Text 28] The Hellish Planets 465

dah—who administer poison; graman—villages; sérthan—the mercan-
tile class of men; vé—or: vilumpanti—plunder; rajanah—kings: raja-
bhatah—government officials; va—or; tan—them; ca—also: api—in-
deed; hi—certainly; paretya—having died; yamadutah—the assistants
of Yamaraja; vajra-damstradh—having mighty teeth; svanah—dogs:
sapta-Satani—seven hundred; vimsatih—twenty: ca—and: sara-
bhasam—voraciously; khadanti—devour.

TRANSLATION

In this world, some persons are professional plunderers who set
fire to others’ houses or administer poison to them. Also, members
of the royalty or government officials sometimes plunder mercan-
tile men by forcing them to pay income tax and by other methods.
After death such demons are put into the hell known as
Sarameyadana. On that planet there are 720 dogs with teeth as
strong as thunderbolts. Under the orders of the agents of
Yamaraja, these dogs voraciously devour such sinful people.

PURPORT

In the Twelfth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, it is said that in this age
of Kali everyone will be extremely disturbed by three kinds of tribula-
tions: scarcity of rain, famine, and heavy taxation by the government.
Because human beings are becoming more and more sinful. there will be
a scarcity of rain, and naturally no food grains will be produced. On the
plea of relieving the suffering caused by the ensuing famine. the govern-
ment will impose heavy taxes, especially on the wealthy mercantile com-
munity. In this verse. the members of such a government are described
as dasyu, thieves. Their main activity will be to plunder the wealth of the
people. Whether a highway robber or a government thief, such a man
will be punished in his next life by being thrown into the hell known as
Sarameyadana, where he will suffer greatly from the bites of ferocious

dogs.
TEXT 28

afeaz at aad acta area seat aa oat nafaca
a dea aa Sifaerafrn faa daadiegeng firftqa:
