Some exclusivist religions claim that those who don’t accept their dogmatic beliefs will be sent by God to hell forever. In refreshing contrast to such narrow-minded uncouth conceptions, Gita wisdom presents a broad-minded, refined understanding of the universe as a university with Krishna as a constant benevolent guide.  Those who learn the art of eternal spiritual happiness graduate from the university and regain everlasting joy in Krishna’s personal abode.

Unfortunately, some people adamantly refuse to learn this lesson. Instead, as the Bhagavad-gita (16.21) indicates, they imagine that unrestricted indulgence in lust, anger and greed are gateways to pleasure. Such perverse fantasies make them mentally deranged, thereby alienating them from their right to inner spiritual happiness and sentencing them to repeated misery in material existence. To shorten their suffering and to accelerate their learning, nature sends them to a severe transitional classroom named hell. This classroom makes apparent the miserable nature of material existence and the terrible consequence of wanton indulgence – twin lessons that they couldn’t grasp in more congenial classrooms.

Thus the primary purpose of hell is not condemnation but education that enables stubborn souls to minimize their self-inflicted suffering.

Additionally, hell is not only a temporary but also a non-mandatory classroom. A far better classroom is our present world. And Krishna goes out of his way to help us learn the art of happiness here itself. The Gita refers passingly to hell, but reveals elaborately a concerned, committed,compassionate God who through his educational message does his best to not only protect us from hell but also pave our way to the eternal world. 

To conclude, God doesn’t cast anyone to hell forever; instead, he does all that he can to guide everyone to his abode forever.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16 Text 21

“There are three gates leading to this hell – lust, anger and greed. Every sane man should give these up, for they lead to the degradation of the soul.”