Table of Contents
Introduction
Jaimini was listening to the birds narrate the story of Vipaschit. The birds continued their tale.
"As we stood there, we heard Vipaschit speak. Yama's attendant also heard this. He stopped tapping the stick in his hand, turned around, and looked at Vipaschit. 'I have heard what you said, king of Videha,' he began. 'I will tell you the reason why you are here, in this hell. All that you have said so far is true, and no one denies that. You have been a great and wise ruler. However, you did commit a sin. Let me remind you of it now. As you know, you married the princess of Vidarbha, the beautiful Pivari. True to her name, her beauty was intoxicating. While you did marry her, you neglected her. When you should have been with her, when she was fertile, you ignored her. You were in love with the lady of Kekaya, Sushobhana. So, instead of being with Pivari, you spent your nights with Sushobhana. You fulfilled your royal duties but neglected your duties as a householder and a husband. You were a righteous king but failed in this personal regard. This was your sin, and the only sin you committed. That is why you are here. As per your sin, you were destined to be in this hell for a period. You have completed that time, and I will now lead you away from here to a place where you can enjoy happiness as a result of your good deeds. Please follow me.'"
Vipaschit's Questions
"Hearing this, Vipaschit said, 'I am grateful to you for reminding me about my sin. I will follow you and go wherever you wish to take me. Before I leave with you, I have a few questions. I see the crows here, with razor-sharp beaks. They are plucking out people's eyes, and surprisingly, the eyes grow back again. I see tongues being pulled from some, only for them to regrow instantly. What did these souls do to deserve such suffering? Why are some subjected to the cutting of saws? And why are others thrown into boiling oil mixed with mud and sand ? Why do the iron-beaked birds strike at some with such force, breaking their bones, making the souls cry with agony? Please tell me why all this is happening.'"
The Attendant Explains Karma
"Yama's attendant smiled. He said, 'Listen to me. Vipaschit. You asked questions about what is happening here and you deserve answers. If I were to give you a detailed answer, we would be stuck here for ages. I will explain the core reasons as to why all this is happening. You've inquired about the deeds these people performed and their consequences.'
'Based on their actions, every person must face the results—both for good and bad deeds. Consequently, individuals experience pleasure and suffering after death. If one cannot experience the fruits of their actions in that lifetime, they must take birth again. Only after these karmic fruits are exhausted is a person truly free. A person who has committed evil deeds must suffer. Conversely, those who have performed good deeds, who had control over their senses and mind, who had faith in their dharma, and were generous—they will experience joy.
After death, a person experiences different hells according to the sins committed, while those who were auspicious go to pleasant places where they are greeted with joy. The soul travels through a cycle of births and deaths, carrying with it the residue of karma from each life. The circumstances in which a sin was committed also matter. A minor sin, depending on the circumstances, may cause minor suffering, like stepping on a thorn—it will be short but painful. A more serious sin brings greater suffering, like being stabbed with a weapon instead of just pricked by a thorn. Some sinners suffer unbearable mental and physical illnesses as a result of their bad karma. As part of their punishment, they are denied good food and are forced to eat what is unfit for consumption. The sinner faces physical suffering. All sinful acts eventually cause suffering, though they may take time to manifest. Greater sins result in long-lasting diseases and deep suffering. The results of grave sins are torments like burning, violence, and imprisonment. Even small acts of virtue lead to joy and beauty. The greater the good deed, the more lasting and powerful its effects. After having lived through the results of karma, the soul is reborn. Karma shapes the details of rebirth. It determines one's birth family, time, and whether one is born with wisdom or ignorance. Karma links itself to the soul, shaping future births and experiences. Karma is created not only through actions but also through speech and thoughts. All experiences, whether good or bad, keep one tied to the world. Karma ends once its result is experienced. Those who commit grave sins are sent to terrible hells. Those who perform good deeds enjoy heavenly pleasures. After that, the soul is reborn as a god, human, or lower being, based on its accumulated karma. The nature of one’s rebirth and experiences stem from one’s own good or bad deeds. I will now explain the specific sins committed by those suffering harsh punishment.'"
Some more on this - Deeper Dive into Karma
Every action, whether good or bad, yields consequences. These consequences may not always manifest in the same life; they follow the soul across rebirths. Karma includes mental intent, speech, and action.
Vipaschit’s sin is a case study in dharma. He is righteous in the public sphere but fails in personal duties—the neglect of his wife during her fertile period. Dharma is multi-dimensional; even if one part is fulfilled, failure in another part brings about imbalance.
The hells described are didactic. Every punishment is tailored to the sin, showing that the system is precise. Repetitive torment (like regenerating organs being plucked again) emphasizes the cyclical nature of unspent karma. Once karma is exhausted, relief and liberation follow—as seen in Vipaschit’s release. The torments are not sadistic; they burn off karma, allowing the soul to move on.
Symbolism in the Narration
|
Symbol |
Meaning |
|
Crows with razor beaks plucking eyes |
Obstruction of truth and vision in life. Eyes symbolize knowledge. Those who refused to see truth or misled others suffer in the eyes. |
|
Tongue being pulled out repeatedly |
Verbal sins—lies, gossip, verbal cruelty, false testimony. The tongue is an instrument of speech, which is sacred. |
|
Sawing bodies / Iron-beaked birds |
Cutting through falsehood, dismembering false identities. |
|
Stick-tapping by the attendant |
Symbol of time—the meter of karma. The tapping is both an act of control and a warning. |
Puranic Sources
- Garuda Purana (Preta Khanda): The most vivid source of Naraka, describing exact causes and durations of punishment, focusing on ritual, social, and moral failings.
- Markandeya Purana: Simplifies the list but provides philosophical depth, as seen in Vipaschit’s remorse and the attendant’s clarity about karma.
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