Swarga & Naraka
(स्वर्ग एवं नरक)Literal Meaning
Heaven and hell
Etymology & Sanskrit Root
Swarga (from 'su' + 'ga', a good place to go) and Naraka (place of torment) — temporary realms of pleasure or suffering earned by karma, distinct from the permanent liberation of Moksha.
Spiritual Insight & Context
Unlike the Abrahamic eternal afterlife, Hindu cosmology treats both heaven and hell as temporary — once the specific karma that earned the stay is exhausted, the soul is reborn to continue its journey toward Moksha.