Skanda Purana — Reva Khanda — Chapter 53
SkP-RK 53.1
मार्कण्डेय उवाच: कोटी नामनुरूपाश् च पञ्चपञ्चैव नायकाः । रौरवाद्यं मरीच्यन्तं नरकानां शतं स्मृतम्
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca: koṭī nāmanurūpāś ca pañcapañcaiva nāyakāḥ / rauravādyaṃ marīcyantaṃ narakānāṃ śataṃ smṛtam
Mārkaṇḍeya said: There are a crore (of hells), corresponding to their names, and twenty-five chief ones; a hundred hells are reckoned, beginning with Raurava and ending with Marīci.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 53.2
चत्वारिंशत् समधिकं महानरकमण्डलम् । एकक्रमात् प्रभुज्यन्ते नरैः कर्मानुरूपतः
catvāriṃśat samadhikaṃ mahānarakamaṇḍalam / ekakramāt prabhujyante naraiḥ karmānurūpataḥ
The circle of the great hells is forty and more; they are enjoyed (i.e. undergone) by men one after another in accordance with their deeds.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 53.3
कामनाभिर् विरूपाभिर् अकर्मप्रचयाद् द्रुतम् । सुगूढया ततो ध्वान्ते तप्तशृङ्खलया नराः
kāmanābhir virūpābhir akarmapracayād drutam / sugūḍhayā tato dhvānte taptaśṛṅkhalayā narāḥ
Because of an accumulation of non-performance (of duty), through misshapen desires, men are then swiftly (bound) in the darkness by a well-hidden, red-hot chain.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 53.4
महावृक्षस्य शाखायां लम्ब्यन्ते यमकिङ्करैः । ततस् तान् सर्वतश् चैव दोलयन्ति हि किङ्कराः
mahāvṛkṣasya śākhāyāṃ lambyante yamakiṅkaraiḥ / tatas tān sarvataś caiva dolayanti hi kiṅkarāḥ
They are hung from the branch of a great tree by Yama's servants; then the servants swing them about in every direction.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.5
दोलिताश् चातिवेगेन निःसंज्ञां यान्ति पापिनः । अन्तरिक्षे स्थितानां च लोहभारशतं तदा
dolitāś cātivegena niḥsaṃjñāṃ yānti pāpinaḥ / antarikṣe sthitānāṃ ca lohabhāraśataṃ tadā
Swung with great violence, the sinners lose consciousness; and then, while they hang in mid-air, a hundred iron weights
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.6
पादयोर् बध्यते तेषां यमदूतैर् बलोत्कटैः । तेन भारेण महता भृशं सन्तापिता नराः
pādayor badhyate teṣāṃ yamadūtair balotkaṭaiḥ / tena bhāreṇa mahatā bhṛśaṃ santāpitā narāḥ
are bound to their feet by Yama's messengers, who are overbearing in strength; tormented severely by that great weight, the men
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.7
ध्यायन्ति स्वानि कर्माणि तूष्णीं तिष्ठन्ति निश्चलाः । ततः क्रमाद् अग्निवर्णैर् लोहदण्डैः सकण्टकैः
dhyāyanti svāni karmāṇi tūṣṇīṃ tiṣṭhanti niścalāḥ / tataḥ kramād agnivarṇair lohadaṇḍaiḥ sakaṇṭakaiḥ
brood on their own deeds, and stand silent and motionless; then, in turn, with fire-coloured iron rods set with thorns
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.8
निहन्यन्ते प्रयत्नेन यमदूतैश् च मस्तके । विष्ठापूर्णे ततः कूपे कृमीणां निलये ततः
nihanyante prayatnena yamadūtaiś ca mastake / viṣṭhāpūrṇe tataḥ kūpe kṛmīṇāṃ nilaye tataḥ
they are struck with force on the head by Yama's messengers; then (they are cast) into a well filled with excrement, a dwelling of worms.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.9
समन्तात् किङ्करैर् घोरैः पच्यन्ते पापकारिणः । ततः क्षारेण नीरेण वह्णावपि विशेषतः
samantāt kiṅkarair ghoraiḥ pacyante pāpakāriṇaḥ / tataḥ kṣāreṇa nīreṇa vahṇāvapi viśeṣataḥ
On all sides the doers of evil are cooked by the dreadful servants; then with caustic lye and with water, and especially in fire,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 53.10
वार्ताकवत् प्रपच्यन्ते तप्ते लोहकटाहके । अमेध्यकूपे प्रक्षिप्य जलजन्तु समाकुले
vārtākavat prapacyante tapte lohakaṭāhake / amedhyakūpe prakṣipya jalajantu samākule
