FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.26.25

ये त्विह वै दाम्भिका दम्भयज्ञेषु पशून् विशसन्ति तानमुष्मिँल्लोके वैशसे नरके पतितान्निरयपतयो यातयित्वा विशसन्ति ॥ २५ ॥
ye tv iha vai dāmbhikā dambha-yajñeṣu paśūn viśasanti tān amuṣmiḻ loke vaiśase narake patitān niraya-patayo yātayitvā viśasanti.
[ye tv iha vai daambhikaa dambha-yajneshu pashoon vishasanti taan amushmiḻ loke vaishase narake patitaan niraya-patayo yaatayitvaa vishasanti.]
ye — persons who tu — but iha — in this life vai — indeed dāmbhikāḥ — very proud of wealth and a prestigious position dambha-yajñeṣu — in a sacrifice performed to increase prestige paśūn — animals viśasanti — kill tān — them amuṣmin loke — in the next world vaiśase — Vaiśasa or Viśasana narake — into the hell patitān — fallen niraya-patayaḥ — assistants of Yamarāja yātayitvā — causing sufficient pain viśasanti — kill.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
ye tv iha vai dāmbhikā dambha-yajñeṣu paśūn viśasanti tān amuṣmiḻ loke vaiśase narake patitān niraya-patayo yātayitvā viśasanti.
ye
persons who
tu
but
iha
in this life
vai
indeed
dāmbhikāḥ
very proud of wealth and a prestigious position
dambha-yajñeṣu
in a sacrifice performed to increase prestige
paśūn
animals
viśasanti
kill
tān
them
amuṣmin loke
in the next world
vaiśase
Vaiśasa or Viśasana
narake
into the hell
patitān
fallen
niraya-patayaḥ
assistants of Yamarāja
yātayitvā
causing sufficient pain
viśasanti
kill.
A person who in this life is proud of his eminent position, and who heedlessly sacrifices animals simply for material prestige, is put into the hell called Viśasana after death. There the assistants of Yamarāja kill him after giving him unlimited pain.

In Bhagavad-gītā (6.41) Kṛṣṇa says, śucīnāṁ śrīmatāṁ gehe yoga-bhraṣṭo ’bhijāyate: “Because of his previous connection with bhakti-yoga, a man is born into a prestigious family of brāhmaṇas or aristocrats.” Having taken such a birth, one should utilize it to perfect bhakti-yoga. However, due to bad association one often forgets that his prestigious position has been given to him by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and he misuses it by performing various kinds of so-called yajñas like Kālī- pūjā or Durgā- pūjā, in which poor animals are sacrificed. How such a person is punished is described herein. The word dambha-yajñeṣu in this verse is significant. If one violates the Vedic instructions while performing yajña and simply makes a show of sacrifice for the purpose of killing animals, he is punishable after death. In Calcutta there are many slaughterhouses where animal flesh is sold that has supposedly been offered in sacrifice before the goddess Kālī. The śāstras enjoin that one can sacrifice a small goat before the goddess Kālī once a month. Nowhere is it said that one can maintain a slaughterhouse in the name of temple worship and daily kill animals unnecessarily. Those who do so receive the punishments described herein.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
A person who, in this life, proud of his eminent position, sacrifices animals simply for material prestige is put into the hell called Viśasana after death. There the assistants of Yamarāja kill him after giving him pain. Viśasanti means “they kill.”
Sacrificing animals for prestige lands one in Viśasana. Using sacred forms (sacrifice, religion) to feed ego is doubly punished — for the harm and for the misuse of holy structure. Don't dress your ego in religious garb.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I using religion or spirituality to enhance my prestige?
  • What practice would honestly humble me rather than promote me?
📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 26