विष्णुपुराणम् — षष्ठांशे पञ्चमोऽध्यायः

श्रीपराशर उवाच ।

आध्यात्मिकादि मैत्रेय ज्ञात्वा तापत्रयं बुधः ।
उत्पन्नज्ञानवैराग्यं प्राप्नोत्यात्यन्तिकं लयम् ॥

Summary AI O Maitreya, the wise person, having understood the threefold suffering—ādhyātmika and the rest—and having developed knowledge and detachment, attains ultimate liberation.

६.५.२

आध्यात्मिकोपि द्विविधः शरीरो मानसस्तथा ।
शरीरो बहुभिर्भेदैर्भिद्यते श्रुयतां च सः ॥

Summary AI Internal (ādhyātmika) suffering is twofold: physical and mental. Physical suffering manifests in many varieties; listen to its description.

६.५.३

शिरोरोगप्रतिश्यायज्वरशूलभगन्दरैः ।
गुल्मार्शः श्वययुश्वासच्छर्द्यादिभिरनेकधा ॥

Summary AI Physical pain occurs in numerous ways through diseases such as headache, catarrh, fever, colic, fistula, tumors, hemorrhoids, swelling, asthma, and vomiting.

६.५.४

तथाक्षिरोगातीसारकुष्ठाङ्गामयसंज्ञितैः ।
भिद्यते देहजस्तापो मानसं श्रोतुमर्हसि ॥

Summary AI Similarly, bodily suffering is differentiated by eye diseases, diarrhea, leprosy, and various limb ailments. Now, listen to the mental sufferings.

६.५.५

कामक्रोधभयद्वेषलोभमोहविषादजः ।
शोकासूयावमानेर्ष्यामात्सर्यादिमयस्तथा ॥

Summary AI Mental suffering arises from desire, anger, fear, hatred, greed, delusion, and despair, as well as grief, envy, insult, jealousy, and malice.

६.५.६

मानसो ऽपि द्विजश्रेष्ठ तापो भवति नैकधा ।
इत्येवमादिभिर्भेदैस्तापो ह्याध्यात्मिकः स्मृतः ॥

Summary AI O best of the twice-born, mental suffering also occurs in many ways. Through these and similar varieties, ādhyātmika suffering is categorized.

६.५.७

मृगपक्षिमनुष्याद्यैः पिशाचोरगराक्षसैः ।
सरीसृपाद्यैश्च नृणां जायते चाधिभौतिकः ॥

Summary AI Environmental (ādhibhautika) suffering is caused to humans by wild animals, birds, other humans, spirits, snakes, demons, and reptiles.

६.५.८

शीतवा तोष्णवार्षाबुबैद्युतादिसमुद्भवः ।
तापो द्विजवरश्रेष्ठैः कथ्यते चाधिदैविकः ॥

Summary AI Suffering arising from cold, wind, heat, rain, water, and lightning is described by the most eminent of the twice-born as ādhidaivika (supernatural).

६.५.९

गर्भजन्मजराज्ञानमृत्युनारकजं तथा ।
दुःखं सहस्रशो भेदैर्भिद्यते मुनिसत्तम ॥

Summary AI O best of sages, suffering related to the womb, birth, old age, ignorance, death, and hell is further divided into thousands of varieties.

६.५.१०

सुकुमारतनुर्गर्भे जन्तुर्बहुमलावृते ।
उल्वसंवेष्टितो भुग्नपृष्ठग्रीवास्थिसंहतिः ॥

Summary AI Inside the womb filled with impurities, the creature with its delicate body remains enveloped by the membrane, with its back, neck, and bones all bent.

६.५.११

अत्यम्लकटुतीक्ष्मोष्णलवणैर्मातृभोजनैः ।
अत्यन्ततापैरत्यर्थं वर्धमानातिवेदनः ॥

Summary AI Subjected to intense heat from the extremely sour, pungent, sharp, hot, and salty foods eaten by the mother, the creature's severe pain continually increases.

६.५.१२

प्रसारणाकुञ्चनादौ नाङ्गानां प्रभुरात्मनः ।
शकृन्मूत्रमहापङ्कशायी सर्वत्र पीडितः ॥

Summary AI Unable to stretch or contract its own limbs, lying in the mire of feces and urine, the creature is tormented in every way.

६.५.१३

निरुच्छ्वासः सचैतन्यः स्मरञ्जन्मशतान्यथ ।
आस्ते गर्भे ऽतिदुःखेन निजकर्मनिबन्धनः ॥

Summary AI Breathless yet conscious, remembering hundreds of previous births and bound by its own karma, the creature remains in the womb in extreme misery.

६.५.१४

जायमानः पुरीषासृङ्मूत्रशुक्राविलाननः ।
प्राजापत्येन वातेन पीड्यमानास्थिबन्धनः ॥

Summary AI During birth, the creature's face is smeared with feces, blood, urine, and semen, and its joints and bones are crushed by the forceful winds of Prājāpatya.

६.५.१५

अधोमुखो वै क्रियते प्रबलैः सूतिमारुतैः ।
क्लेशान्निष्क्रान्तिमाप्नोति जठरान्मातुरातुरः ॥

Summary AI Turned downward by the powerful winds of labor, the suffering creature finally emerges from the mother’s womb with great pain.

६.५.१६

मुर्छामवाप्य महतीं संस्पृष्टो बाह्यवायुना ।
विज्ञानभ्रंशमाप्नोति जातश्च मुनिसत्तम ॥

Summary AI O best of sages, once born and touched by the external air, the infant falls into a deep faint and suffers the loss of all previous knowledge.

६.५.१७

कण्टकैरिव तुन्नाङ्गः क्रकचैरिव दारितः ।
पूतिव्रणान्निपतितो धरण्यां क्रिमिको यथा ॥

Summary AI Like a worm fallen from a festering sore onto the ground, the newborn feels as if its body is pricked by thorns or torn apart by saws.

६.५.१८

कण्डूयने ऽपि चाशक्तः परिवर्तेप्यनीश्वरः ।
स्नानपानादिकाहारमप्याप्नोति परेच्छया ॥

Summary AI Incapable of even scratching itself or turning over, the infant receives baths, drinks, and food only at the will of others.

६.५.१९

अशुचिप्रस्तरे सुप्तः कीटद्रंशादिभिस्तथा ।
भक्ष्यमाणो ऽपि नैवैषां समर्थो विनिवारणे ॥

Summary AI Sleeping on an impure bed and bitten by insects and other creatures, the infant is entirely unable to drive them away.

६.५.२०

जन्मदुःखान्यनेकानि जन्मनोनन्तरिणी च ।
बालभावे यदा प्नोति ह्याधिभौतादिकानि च ॥

Summary AI In infancy, a child undergoes numerous pains related to birth as well as subsequent ādhibhautika and other forms of suffering.

६.५.२१

अज्ञानतमसाच्छन्नो मूढान्तःकरणो नरः ।
न जानाति कुतः कोहं क्वाहं गन्ता किमात्मनः ॥

Summary AI A person enveloped by the darkness of ignorance, with a deluded inner self, does not know whence he came, who he is, where he is going, or the nature of his ātman.

६.५.२२

केनबन्धेन बद्धोहं कारणं किमकारणम् ।
किं कार्यं किमकार्यं वा किं वाच्यं किं च नोच्यते ॥

Summary AI He does not understand what bond binds him, what causes exist, what actions are to be performed or avoided, and what should be spoken or remain unsaid.

६.५.२३

को धर्मः कश्च वाधर्मः कस्मिन्वर्ते ऽथ वा कथम् ।
किं कर्तव्यमकर्तव्यं किं वा किङ्गुणदोषवत् ॥

Summary AI He knows not what is dharma or adharma, in what state or how he exists, what his duty is, or what possesses merit or defect.

६.५.२४

एवं पशुसमैर्मुढैरज्ञानप्रभवं महत् ।
अवाप्यते नरैर्दुःखं शिश्रोदरपरायणैः ॥

Summary AI Thus, foolish men, who are like animals and solely devoted to sensual gratification and hunger, attain great suffering born of ignorance.

६.५.२५

अज्ञानं तामसो भावः कार्यारंभप्रवृत्तयः ।
अज्ञानिनां प्रवर्तन्ते कर्मलोपास्ततो द्विज ॥

Summary AI Ignorance is a state of tamas. From it arise the worldly tendencies of the ignorant, leading to the neglect of sacred duties (karmalopa).

६.५.२६

नरकं कर्मणां लोपात्फलमाहुर्मनीषिणः ।
तस्मादज्ञानिनां दुःखमिह चामुत्र चोत्तमम् ॥

Summary AI Sages declare that the result of neglecting duties is hell; therefore, the ignorant experience extreme suffering both in this world and the next.

६.५.२७

जराजर्जरदेहश्च शिथिलावयवः पुमान् ।
विचलच्छीर्णदशनो वलिस्नायुशिरावृतः ॥

Summary AI In old age, a man's body is wasted, his limbs grow loose, his teeth decay, and he is covered with wrinkles, tendons, and veins.

६.५.२८

दूरप्रनष्टनयनो व्योमान्तर्गततारकः ।
नासाविवलनिर्यातलोमपुञ्जश्चलद्वपुः ॥

Summary AI His vision fails for distant objects, his pupils fix upward, tufts of hair protrude from his nostrils, and his body trembles.

६.५.२९

प्रकटीभूतसर्वास्थिर्नतपृष्ठास्थिसंहतिः ।
उत्सन्नजठराग्नित्वादल्पाहारो ऽप्लचेष्टितः ॥

Summary AI His bones become visible, his spine bends, and due to a failing digestive fire, he eats little and exhibits minimal movement.

६.५.३०

कृच्छ्राच्चङ्क्रमणोत्थानशयनासनचेष्टितः ।
मन्दीभवच्छ्रोत्रनेत्रःस्रवल्लालाविलाननः ॥

Summary AI He moves, stands, and sits with great difficulty; his hearing and sight dim, and his face is fouled by trickling saliva.

६.५.३१

अनायत्तैः समस्तैश्च करणेर्मरणोन्मुखः ।
तत्क्षणेप्यनुभूतानामस्मर्तऽखिलवस्तुनाम् ॥

Summary AI With his senses no longer under control and facing death, he cannot remember things experienced even a moment ago.

६.५.३२

सकृदुच्चारिते वाक्ये समुद्भूत महाश्रमः ।
श्वासकाशसमुद्भूतमहायासप्रजागरः ॥

Summary AI He is exhausted after speaking one sentence and stays awake due to the heavy labor of breathing and coughing.

६.५.३३

अन्येनोत्थाप्यते ऽन्येन तथा संवेश्यते जरी ।
भृत्यात्मपुत्रदाराणामवामानास्पदी कृतः ॥

Summary AI Lifted and laid down by others, the aged man becomes an object of contempt for his servants, sons, and wife.

६.५.३४

प्रक्षीणाखिलशौचश्च विहाराहारसस्पृहः ।
हास्यः परिजनस्यापि निर्विण्णाशेषबान्धवः ॥

Summary AI Losing cleanliness but still craving food, he becomes a laughingstock to his attendants while his kinsmen grow weary of him.

६.५.३५

अनुभूतमिवान्यस्मिञ्जन्मन्यात्मविचेष्टितम् ।
संस्मरन्यौवने दीर्घं निश्वसत्यभितापितः ॥

Summary AI Recalling his youth as if it were another lifetime, he sighs deeply, tormented by his current state.

६.५.३६

एवमादीनि दुःखानि जरायामनुबूय वै ।
मरणे यानि दुःखानि प्राप्नोति शृणुतान्यपि ॥

Summary AI Having experienced these miseries in old age, now hear of the further sufferings one encounters at the time of death.

६.५.३७

श्लथद्ग्रीवाङ्घ्रिहस्ते ऽथ व्याप्तो वेपथुना भृशम् ।
मुहुर्ग्लानिः परवशो मुहुर्ज्ञानलवान्वितः ॥

Summary AI As his limbs grow limp, he is overcome by trembling, exhaustion, and helplessness, occasionally regaining only fragments of consciousness.