they are cooked thoroughly like eggplants in a heated iron cauldron; and, having thrown (them) into a filth-well swarming with water-creatures,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.11
मेदोसृक्पूयपूर्णायां वाप्यां क्षिप्तास् तु ते ततः । भक्षन्ते कृमिभिस् तीक्ष्णैर् लोहतुण्डैश् च वायसैः
medosṛkpūyapūrṇāyāṃ vāpyāṃ kṣiptās tu te tataḥ / bhakṣante kṛmibhis tīkṣṇair lohatuṇḍaiś ca vāyasaiḥ
then, cast into a tank filled with fat, blood, and pus, they are devoured by sharp worms and by crows with iron beaks;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.12
पच्यन्ते मांसवच् चापि प्रदीप्ताङ्गारराशिषु । प्रोताः शूलेषु तीक्ष्णेषु नराः पापसमन्विताः
pacyante māṃsavac cāpi pradīptāṅgārarāśiṣu / protāḥ śūleṣu tīkṣṇeṣu narāḥ pāpasamanvitāḥ
And men laden with sin are cooked like meat upon heaps of blazing coals, impaled on sharp stakes.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.13
पच्यन्ते पापिनस् ते वै यमदूतैर् अनेकधा । तैलपूर्णकटाहेषु सुतप्तेषु ततः पुनः
pacyante pāpinas te vai yamadūtair anekadhā / tailapūrṇakaṭāheṣu sutapteṣu tataḥ punaḥ
Those sinners are indeed cooked in many ways by Yama's messengers, and then again in oil-filled cauldrons heated white-hot.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.14
तेषां चोत्पाट्यते जिह्वा असत्या प्रियवादिनाम् । सुदृढेन सुतप्तेन प्रपीड्योरसि पादतः
teṣāṃ cotpāṭyate jihvā asatyā priyavādinām / sudṛḍhena sutaptena prapīḍyorasi pādataḥ
And the tongue of those untruthful ones who spoke (only) pleasing words is torn out, they being pressed down on the chest by a foot, with a very firm, very hot (implement).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.15
मिथ्यागमप्रयुक्तस्य द्विजस्यापि तथैवच । यज्ञार्थकोशविस्तीर्णं भल्लैस् तीक्ष्णैः प्रतोद्यते
mithyāgamaprayuktasya dvijasyāpi tathaivaca / yajñārthakośavistīrṇaṃ bhallais tīkṣṇaiḥ pratodyate
And likewise for the twice-born who has applied himself to false scriptures: the store amassed for the sake of sacrifice(?) — he is goaded with sharp broad-headed darts.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 53.16
निर्भत्सयन्ति ये मूढा मातरं पितरं तेषां । तेषां वक्त्रं बालुकाभिर् मुहुर् आपूर्य सिच्यते
nirbhatsayanti ye mūḍhā mātaraṃ pitaraṃ teṣāṃ / teṣāṃ vaktraṃ bālukābhir muhur āpūrya sicyate
Those fools who revile their mother and father — their mouths are repeatedly filled with sand and then drenched (with liquid).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.17
ततः क्षारेण दीप्तेन पयसा तु पुनः पुनः । द्रुतं सम्पूर्यते ऽत्यर्थं तप्ततैलेन तन्मुखम्
tataḥ kṣāreṇa dīptena payasā tu punaḥ punaḥ / drutaṃ sampūryate 'tyarthaṃ taptatailena tanmukham
Then that mouth of his is again and again swiftly and utterly filled with burning lye, with (boiling) milk, and with hot oil.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.18
विष्ठाभिः कृमिपूर्णाभिः श्वानवच् चरणैर् भटैः । परिपीड्य विषाणेन प्रविष्टा लोहशाल्मलीम्
viṣṭhābhiḥ kṛmipūrṇābhiḥ śvānavac caraṇair bhaṭaiḥ / paripīḍya viṣāṇena praviṣṭā lohaśālmalīm
Crushed by the guards with their feet, like dogs, with excrement full of worms, they are driven with a horn (goad) and made to enter the iron silk-cotton tree.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 53.19
हन्यन्ते पृष्ठदेहेषु पुनर् भीमैर् महाबलैः । दन्तुरेणातिकुण्ठेन क्रकचेन बलीयसा
hanyante pṛṣṭhadeheṣu punar bhīmair mahābalaiḥ / dantureṇātikuṇṭhena krakacena balīyasā
Again they are struck on the back of the body by fearsome, mighty (guards) with a very blunt, jagged, massive saw.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.20
शिरः प्रभृति पाट्यन्ते घोरैः कर्मभिर् आत्मजैः । खादयन्ति स्वमांसानि पाययन्ति स्वशोणितम्
śiraḥ prabhṛti pāṭyante ghoraiḥ karmabhir ātmajaiḥ / khādayanti svamāṃsāni pāyayanti svaśoṇitam
