumbhīpāka, where they suffer in boiling oil.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe Kumbhīpāka hell to King Parīkṣit?

Śukadeva explains the hellish destinations to show how specific sinful actions create specific karmic reactions, encouraging Parīkṣit—and all hearers—to follow dharma, cultivate compassion, and take shelter of devotional life rather than cruelty.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Practice compassion and non-violence in daily choices—avoid needless harm to living beings, support ethical conduct, and cultivate a dharmic lifestyle strengthened by bhakti and self-restraint.