1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter

Canto

Canto 5 · The Creative Impetus · 26 chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.

Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Canto 5 · Chapter 26: A Description of the Hellish Planets

5.26.8 5.26.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.26.9

Ūti· What drives us to act

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.26.5inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एवमेवान्धतामिस्रे यस्तु वञ्चयित्वा पुरुषं दारादीनुपयुङ्क्ते यत्र शरीरी निपात्यमानो यातनास्थो वेदनया नष्टमतिर्नष्टद‍ृष्टिश्च भवति यथा वनस्पतिर्वृश्‍च्यमानमूलस्तस्मादन्धतामिस्रं तमुपदिशन्ति ॥ ९ ॥

evam evāndhatāmisre yas tu vañcayitvā puruṣaṁ dārādīn upayuṅkte yatra śarīrī nipātyamāno yātanā-stho vedanayā naṣṭa-matir naṣṭa-dṛṣṭiś ca bhavati yathā vanaspatir vṛścyamāna-mūlas tasmād andhatāmisraṁ tam upadiśanti.

Translation

The destination of a person who slyly cheats another man and enjoys his wife and children is the hell known as Andhatāmisra. There his condition is exactly like that of a tree being chopped at its roots. Even before reaching Andhatāmisra, the sinful living being is subjected to various extreme miseries. These afflictions are so severe that he loses his intelligence and sight. It is for this reason that learned sages call this hell Andhatāmisra.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Deceit Against Another’s Family Has Grave Consequences

1
A person who slyly cheats another man and enjoys his wife and children goes to Andhatāmisra.
2
His condition is compared to a tree being chopped at its roots. Extreme suffering begins even before he reaches that hell.
3
The afflictions cause him to lose his intelligence and sight. For this reason, learned sages call this hell Andhatāmisra.

How it feels

Moral dread → Wakefulness. Consequences of action are rendered emotionally vivid.

Chapter 26 of Canto 5: The hellish planets. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 26: A Description of the Hellish Planets

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

A man who tricks someone and enjoys his wife is put into the extremely hellish condition known as Andhatāmisra. A foolish person absorbed in the bodily concept of life, who on the basis of this principle maintains himself or his wife and children by committing violence against other living entities, is put into the hell known as Raurava.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 5.26

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

evamin this way
evacertainly
andhatāmisrein the hellish planet known as Andhatāmisra
yaḥthe person who
tubut
vañcayitvācheating
puruṣamanother person
dāra-ādīnthe wife and children

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

Ūti · The creative impetus
Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10
Vātsalya · Parental affection
Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 5.26
In this verse: “children”
Śuddhi · Inner transformation
The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 5.26
In this verse: “sinful”
Karuṇā · Compassion
Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 5.26
In this verse: “suffering”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I being truthful and respectful in dealings that affect another person’s family?

Practice

Review one interaction involving another person’s family and make sure your words and intentions are free from deceit.

Live this todayDeceit Against Another’s Family Has Grave ConsequencesThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 5.26.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories