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.
祖先之王阎摩罗阇（Yamarāja）是太阳神强有力的儿子。他居住在祖先之界（Pitṛloka），恪守至尊主制定的律法，派遣他的使者阎摩杜达（Yamadūtas）在罪人死后立即将其带到面前。根据各人的罪行，他公正地审判并将他们送往相应的地狱受罚。
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.