444 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 26
his wife and children. While working to maintain himself and his
family, he may commit violence against other living entities. Such
a person is forced to give up his body and his family at the time of
death, when he suffers the reaction for his envy of other creatures
by being thrown into the hell called Raurava.
PURPORT
In Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said:
yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke
sva-dhih kalatradisu bhauma-ijya-dhih
yat-tirtha-buddhih salile na karhicij
jJanesv abhijnesu sa eva go-kharah

“One who accepts this bodily bag of three elements [bile, mucus and air]
as his self, who has an affinity for an intimate relationship with his wife
and children, who considers his land worshipable, who takes bath in the
waters of the holy places of pilgrimage but never takes advantage of
those persons who are in actual knowledge—he is no better than an ass
or a cow.” (Bhag. 10.84.13) There are two classes of men absorbed in
the material concept of life. Out of ignorance, a man in the first class
thinks his body to be his self, and therefore he is certainly like an animal
(sa eva go-kharah). The person in the second class, however, not only
thinks his material body to be his self, but also commits all kinds of sin-
ful activities to maintain his body. He cheats everyone to acquire money
for his family and his self, and he becomes envious of others without
reason. Such a person is thrown into the hell known as Raurava. If one
simply considers his body to be his self, as do the animals, he is not very
sinful. However, if one needlessly commits sins to maintain his body, he
is put into the hell known as Raurava. This is the opinion of Srila
Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura. Although animals are certainly in the
bodily concept of life, they do not commit any sins to maintain their
bodies, mates or offspring. Therefore animals do not go to hell. However,
when a human being acts enviously and cheats others to maintain his
body, he is put into a hellish condition.
