Srimad Bhagavatham : 6.1.6.

Skandham-6.


Chapter-1. ( Ajamila charitham- Yama's bhakti-Margghopadhesam )


Slokam-6. (  O greatly fortunate and opulent Sri Suka Mahrishi, now kindly tell me how human 
beings may be saved from having to enter hellish conditions in which they suffer terrible pains. )




adhuneha    mah-bhaga    yathaiva    narakan    narah,



nanogra-yatanan     neyāt    tan    me    vyakhyatum    arhasi.




adhuna=right now; 

iha=in this material world; 

maha-bhaga=O greatly opulent and fortunate Suka Mahrishi; 

yatha=so that;

eva—indeed; 

narakan=all the hellish conditions into which the impious are put; 

narah=human beings; 

nana=varieties of; 

ugra=terrible; 

yatanan=conditions of suffering; 

na  iyat=may not undergo; 

tat=that; 

me=to me; 

vyakhyatum   arhasi=please describe.





In the Twenty-sixth Chapter of the Fifth Skandham, Sri Brhama Suka Mahrishi  has explained that people who commit sinful acts are forced to enter hellish planets and suffer. Now Maharaja Parikshit, being a devotee, is concerned with how this can be stopped. 

A Vaishnava is para-duhkha-duhkhi; in other words, he has no personal troubles, but he is very unhappy to see others in trouble. 
Prahlada Maharaja said, “My Lord, I have no personal problems, for I have learned how to glorify Your transcendental qualities and thus enter a trance of ecstasy. I do have a problem, however, for I am simply thinking of these rascals and fools who are busy with maya-sukha, temporary happiness, without knowledge of devotional service unto You.” 

This is the problem faced by a Vaishnava. Because a Vaishnava fully takes shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he personally has no problems, but because he is compassionate toward the fallen, conditioned souls, he is always thinking of plans to save them from their hellish life in this body and the next. 

Parikshit Maharaja, therefore, anxiously wanted to know from the Mahrishi  how humanity can be saved from gliding down to hell. Sri Suka Mahrishi  had already explained how people enter hellish life, and he could also explain how they could be saved from it. Intelligent men must take advantage of these instructions. 

Unfortunately, however, the entire world is lacking consciousness, and therefore people are suffering from the grossest ignorance and do not even believe in a life after this one. 

To convince them of their next life is very difficult because they have become almost mad in their pursuit of material enjoyment. Nevertheless, our duty, the duty of all sane men, is to save them. Maharaja Parikshit is the representative of one who can save them.

To be continued ...