Vyāsa, Sanatkumāra spoke with deep reverence about the sacred place of Somanātha, telling him that both the holy site and the liṅga enshrined there are extremely rare and difficult to attain. Only those who approach Somanātha in the month of Śrāvaṇa, with their senses controlled and hearts pure, can hope to reach this blessed pilgrimage. In Saurāṣṭra, the daily act of worshipping Somanātha brings immense spiritual fruit. Sanatkumāra then described another holy place, Anaraka. He explained that one who bathes there and beholds the great god Maheśvara receives blessings, but Vyāsa’s mind turned to those who suffer. He asked, “By what sins do the sinful and suffering ones fall into such places? How do living beings who commit evil deeds end up there?” Sanatkumāra replied, “Listen, Vyāsa, to the truth about the hells—so many are established in those lower worlds. All are known as realms of suffering, famous for the pain they inflict. There are dreadful hells such as Raurava, Sūkara, Raudra, Tāla, Vinaśaka, Kuṃbhīpāka, Krakacana, Deva-Atidāruṇa, Adhomukha, Āsthibhaṅga, and Yaṃtrapīḍana. These and many others are exceedingly terrible, places where men who delight in wicked deeds are cast.” In these hells, Sanatkumāra explained, the wicked endure various and dreadful torments until their evil actions are exhausted. The servants of Yama hang them on the tips of great trees, pierce them with iron spikes glowing like fire, and beat them with rods covered in thorns. Blazing fire surrounds them at every moment. He described the fate of those who give false testimony or speak with partiality, of drinkers of liquor, slayers of Brahmins, thieves, and those who inform against gold. Destroyers of embryos, killers of teachers, slayers of cows, and those who abandon food offered to them—all are cooked on heated iron. Such souls are sent to Kuṃbhīpāka, head downward and feet upward. Those who betray their master are cast into a blazing pot; those who go to other men’s wives enter Krakacana. Sanatkumāra continued: “He who hates the gods, the twice-born, ancestors, or who defiles precious gems, and he who neglects service to fathers, gods, or teachers—these fall headfirst into hell. Those who accept gifts from outcastes, the ungrateful, slanderers, cruel men, false measurers, deceivers, and those who consume lac, meat, broths, sesame, and intoxicating drinks; honey thieves and destroyers of villages—they all go to the dreadful Vaitaraṇī river. By their deeds, thoughts, or words, they proceed to this great river. “One who crosses mountains unlawfully is sent to the sword-leaf forest, and others go to the terrible hell called Kṛṣṇasūtra. Whoever has intercourse with an outcaste woman, both are doomed to hell, where they are cooked in foul food—especially those who hate a friend. Those taught by their own sons fall into the food of dogs. There, evildoers who have come to torment are cooked. “Those who have committed much sin and turned away from atonement suffer greatly. But, Vyāsa, the supreme atonement for such souls is the remembrance of Śiva. He who is purified and whose sins are destroyed does not go to hell. For him, a lamp should be offered before the Lord of gods.” Thus Sanatkumāra revealed the consequences of sin and the path to redemption, emphasizing the power of devotion and remembrance of Śiva as the ultimate refuge for all.