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

若有人为养身与满足口腹之欲而残忍地将可怜的兽与鸟活活烹煮，此等无悲悯者连食人者亦所唾弃。来世，阎摩使者将其押往名为“昆毗波迦”(Kumbhīpāka)的地狱，在沸腾热油中煮受其身。

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.