There was once a soul who, in his earthly life, neglected the sacred fire, failing to honor it even when it was received. For this disregard, he was sent forth to face the wrath of the dreadful crab, a being ever angry and relentless in its punishment. Others too, who withheld water from animals or who, being Brahmins, did not share their gifts, or who sold the Veda, met with harsh consequences. Those who stole water vessels or failed to prevent the taking of food, faced punishment by bamboo rods, whips, and even iron rods. Because of their actions, food and drink were never to be given to them. If one stole land that had been granted to a Brahmin, swift punishment awaited him. Once he crossed over from his human existence, he was cast into the womb of an animal. Afflicted through thousands of births, only then was he reborn as a human once more, carrying the burden of his deeds. For those who killed a Brahmin, the punishment was dreadful and severe. The thief of gold and the drinker of liquor were also subjected to harsh retribution. The killer of a cow, sinful indeed, was made to ascend the tree of thorns, and then cooked in cauldrons of putrid decay, surrounded by suffering creatures. Wherever he was born, he dwelled in distress. The slayer of his own father, a wicked soul, was not allowed to remain in peace. This vile man was cooked in dreadful cauldrons, suffering through ten wombs before being released. Even then, he was tormented constantly by hunger, disease, and afflictions. He was quickly tormented by instruments of pain, then released, only to be reborn in the womb of a pig, acquiring various harsh diseases in the world. For five hundred years, this wicked soul was tormented. He was born as a fierce bird, then as a wolf, and when deprived of his own actions, he attained a new existence. Yet, even there, he suffered terribly. Thus, thousands upon thousands of souls bound by their actions endured such fates. Burned in the cauldrons of Kumbhipaka, he later became a donkey, suffering various torments and losing all his wealth. Having attained human birth again, he became a thief and a doer of evil deeds. In this life, he was born hanging from a tree branch, his head downward. After a full hundred years, he was released, only to be reborn again and again. Having once become a boar, he was then born as a mongoose, reviled by all people, known for giving false testimony and being devoted to lying. This wicked liar also usurped land. For each and every deed, he remained, staying again and again, remembering all his previous births, and taking refuge in the wombs of animals. Deprived of all desires, yet endowed with every fault, at times he was mute, at times one-eyed, sometimes afflicted with disease. Such was the journey of this soul through thousands, tens of thousands, and crores of other births, each shaped by the actions he had performed.