The Narrative Unfolds: A Conversation on Hells
Jaimini addressed the birds, "The purana talks about the hells in detail. How does Sumati continue the conversation?"
The birds said to Jaimini, "Listen Jaimini, as we tell you about when Sumati met a king called Vipaschit in a hell. We will let Sumati tell what happened there. Listen as Sumati continued talking to his father Mahamati the hells, where he spoke in more detail about karma and its consequences."
Sumati's Personal Account: A Merchant's Sin
Sumati said to Mahamati, "I will explain more by telling you about a specific incident. This happened to me in my seventh birth. I was born as a son of a merchant. I once built a fence on the path used by cattle to reach the river. Doing so, I intentionally stopped the cattle from reaching the water body. As a result of this, I was sent into a terrible hell. This hell was burning with the flames of suffering. There were these strange birds there. They looked like ordinary birds but their beaks were metallic. There were wheels and other contraptions there which crushed the limbs of the souls making us powerless. I had been thrown there by the attendants of Yama and was there for long. I suffered there from the heat; heat generated by the flames of remorse and regret."
An Unexpected Arrival: King Vipaschit in Hell
"Suddenly a cool breeze began blowing. This was something which was unexpected. There were pitchers full of mud and the breeze was coming from there. Suddenly from the pitchers emerged a wonderful looking person. I could not believe what was happening. The breeze provided a lot of relief to us. The breeze and the presence of the person had transformative power. Knowing that this was not expected, I asked why was this happening? An attendant of Yama was standing there holding a stick and tapping it on the ground. He asked us to follow him. Hearing this, the new person followed."
"Overwhelmed by the relief we were getting, we asked the stranger to stay with us and not go. Moved by our suffering, the stranger looked at us. He saw that we were suffering there. He then realized where he was and asked the attendant of Yama, "My name is Vipaschit. I belong to the royal family of Videha, which is known for its rulers. I protected the people and ensured that they were in harmony. I did everything in line with dharma. I did not engender battles, but nor was I reluctant to fight in battles. I have never hankered after another person’s wife or property. I fulfilled all my duties towards gods and ancestors. What crime did I commit to be brought here?" "
Some More on This
Sumati's sin wasn't a grand act of violence, but a willful obstruction of a natural process: blocking cattle from accessing water. This act led to his descent into hell. Even seemingly small acts, when done with intentional harm or disregard for the well-being of others, have significant karmic repercussions. Intention is as potent as the deed itself.
Hell is a mirror of one's conscience, magnified by regret and remorse. The heat isn’t just physical, it’s psychological.
Vipaschit did his dharma, avoided adharma, yet finds himself in hell. This invites us to interrogate:
- Can righteousness still carry latent karma?
- Is karma influenced by contextual perception, or cosmic laws?
This aligns with the discourse in Mahabharata (Shanti Parva), where Bhishma explains that dharma is subtle, and not all results are immediately visible.
Symbolism Within the Narrative
|
Symbol |
Meaning |
|
Fence blocking cattle |
Blocking dharma, disrupting ṛta (cosmic order); preventing bhūta dayā (compassion for beings); symbol of egoistic control |
|
Metal-beaked birds |
Predatory karmic agents; karmaphala takes frightening, mechanical forms; artificiality of metallic beaks contrasts with natural birds |
|
Wheels crushing limbs |
The inexorable turning of kāla-chakra (wheel of time and karma); echoes Yama’s punishments in Garuda Purana |
|
Pitchers of mud releasing breeze |
Paradoxical grace; from something unclean (mud), relief comes; grace can arise in the most unexpected forms |
|
Cool breeze |
Symbol of śānti (peace) and prasāda (grace)—the presence of sattva even in tamas; the atma-prabhā of Vipaścit disperses suffering |
|
Stick-tapping Yama’s attendant |
Symbol of time and judgment; the tapping suggests impending karmic redirection; also a metaphor for awakening consciousness to dharma |
On Similar Lines in Other Texts
Garuda Purana (Preta Khanda, Chapter 4–6):
“Every act, even that of stealing a cow’s grass or obstructing its path, results in punishment in the hells.”
Mahabharata – Shanti Parva (Chapter 109):
“Subtle is dharma; it must be discerned through reason and reflection.”
Yoga Vasistha – Chapter on Karma:
“Even a small harmful act done with ego, even to an animal, leads to unbearable consequences. But it also gives the chance for reflection and liberation.”
Similarities in other Hindu Scriptures
Garuda Purana (Naraka Khanda)
- Descriptions of hells filled with mechanical torture, fire, limb severing, and remorse directly parallel Sumati’s account.
- Even minute crimes—like obstructing a cow’s path—are listed as causes of naraka.
Devi Bhagavata Purana (Book 9, Chapters 32–36)
- Tells how even righteous kings may fall to hell due to ego, or neglect of subtle dharma.
Kathopanishad (Yama-Nachiketa Dialogue)
- Yama tells Nachiketa that people fall due to ignorance of karma, even if they believe they are righteous.
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