Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 55
Post-cremation Ripening of Karma and the Principal Narakas
भूमेरधस्तात्ते सर्वे रौरवाद्याः प्रकीर्तिताः / रोघो गोघ्नो भ्रूणहा च अग्निदाता नरः पतेत्
bhūmeradhastātte sarve rauravādyāḥ prakīrtitāḥ / rogho goghno bhrūṇahā ca agnidātā naraḥ patet
在大地之下，宣说有诸地狱，以罗柔罗婆（Raurava）等为首。散布疾病者、杀牛者、杀胎者，以及将人交付于火者——此等之人必堕入那些地狱。
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Afterlife Stage: Naraka
Concept: Certain acts (disease-causing harm, cow-killing, embryo-slaying, consigning a person to fire) are grave adharma leading to naraka.
Vedantic Theme: Ahimsa and loka-saṅgraha as supports of dharma; violation produces binding karmic descent.
Application: Avoid violence and social harms; protect vulnerable life; uphold sanctity of cow (as dharmic symbol) and human life; seek prāyaścitta if transgressed.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Type: subterranean hell-regions
Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: Raurava and other narakas described; later verses detailing punishments for go-hatyā and bhrūṇa-hatyā
FAQs
This verse links concrete actions (like go-hatya and bhrunahatya) to karmic consequences, using the naraka framework to teach moral restraint and accountability.
It implies that certain grave sins propel the soul toward narakas (hell-realms) described as existing below the earth, where suffering corresponds to the nature of the wrongdoing.
Avoid harm to life and society—protect the vulnerable, refrain from cruelty and violence, and live with compassion and responsibility to reduce destructive karmic outcomes.