Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 38
Naraka-varṇana: The Hellish Planets and the Karmic Logic of Punishment
निवृत्तिलक्षणमार्ग आदावेव व्याख्यात: । एतावानेवाण्डकोशो यश्चतुर्दशधा पुराणेषु विकल्पित उपगीयते यत्तद्भगवतो नारायणस्य साक्षान्महापुरुषस्य स्थविष्ठं रूपमात्ममायागुणमयमनुवर्णितमादृत: पठति शृणोति श्रावयति स उपगेयं भगवत: परमात्मनोऽग्राह्यमपि श्रद्धाभक्तिविशुद्धबुद्धिर्वेद ॥ ३८ ॥
nivṛtti-lakṣaṇa-mārga ādāv eva vyākhyātaḥ; etāvān evāṇḍa-kośo yaś caturdaśadhā purāṇeṣu vikalpita upagīyate yat tad bhagavato nārāyaṇasya sākṣān mahā-puruṣasya sthaviṣṭhaṁ rūpam ātmamāyā-guṇamayam anuvarṇitam ādṛtaḥ paṭhati śṛṇoti śrāvayati sa upageyaṁ bhagavataḥ paramātmano ’grāhyam api śraddhā-bhakti-viśuddha-buddhir veda.
具“离欲归寂”(nivṛtti)之相的解脱之道，我已在前文开示。诸《往世书》歌咏那广大宇宙如卵壳分为十四界的描绘；此被视为至尊那罗延、大神人之粗大外身，由其自性幻力(ātma-māyā)与诸德性(guṇa)所成，名为“毗罗吒形相”(virāṭ-rūpa)。若人以深信诵读、聆听，或为弘扬薄伽梵法而向他人宣说，则其信心与奉爱、清净之智将渐次增长；虽难得其门径，亦能由此净化而渐悟至上绝对真理——至上灵(Paramātmā)。
The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is pushing forward the publication of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, as explained especially for the understanding of the modern civilized man, to awaken him to his original consciousness. Without this consciousness, one melts into complete darkness. Whether one goes to the upper planetary systems or the hellish planetary systems, he simply wastes his time. Therefore one should hear of the universal position of the virāṭ form of the Lord as described in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. That will help one save himself from material conditional life and gradually elevate him to the path of liberation so that he can go back home, back to Godhead.
FAQs
This verse states that the universe, described in the Purāṇas as fourteenfold planetary systems, is to be understood as the gross, manifest form of Lord Nārāyaṇa, described for the sake of contemplation and glorification.
He presents the cosmos as Bhagavān’s manifest form so that reciting and hearing these descriptions becomes devotional hearing (śravaṇam), purifying the mind and leading to realization of the otherwise ungraspable Paramātmā.
Practice respectful hearing/reading of Bhagavatam regularly and share it with others; the verse emphasizes that śraddhā and bhakti purify intelligence, enabling deeper spiritual understanding beyond material perception.