Copyright © r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
| Canto 5: The Creative Impetus | Chapter 26: A Description of the Hellish Planets |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 5.26.18
yas tv iha vā asamvibhajyāśnāti yat kiñcanopanatam anirmita-pañca-yajño vāyasa-samstutah sa paratra krimibhojane narakādhame nipatati tatra śata-sahasra-yojane krimi-kunde krimi-bhūtah svayam krimibhir eva bhakshyamānah krimi-bhojano yāvat tad aprattāprahūtādo 'nirveśam ātmānam yātayate
SYNONYMS
yah — any person who; tu — but; iha — in this life; vā — or; asam-vibhajya — without dividing; aśnāti — eats; yat kiñcana — whatever; upanatam — obtained by Krishna's grace; anirmita — not performing; pañca-yajñah — the five kinds of sacrifice; vāyasa — with the crows; samstutah — who is described as equal; sah — such a person; paratra — in the next life; krimibhojane — named Krimibhojana; naraka-adhame — into the most abominable of all hells; nipatati — falls down; tatra — there; śata-sahasra-yojane — measuring 100,000 yojanas (800,000 miles); krimi-kunde — in a lake of worms; krimi-bhūtah — becoming one of the worms; svayam — he himself; krimibhih — by the other worms; eva — certainly; bhakshyamānah — being eaten; krimi-bhojanah — eating worms; yāvat — as long as; tat — that lake is wide; apratta-aprahūta — unshared and unoffered food; adah — one who eats; anirveśam — who has not performed atonement; ātmānam — to himself; yātayate — gives pain.
TRANSLATION
A person is considered no better than a crow if after receiving some food, he does not divide it among guests, old men and children, but simply eats it himself, or if he eats it without performing the five kinds of sacrifice. After death he is put into the most abominable hell, known as Krimibhojana. In that hell is a lake 100,000 yojanas [800,000 miles] wide and filled with worms. He becomes a worm in that lake and feeds on the other worms there, who also feed on him. Unless he atones for his actions before his death, such a sinful man remains in the hellish lake of Krimibhojana for as many years as there are yojanas in the width of the lake.
PURPORT
As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (3.13):
yajña-śishtāśinah santo
"The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because they eat food which is first offered for sacrifice. Others, who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin." All food is given to us by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Eko bahūnām yo vidadhāti kāmān: the Lord supplies everyone with the necessities of life. Therefore we should acknowledge His mercy by performing yajña (sacrifice). This is the duty of everyone. Indeed, the sole purpose of life is to perform yajña. According to Krishna (Bg. 3.9):
yajñārthāt karmano 'nyatra
"Work done as a sacrifice for Vishnu has to be performed, otherwise work binds one to this material world. Therefore, O son of Kuntī, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain unattached and free from bondage." If we do not perform yajña and distribute prasāda to others, our lives are condemned. Only after performing yajña and distributing the prasāda to all dependents — children, brāhmanas and old men — should one eat. However, one who cooks only for himself or his family is condemned, along with everyone he feeds. After death he is put into the hell known as Krimibhojana.
Copyright © r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness