SB 5.26.17 — FolioCorpus

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.26.17

यस्त्विह वै भूतानामीश्वरोपकल्पितवृत्तीनामविविक्तपरव्यथानां स्वयं पुरुषोपकल्पितवृत्तिर्विविक्तपरव्यथो व्यथामाचरति स परत्रान्धकूपे तदभिद्रोहेण निपतति तत्र हासौ तैर्जन्तुभि: पशुमृगपक्षिसरीसृपैर्मशकयूकामत्कुणमक्षिकादिभिर्ये के चाभिद्रुग्धास्तै: सर्वतोऽभिद्रुह्यमाणस्तमसि विहतनिद्रानिर्वृतिरलब्धावस्थान: परिक्रामति यथा कुशरीरे जीव: ॥ १७ ॥

yas tv iha vai bhūtānām īśvaropakalpita-vṛttīnām avivikta-para-vyathānāṁ svayaṁ puruṣopakalpita-vṛttir vivikta-para-vyatho vyathām ācarati sa paratrāndhakūpe tad-abhidroheṇa nipatati tatra hāsau tair jantubhiḥ paśu-mṛga-pakṣi-sarīsṛpair maśaka-yūkā-matkuṇa-makṣikādibhir ye ke cābhidrugdhās taiḥ sarvato ’bhidruhyamāṇas tamasi vihata-nidrā-nirvṛtir alabdhāvasthānaḥ parikrāmati yathā kuśarīre jīvaḥ.

[yas tv iha vai bhootaanaam eeshvaropakalpita-vritteenaam avivikta-para-vyathaanaam svayam purushopakalpita-vrittir vivikta-para-vyatho vyathaam aacharati sa paratraandhakoope tad-abhidrohena nipatati tatra haasau tair jantubhih pashu-mriga-pakshi-sareesripair mashaka-yookaa-matkuna-makshikaadibhir ye ke chaabhidrugdhaas taih sarvato ’bhidruhyamaanas tamasi vihata-nidraa-nirvritir alabdhaavasthaanah parikraamati yathaa kushareere jeevah.]

Word-for-word

yaḥ — any person who tu — but iha — in this life vai — indeed bhūtānām — to some living entities īśvara — by the supreme controller upakalpita — designed vṛttīnām — whose means of livelihood avivikta — not understanding para-vyathānām — the pain of others svayam — himself puruṣa-upakalpita — designed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead vṛttiḥ — whose livelihood vivikta — understanding para-vyathaḥ — the painful conditions of others vyathām ācarati — but still causes pain saḥ — such a person paratra — in his next life andhakūpe — to the hell named Andhakūpa tat — to them abhidroheṇa — by the sin of malice nipatati — falls down tatra — there ha — indeed asau — that person taiḥ jantubhiḥ — by those respective living entities paśu — animals mṛga — wild beasts pakṣi — birds sarīsṛpaiḥ — snakes maśaka — mosquitoes yūkā — lice matkuṇa — worms makṣika-ādibhiḥ — flies and so on ye ke — whoever else ca — and abhidrugdhāḥ — persecuted taiḥ — by them sarvataḥ — everywhere abhidruhyamāṇaḥ — being injured tamasi — in the darkness vihata — disturbed nidrā-nirvṛtiḥ — whose resting place alabdha — not being able to obtain avasthānaḥ — a resting place parikrāmati — wanders yathā — just as ku-śarīre — in a low-grade body jīvaḥ — a living entity.

Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)

yaḥ

any person who

but

iha

in this life

vai

indeed

bhūtānām

to some living entities

īśvara

by the supreme controller

upakalpita

designed

vṛttīnām

whose means of livelihood

avivikta

not understanding

para-vyathānām

the pain of others

svayam

himself

puruṣa-upakalpita

vṛttiḥ

whose livelihood

vivikta

understanding

para-vyathaḥ

the painful conditions of others

vyathām ācarati

but still causes pain

saḥ

such a person

paratra

in his next life

andhakūpe

to the hell named Andhakūpa

tat

to them

abhidroheṇa

by the sin of malice

nipatati

falls down

tatra

there

indeed

asau

that person

taiḥ jantubhiḥ

by those respective living entities

paśu

animals

mṛga

wild beasts

pakṣi

birds

sarīsṛpaiḥ

snakes

maśaka

mosquitoes

yūkā

lice

matkuṇa

worms

makṣika-ādibhiḥ

flies and so on

ye ke

whoever else

and

abhidrugdhāḥ

persecuted

taiḥ

by them

sarvataḥ

everywhere

abhidruhyamāṇaḥ

being injured

tamasi

in the darkness

vihata

disturbed

nidrā-nirvṛtiḥ

whose resting place

alabdha

not being able to obtain

avasthānaḥ

a resting place

parikrāmati

wanders

yathā

just as

ku-śarīre

in a low-grade body

jīvaḥ

a living entity.

By the arrangement of the Supreme Lord, low-grade living beings like bugs and mosquitoes suck the blood of human beings and other animals. Such insignificant creatures are unaware that their bites are painful to the human being. However, first-class human beings — brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas — are developed in consciousness, and therefore they know how painful it is to be killed. A human being endowed with knowledge certainly commits sin if he kills or torments insignificant creatures, who have no discrimination. The Supreme Lord punishes such a man by putting him into the hell known as Andhakūpa, where he is attacked by all the birds and beasts, reptiles, mosquitoes, lice, worms, flies, and any other creatures he tormented during his life. They attack him from all sides, robbing him of the pleasure of sleep. Unable to rest, he constantly wanders about in the darkness. Thus in Andhakūpa his suffering is just like that of a creature in the lower species.

Purport

From this very instructive verse we learn that lower animals, created by the laws of nature to disturb the human being, are not subjected to punishment. Because the human being has developed consciousness, however, he cannot do anything against the principles of varṇāśrama-dharma without being condemned. Kṛṣṇa states in Bhagavad-gītā (4.13) , cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ: “According to the three modes of material nature and the work ascribed to them, the four divisions of human society were created by Me.” Thus all men should be divided into four classes — brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras — and they should act according to their ordained regulations. They cannot deviate from their prescribed rules and regulations. One of these states that they should never trouble any animal, even those that disturb human beings. Although a tiger is not sinful if he attacks another animal and eats its flesh, if a man with developed consciousness does so, he must be punished. In other words, a human being who does not use his developed consciousness but instead acts like an animal surely undergoes punishment in many different hells.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

Gauḍīya Ācāryas

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya

Translation

The person who, being given means of maintenance by the Lord and being aware of others’ suffering, causes suffering in this life to other entities who have no awareness of giving suffering to others and whose sustenance is arranged by the Lord from other living entities, falls to Andakūpa after death because of his violence. There he is attacked on all sides by the birds, animals, reptiles, mosquitoes, lice, worms, and flies which he injured. Without sleep or resting place, he wanders about like a living entity in a lower body. The lower animals live off the blood of humans by the arrangement of the Lord. They are not aware of the pain they cause others. The Lord arranges for sustenance of the human with rules and forbiddance. Because he is human, he can understand the pain of other beings.

Personal Guidance

A bug bites in ignorance and is not punished. A conscious human who harms is. Consciousness raises responsibility. Don't envy the unconscious; with awareness comes accountability — but also the chance of liberation.

Reflection Questions

Where do I want the freedom of consciousness without its responsibility?
How can I match my actions to the level of awareness I have already been given?

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io