FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.26.37

एवंविधा नरका यमालये सन्ति शतश: सहस्रशस्तेषु सर्वेषु च सर्व एवाधर्मवर्तिनो ये केचिदिहोदिता अनुदिताश्चावनिपते पर्यायेण विशन्ति तथैव धर्मानुवर्तिन इतरत्र इह तु पुनर्भवे त उभयशेषाभ्यां निविशन्ति ॥ ३७ ॥
evaṁ-vidhā narakā yamālaye santi śataśaḥ sahasraśas teṣu sarveṣu ca sarva evādharma-vartino ye kecid ihoditā anuditāś cāvani-pate paryāyeṇa viśanti tathaiva dharmānuvartina itaratra iha tu punar-bhave ta ubhaya-śeṣābhyāṁ niviśanti.
[evam-vidhaa narakaa yamaalaye santi shatashah sahasrashas teshu sarveshu cha sarva evaadharma-vartino ye kechid ihoditaa anuditaash chaavani-pate paryaayena vishanti tathaiva dharmaanuvartina itaratra iha tu punar-bhave ta ubhaya-sheshaabhyaam nivishanti.]
evam-vidhāḥ — of this sort narakāḥ — the many hells yama-ālaye — in the province of Yamarāja santi — are śataśaḥ — hundreds sahasraśaḥ — thousands teṣu — in those hellish planets sarveṣu — all ca — also sarve — all eva — indeed adharma-vartinaḥ — persons not following the Vedic principles or regulative principles ye kecit — whosoever iha — here uditāḥ — mentioned anuditāḥ — not mentioned ca — and avani-pate — O King paryāyeṇa — according to the degree of different kinds of sinful activity viśanti — they enter tathā eva — similarly dharma-anuvartinaḥ — those who are pious and act according to the regulative principles or Vedic injunctions itaratra — elsewhere iha — on this planet tu — but punaḥ-bhave — into another birth te — all of them ubhaya-śeṣābhyām — by the remainder of the results of piety or vice niviśanti — they enter.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
evaṁ-vidhā narakā yamālaye santi śataśaḥ sahasraśas teṣu sarveṣu ca sarva evādharma-vartino ye kecid ihoditā anuditāś cāvani-pate paryāyeṇa viśanti tathaiva dharmānuvartina itaratra iha tu punar-bhave ta ubhaya-śeṣābhyāṁ niviśanti.
evam-vidhāḥ
of this sort
narakāḥ
the many hells
yama-ālaye
in the province of Yamarāja
santi
are
śataśaḥ
hundreds
sahasraśaḥ
thousands
teṣu
in those hellish planets
sarveṣu
all
ca
also
sarve
all
eva
indeed
adharma-vartinaḥ
persons not following the Vedic principles or regulative principles
ye kecit
whosoever
iha
here
uditāḥ
mentioned
anuditāḥ
not mentioned
ca
and
avani-pate
O King
paryāyeṇa
according to the degree of different kinds of sinful activity
viśanti
they enter
tathā eva
similarly
dharma-anuvartinaḥ
those who are pious and act according to the regulative principles or Vedic injunctions
itaratra
elsewhere
iha
on this planet
tu
but
punaḥ-bhave
into another birth
te
all of them
ubhaya-śeṣābhyām
by the remainder of the results of piety or vice
niviśanti
they enter.
My dear King Parīkṣit, in the province of Yamarāja there are hundreds and thousands of hellish planets. The impious people I have mentioned — and also those I have not mentioned — must all enter these various planets according to the degree of their impiety. Those who are pious, however, enter other planetary systems, namely the planets of the demigods. Nevertheless, both the pious and impious are again brought to earth after the results of their pious or impious acts are exhausted.

This corresponds to the beginning of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s instructions in Bhagavad-gītā. Tathā dehāntara-prāptiḥ: within this material world, one is simply meant to change from one body to another in different planetary systems. Ūrdhvaṁ gacchanti sattva-sthā: those in the mode of goodness are elevated to the heavenly planets. Adho gacchanti tāmasāḥ: similarly, those too engrossed in ignorance enter the hellish planetary systems. Both of them, however, are subjected to the repetition of birth and death. In Bhagavad-gītā it is stated that even one who is very pious returns to earth after his enjoyment in the higher planetary systems is over ( kṣīṇe puṇye martya-lokaṁ viśanti ). Therefore, going from one planet to another does not solve the problems of life. The problems of life will only be solved when we no longer have to accept a material body. This can be possible if one simply becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious. As Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9) :

janma karma ca me divyam evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti so ’rjuna

“One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.” This is the perfection of life and the real solution to life’s problems. We should not be eager to go to the higher, heavenly planetary systems, nor should we act in such a way that we have to go to the hellish planets. The complete purpose of this material world will be fulfilled when we resume our spiritual identities and go back home, back to Godhead. The very simple method for doing this is prescribed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja. One should be neither pious nor impious. One should be a devotee and surrender to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. This surrendering process is also very easy. Even a child can perform it. Man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru. One must always simply think of Kṛṣṇa by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. One should become Kṛṣṇa’s devotee, worship Him and offer obeisances to Him. Thus one should engage all the activities of his life in the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O King! In the kingdom of Yamarāja there are hundreds and thousands of hellish planets. The impious people I have mentioned—and also those I have not mentioned—must all enter these various planets according to the degree of their sin. Those who are pious, however, enter Svarga. Nevertheless, both the pious and impious are again brought to earth, by the remaining results of dharma and adharma. Itaratra means Svarga. Iha means earth, Bhārata-varṣa. Again they come to earth, since this is the place where dharma and adharma accrue. By the remnants of dharma and adharma, they return to earth.
Pious and impious alike — both come back to earth when their fruits are exhausted. Neither heaven nor hell is the final destination. The cycle continues until liberation. Don't aim for either — aim past both.
Reflection Questions
  • Have I been aiming for heaven (better next life, more comfort) rather than liberation?
  • What practice would aim past the cycle altogether instead of just at its sunny side?
📝 My note

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