Shloka 78
Post-cremation Ripening of Karma and the Principal Narakas
दिनेदिने तु नरके पच्यते दह्यतेन्यतः / शीर्यते भिद्यते ऽन्यत्र चूर्यते क्लिद्यतेन्यतः
dinedine tu narake pacyate dahyatenyataḥ / śīryate bhidyate 'nyatra cūryate klidyatenyataḥ
دن بہ دن دوزخ میں گنہگار کہیں اُبالا جاتا ہے، کہیں جلایا جاتا ہے؛ کہیں وہ سوکھ کر گھلتا ہے، کہیں چاک کیا جاتا ہے؛ کہیں ریزہ ریزہ کچلا جاتا ہے، اور کہیں سڑا کر پیپ میں بدل دیا جاتا ہے۔
Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Naraka
Concept: Papa ripens as repeated, varied suffering; karmic law is precise and unavoidable.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-bandhana and its experiential fruition in samsara; suffering as consequence of avidya-driven action.
Application: Restrain harmful acts, cultivate sattvic conduct, and adopt expiations/charity/devotion before death to avoid papa-phala.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Type: cosmic punitive region
Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa: naraka-varnana sequences describing graded torments and time-dilation; Garuda Purana: karma-phala catalogues leading from naraka to tiryak-janma
FAQs
This verse emphasizes the inevitability and variety of karmic consequences, portraying naraka as a realm where specific pains manifest according to one’s misdeeds.
In the Preta Kanda context, the departed being experiences results of karma in post-mortem realms; this verse highlights repeated, time-extended suffering that follows pāpa, motivating dharmic living and prescribed rites.
Use it as an ethical reminder: avoid harm and deception, practice restraint and compassion, and support dharmic conduct and ancestral rites to reduce negative karmic outcomes.