Verse 12.54

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

बहून् वर्षगणान् घोरान्नरकान् प्राप्य तत्क्षयात् ।
संसारान् प्रतिपद्यन्ते महापातकिनस्त्विमान् ॥ ५४ ॥

bahūn varṣagaṇān ghorānnarakān prāpya tatkṣayāt |
saṃsārān pratipadyante mahāpātakinastvimān || 54 ||

Persons who have committed the heinous offences, having passed, during several years, through dreadful hells, reach, after the expiation thereof, the following migratory states.—(54)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

‘Dreadful hells’—They are ‘dreadful’ by reason of the great sufferings undergone; ‘hells’ being places of torment

‘Expiation’—Deeds are ‘expiated’ when their results have been experienced; and when slight traces of them are left, the agent becomes born in the several migratory states.

“How is it that the whole of the act is not entirely retributed in the hells?”

It has already been explained that ‘hell’ is the result of very potent deeds—not of mild ones. And since the cause is enfeebled by the appearance of its effect, the Deed is rendered mild, less potent, by the appearance of its results. Just as in the case of fire, when it has been kindled, as soon as it has given forth sparks and heat, it becomes milder; so also is the case with Hells.

“In the case of fire there are two states—mild and flaming; Hells however are always of one uniform character.”

Like flaming fire, Actions also are prone to become strong and weak; when they are strong, they lead to Hell, and when they are weak, their retribution takes place elsewhere. Hence it is only light what has said been regarding the ‘remnant’ of the deed (leading to transmigration).—(54)

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 12.53-59)

See Comparative notes for Verse 12.53.