Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 20
Kapila’s Analysis of Materialistic Life, Death, and the Path to Hell
Kāla, Karma, and Yamadūtas
यातनादेह आवृत्य पाशैर्बद्ध्वा गले बलात् । नयतो दीर्घमध्वानं दण्ड्यं राजभटा यथा ॥ २० ॥
yātanā-deha āvṛtya pāśair baddhvā gale balāt nayato dīrgham adhvānaṁ daṇḍyaṁ rāja-bhaṭā yathā
随后，阎魔使者以“受刑之身”覆裹其细身，用坚绳强缚其颈，押解他走过漫长道路；正如王家差役拘捕罪人去受惩罚一般。
Every living entity is covered by a subtle and gross body. The subtle body is the covering of mind, ego, intelligence and consciousness. It is said in the scriptures that the constables of Yamarāja cover the subtle body of the culprit and take him to the abode of Yamarāja to be punished in a way that he is able to tolerate. He does not die from this punishment because if he died, then who would suffer the punishment? It is not the business of the constables of Yamarāja to put one to death. In fact, it is not possible to kill a living entity because factually he is eternal; he simply has to suffer the consequences of his activities of sense gratification.
FAQs
This verse describes how the sinful soul is given a body meant for torment and is forcibly dragged by ropes like a criminal taken by royal constables—illustrating the severe consequences of wrongdoing.
Kapila uses the vivid analogy of a king’s guards to show that karmic law is orderly and inescapable: sinful acts lead to enforced suffering, not random misfortune.
Live responsibly—avoid harmful actions, cultivate sattva and devotion, and align choices with dharma—so one does not create reactions that lead to intense suffering later.