Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 6
Naraka-varṇana: The Hellish Planets and the Karmic Logic of Punishment
यत्र ह वाव भगवान् पितृराजो वैवस्वत: स्वविषयं प्रापितेषु स्वपुरुषैर्जन्तुषु सम्परेतेषु यथाकर्मावद्यं दोषमेवानुल्लङ्घितभगवच्छासन: सगणो दमं धारयति ॥ ६ ॥
yatra ha vāva bhagavān pitṛ-rājo vaivasvataḥ sva-viṣayaṁ prāpiteṣu sva-puruṣair jantuṣu sampareteṣu yathā-karmāvadyaṁ doṣam evānullaṅghita-bhagavac-chāsanaḥ sagaṇo damaṁ dhārayati.
Vua của tổ tiên là Yamaraja, người con trai đầy quyền năng của thần mặt trời. Ngài cư ngụ tại Pitrloka cùng các trợ tá, và trong khi tuân thủ các quy tắc do Đấng Tối Cao đặt ra, ngài sai các Yamaduta mang tất cả những kẻ tội lỗi đến trước mặt ngài ngay sau khi họ chết để phán xét và trừng phạt thích đáng tại các địa ngục.
Yamarāja is not a fictitious or mythological character; he has his own abode, Pitṛloka, of which he is king. Agnostics may not believe in hell, but Śukadeva Gosvāmī affirms the existence of the Naraka planets, which lie between the Garbhodaka Ocean and Pātālaloka. Yamarāja is appointed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to see that the human beings do not violate His rules and regulations. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (4.17) :
FAQs
This verse explains that Yamarāja (Vaivasvata), assisted by his messengers, receives departed souls brought to his realm and administers punishment strictly according to their sinful karma, always under the Supreme Lord’s order.
Because Yamarāja has jurisdiction over departed beings; his own servants (Yamadūtas) escort those who have died into his domain so their deeds can be judged and the appropriate consequences applied.
It encourages ethical living and accountability: actions have consequences, and divine law is impartial—so one should avoid sinful habits, follow dharma, and cultivate devotion to the Lord.