SB 3.30.25 · Srimad Bhagavatam

Devanagari

आदीपनं स्वगात्राणां वेष्टयित्वोल्मुकादिभि: । आत्ममांसादनं क्‍वापि स्वकृत्तं परतोऽपि वा ॥ २५ ॥

Verse text

ādīpanaṁ sva-gātrāṇāṁ veṣṭayitvolmukādibhiḥ ātma-māṁsādanaṁ kvāpi sva-kṛttaṁ parato ’pi vā

Synonyms

ādīpanam — setting on fire ; sva — gātrāṇām — of his own limbs ; veṣṭayitvā — having been surrounded ; ulmuka — ādibhiḥ — by pieces of burning wood and so on ; ātma — māṁsa — of his own flesh ; adanam — eating ; kva api — sometimes ; sva — kṛttam — done by himself ; parataḥ — by others ; api — else ; vā — or .

Translation

He is placed in the midst of burning pieces of wood, and his limbs are set on fire. In some cases he is made to eat his own flesh or have it eaten by others.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Surrounded by flaming wood, his limbs burst into flames. He is made to eat his own flesh, or others eat his flesh. His punishment is described. The verb “attains” should be supplied. He is made to eat his own flesh or others (parataḥ) eat it.

Purport

From this verse through the next three verses the description of punishment will be narrated. The first description is that the criminal has to eat his own flesh, burning with fire, or allow others like himself who are present there to eat. In the last great war, people in concentration camps sometimes ate their own stool, so there is no wonder that in the Yamasādana, the abode of Yamarāja, one who had a very enjoyable life eating others’ flesh has to eat his own flesh.