Shloka 18
नरक-निर्णयः, पाप-कर्म-फल-व्यवस्था, प्रायश्चित्त-क्रमः, तथा हरि-स्मरण-परमत्वम्
असत्प्रतिग्रहीता तु नरके यात्य् अधोमुखे अयाज्ययाजकस् तत्र तथा नक्षत्रसूचकः
asatpratigrahītā tu narake yāty adhomukhe ayājyayājakas tatra tathā nakṣatrasūcakaḥ
نااہل لوگوں سے تحائف قبول کرنے والا 'ادھومکھ' جہنم میں جاتا ہے۔ اسی طرح وہ پنڈت جو نااہلوں کے لیے قربانی کرتا ہے اور ستاروں کا علم بیچنے والا بھی وہیں جاتا ہے۔
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
FAQs
In this verse, Adhomukha is presented as a specific hell assigned to ethical and ritual abuses—especially corrupt acceptance of gifts and professionalized religious misconduct—illustrating the Purana’s view that social and ritual integrity is protected by karmic law.
Parāśara frames it as a direct dharmic violation: performing rites for patrons who are not eligible undermines yajña’s sanctity, and thus leads to a defined hellish consequence, reinforcing that ritual is governed by qualification and purity, not mere payment.
Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Vishnu Purana’s moral universe assumes his sovereignty: dharma and karmic retribution function as part of the cosmic order sustained by the Supreme Reality, ensuring that exploitation of sacred acts cannot override divine law.