६.५.३८

हिरण्यधान्यतनयभार्याभृत्यगृहादिषु ।
एते कथं भविष्यन्तीत्यतीव ममताकुलः ॥

Summary AI He becomes extremely distressed by possessiveness, worrying about how his wealth, family, and home will fare after his passing.

६.५.३९

मर्मभिद्भिर्भहारोगैः क्रकचैरिव दारुणैः ।
शरैरिवान्तकस्योग्रैश्छद्यमानासुबन्धनः ॥

Summary AI The bonds of his life are severed by terrible diseases that pierce vital organs like cruel saws or the fierce arrows of Antaka.

६.५.४०

परिवर्तितताराक्षो हस्तपादं मुहुः क्षिपन् ।
संशुष्यमाणताल्वोष्ठपुटो घुरघुरायते ॥

Summary AI With his eyes rolling, repeatedly tossing his hands and feet, and with his palate and lips drying up, he makes a rattling sound in his throat.

६.५.४१

निरुद्धकण्ठो दोषौघैरुदानश्वसापीडितः ।
तापेन महता व्याप्तस्तृषा चार्तस्तथा क्षुधा ॥

Summary AI At the moment of death, a person's throat is obstructed by bodily humors, and they suffer from gasping breaths. Pervaded by intense heat and afflicted by both thirst and hunger, the dying individual experiences great agony.

६.५.४२

क्लेशादुत्क्रान्तिमाप्नोति यमकिङ्करपीडितः ।
ततश्च यातनादेहं क्लेशेन प्रतिपद्यते ॥

Summary AI Tormented by the servants of Yama, the soul undergoes a painful departure from the body. Subsequently, it acquires a body specifically designed for suffering, experiencing further distress in the process.

६.५.४३

एतान्यन्यानि चोग्राणि दुःखानि मरणे नृणाम् ।
शृणुष्व नरके यानि प्राप्यन्ते पुरुषैर्मृतैः ॥

Summary AI These and other fierce sorrows afflict men during death. Now, listen to the various sufferings that deceased men encounter within the realms of hell.

६.५.४४

याम्यकिङ्करपाशादिग्रहणं दण्डताडनम् ।
यमस्य दर्शनं चोग्रमुग्रमार्गविलोकनम् ॥

Summary AI The soul faces seizure by the nooses of Yama's servants, beating with rods, the terrifying sight of Yama himself, and the daunting view of the arduous path to the underworld.

६.५.४५

करंभवालुकावह्नियन्त्रशस्त्रासिभीषणे ।
प्रत्येकं नरकेयाश्च यातना द्विज दुःसहाः ॥

Summary AI O Twice-born, the torments in each hell—terrifying with hot sands, fire, mechanical devices, weapons, and swords—are utterly unbearable for the sinful soul.

६.५.४६

क्रकचैः पाट्यमानानां मूषायां चापि दह्यताम् ।
कुठारैः कृत्यमानानां भूमौ चापि निखन्यताम् ॥

Summary AI Souls in hell suffer the agony of being split by saws, burnt in crucibles, hacked by axes, and buried alive deep within the ground.

६.५.४७

शूलेष्वारोप्यमाणानं व्याघ्रवक्त्रे प्रवेश्यताम् ।
गृध्रैः संभक्ष्यमाणानां द्वीपिभिश्चोपभूज्यताम् ॥

Summary AI The departed endure being impaled on stakes, cast into the mouths of tigers, devoured by vultures, and consumed by leopards in the infernal regions.

६.५.४८

क्वाथ्यतां तैलमध्ये च क्लिद्यतां क्षारकर्दमे ।
उच्चान्निपात्यमानानां क्षिप्यतां क्षेपयन्त्रकैः ॥

Summary AI They are boiled in vats of oil, left to rot in alkaline mud, hurled down from great heights, and flung about by mechanical catapults.

६.५.४९

नरके यानि दुःखानि पापहेतूद्भवानि वै ।
प्राप्यन्ते नारकैर्विप्र तेषां संख्या न विद्यते ॥

Summary AI O Sage, the sufferings born of sinful deeds encountered by dwellers in hell are so numerous that they defy any count.