Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.26.7
Sthāna· The universe in orderThe Hellish Planets Have Distinct Descriptions
“Some authorities say that there is a total of twenty-one hellish planets, and some say twenty-eight. My dear King, I shall outline all of them according to their names, forms and symptoms. The names of the different hells are as follows: Tāmisra, Andhatāmisra, Raurava, Mahāraurava, Kumbhīpāka, Kālasūtra, Asipatravana, Sūkaramukha, Andhakūpa, Kṛmibhojana, Sandaṁśa, Taptasūrmi, Vajrakaṇṭaka-śālmalī, Vaitaraṇī, Pūyoda, Prāṇarodha, Viśasana, Lālābhakṣa, Sārameyādana, Avīci, Ayaḥpāna, Kṣārakardama, Rakṣogaṇa-bhojana, Śūlaprota, Dandaśūka, Avaṭa-nirodhana, Paryāvartana and Sūcīmukha. All these planets are meant for punishing the living entities.”
What the purport teaches
- Some authorities count twenty-one hellish planets, while others count twenty-eight.
- Śukadeva Gosvāmī offers to describe them according to their names, forms and symptoms.
- The named planets include Tāmisra, Andhatāmisra and Raurava. All these planets are meant for punishing living entities.
Try this today
Write down Tāmisra, Andhatāmisra and Raurava, leaving space to note their descriptions as you study.
Ask yourself
Am I reading these descriptions carefully enough to distinguish their names and features?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.