They are split open beginning from the head by (the guards, because) of the dreadful deeds born of themselves; (the guards) make them eat their own flesh and drink their own blood.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.21
अन्नं पानं न दत्तं यैर् मूढैर् नाप्य् अनुमोदितम् । इक्षुवत्ते प्रपीड्यन्ते जर्जरीकृत्य मुद्गरैः
annaṃ pānaṃ na dattaṃ yair mūḍhair nāpy anumoditam / ikṣuvatte prapīḍyante jarjarīkṛtya mudgaraiḥ
Those fools who gave no food or drink, and did not even approve (of its giving) — they are crushed like sugarcane, being battered to pieces with mallets.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.22
असितालवने घोरे छिद्यन्ते खण्डखण्डशः । सूचीभिर् भिन्नसर्वाङ्गास् ततः शूले प्ररोपिताः
asitālavane ghore chidyante khaṇḍakhaṇḍaśaḥ / sūcībhir bhinnasarvāṅgās tataḥ śūle praropitāḥ
In the dreadful grove of black palms they are cut piece by piece; all their limbs pierced with needles, they are then set up on a stake.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.23
चाचल्यमानाः कृष्यन्ते न म्रियन्ते तथापि च । देहाद् उत्पाट्यते मांसं तेषाम् अस्थीनि मुद्गरैः
cācalyamānāḥ kṛṣyante na mriyante tathāpi ca / dehād utpāṭyate māṃsaṃ teṣām asthīni mudgaraiḥ
Being shaken about, they are dragged, and yet they do not die; the flesh is torn from their bodies, and their bones (broken) with mallets.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.24
बहुशः कृष्यते तूर्णं यमदूतैर् बलोत्कटैः । ते ऽनुच्छ्वासेनानुछ्वासास् तिष्ठन्ति नरके चिरम्
bahuśaḥ kṛṣyate tūrṇaṃ yamadūtair balotkaṭaiḥ / te 'nucchvāsenānuchvāsās tiṣṭhanti narake ciram
Repeatedly and swiftly (each one) is dragged by Yama's messengers of surpassing strength; breathless with the lack of breath, they remain long in hell.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 53.25
उच्छ्वासे च सदोच्छ्वासा बालुकावदनावृताः । रौरवेषु तु दन्ते वै पीड्यन्ते विविधैश् चरैः
ucchvāse ca sadocchvāsā bālukāvadanāvṛtāḥ / rauraveṣu tu dante vai pīḍyante vividhaiś caraiḥ
And in the breathing (hell) they are ever gasping, their faces covered with sand; and in the Raurava hells they are crushed at the teeth(?) by various agents.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 53.26
महारौरवपीडाभिर् महान्तो ऽपि रुदन्ति हि । उपस्थास्ये गुदे पार्श्वे पादे चोरसि मस्तके
mahārauravapīḍābhir mahānto 'pi rudanti hi / upasthāsye gude pārśve pāde corasi mastake
Even great ones weep at the torments of Mahāraurava — on the genitals, the anus, the side, the foot, the chest, and the head,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.27
निहन्यन्ते भटैस् तीक्ष्णैः सुतप्तैर् लोहमुद्गरैः । निन्दन्ति ये स्वरूपेण परदारान् हसन्ति च
nihanyante bhaṭais tīkṣṇaiḥ sutaptair lohamudgaraiḥ / nindanti ye svarūpeṇa paradārān hasanti ca
they are struck by the guards with sharp, white-hot iron mallets — those who revile others' wives by their appearance and laugh at them.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.28
आलिङ्गन्ति पतीन् अन्यान् न विन्दन्ति स्वकान् स्त्रियः । किमु धावसि वेगेन न स्मरेर् अतिशाश्वतीम्
āliṅganti patīn anyān na vindanti svakān striyaḥ / kimu dhāvasi vegena na smarer atiśāśvatīm
Women who embrace other husbands and do not find (satisfaction) in their own: "Why do you run so fast? Would you not remember the everlasting (retribution)?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 53.29
वञ्चितश् च त्वया भर्ता पापान्धश् च यथा सुखम् । लोहकुम्भे विनिक्षिप्ताः चिताश् च शनैः शनैः
vañcitaś ca tvayā bhartā pāpāndhaś ca yathā sukham / lohakumbhe vinikṣiptāḥ citāś ca śanaiḥ śanaiḥ
"And your husband was deceived by you, and you were blind with sin, as (you pleased) for pleasure." They are flung into iron pots and slowly, slowly burned.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
SkP-RK 53.30
समृद्धाग्नौ प्रपाच्यन्ते प्रवेश्यन्ते शिलासु च । क्षिप्यन्ते चान्धकूपेषु दश्यन्ते ऽजगरैर् भृशम्
samṛddhāgnau prapācyante praveśyante śilāsu ca / kṣipyante cāndhakūpeṣu daśyante 'jagarair bhṛśam
They are cooked in a raging fire and made to enter among rocks; they are cast into blind wells and bitten hard by boa-constrictors.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.31
ये निन्दन्ति महात्मानम् आचार्यं धर्मर्दर्शिनम् । शिवभक्तं च विप्रं च शिवधर्मं च शाश्वतम्
ye nindanti mahātmānam ācāryaṃ dharmardarśinam / śivabhaktaṃ ca vipraṃ ca śivadharmaṃ ca śāśvatam
Those who revile the great-souled teacher who sees the Dharma, and the devotee of Śiva, and the brahmin, and the eternal Dharma of Śiva —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.32
तेषाम् उरसि कण्ठे च जिह्वायां देहसन्धिषु । कीलकैरोष्ठपुटके कील्यन्ते यमकिङ्करैः
teṣām urasi kaṇṭhe ca jihvāyāṃ dehasandhiṣu / kīlakairoṣṭhapuṭake kīlyante yamakiṅkaraiḥ
On their chest and throat, on the tongue, and at the joints of the body, and on the fold of the lips, they are pinned with spikes by Yama's servants.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.33
एवम् आदिमहाघोरा यातनाः पापकर्मिणाम् । एकैक नरके ज्ञेयाः शतशो ऽथ सहस्रशः
evam ādimahāghorā yātanāḥ pāpakarmiṇām / ekaika narake jñeyāḥ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
Such are the beginning of the exceedingly frightful torments of the doers of evil; in each single hell they are to be known by hundreds and then by thousands.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.34
यातना गहना राजन् सर्वेषां पापकर्मिणाम् । इत्येव यातनानन्ताः सर्वेषु नरकेषु च
yātanā gahanā rājan sarveṣāṃ pāpakarmiṇām / ityeva yātanānantāḥ sarveṣu narakeṣu ca
The torments are unfathomable, O king, for all doers of evil; thus indeed the torments are endless in all the hells.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.35
कस्ता वर्षशतेनापि वक्तुं शक्नोति मानवः । इत्य् एवं विविधैर् घोरैः पात्यमानाः स्वकर्मभिः
kastā varṣaśatenāpi vaktuṃ śaknoti mānavaḥ / ity evaṃ vividhair ghoraiḥ pātyamānāḥ svakarmabhiḥ
What man is able to tell them even in a hundred years? Thus, being cast down by their own deeds through manifold dreadful (torments)—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.36
क्रमात् सर्वेषु पच्यन्ते नरकेषु न संशयः । महापातकिनश् चापि सर्वेषु नरकेषु च
kramāt sarveṣu pacyante narakeṣu na saṃśayaḥ / mahāpātakinaś cāpi sarveṣu narakeṣu ca
—they are cooked in all the hells in succession, there is no doubt of it; and those guilty of the great sins (are cooked) in all the hells too.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.37
आचन्द्रतारकं यावत् पीड्यन्ते विविधैश् चरैः । तथा पातकिनः सर्वे निरयेष्व् एषु सर्वदा
ācandratārakaṃ yāvat pīḍyante vividhaiś caraiḥ / tathā pātakinaḥ sarve nirayeṣv eṣu sarvadā
For as long as the moon and stars endure they are tortured by manifold agents; so too all the sinners, always, in these hells.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.38
चतुर्दिक्षु सुपच्यन्ते नरकेषु न संशयः । उपपातकिनश् चापि तदर्द्धं यान्ति मानवाः
caturdikṣu supacyante narakeṣu na saṃśayaḥ / upapātakinaś cāpi tadarddhaṃ yānti mānavāḥ
In the four directions they are thoroughly cooked in the hells, there is no doubt; and men guilty of the lesser sins go (there) for half that (time).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
SkP-RK 53.39
मृत्युर् न ज्ञायते तात कदा कस्य भविष्यति । प्राप्ते चाकस्मिके मृत्यौ वर्षं विन्दति को नरः
mṛtyur na jñāyate tāta kadā kasya bhaviṣyati / prāpte cākasmike mṛtyau varṣaṃ vindati ko naraḥ
Death is not known, my son—when it will come to whom; and when death arrives suddenly, what man gets a year (of grace)?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition