के गुणास्तत्रवसतां किं तपः कश्च निश्चयः। स्वर्गे तत्रसुखं किं च दोषो वा देवदूतक
'What are the virtues of those who reside there? What is their austerity, and what is their resolve? What happiness is there in heaven, and is there any fault, O divine messenger?'
सतां साप्तपदं मित्रमाहुः सन्तः कुलोचिताः। मित्रतां च पुरस्कृत्य पृच्छामि त्वामहं विभो
'The wise say that sharing seven steps makes a friendship, and the virtuous act according to their lineage. Considering our friendship, I ask you, O illustrious one.'
यदत्र तथ्यं पथ्यं च तद्ब्रवीह्यविचारयन्। श्रुत्वा तथा करिष्यामि व्यवसायं गिरा तव
'Whatever is true and beneficial here, speak that without hesitation. Hearing your words, I will act accordingly, firm in my resolve.'
महर्षेऽकार्यबुद्धिस्त्वं यः स्वर्गसुखमुत्तमम्। संप्राप्तं प्रतिपत्तव्यं विमृशस्यबुधो यथा
'Great sage, your mind is not set on what should be done. The supreme happiness of heaven, once attained, should be accepted as the wise do, after reflection.'
उपरिष्टादयं लोको योऽयं स्वरिति संज्ञितः। ऊर्ध्वगः सत्पथः शश्वद्देवयानचरो मुने
'Above is that world known as heaven, ever pure, the path of the gods, O sage, always ascending and righteous.'
नातप्ततपसः पुंसो नामहायज्ञयाजिनः। नानृता नास्तिकाश्चैव तत्रगच्छन्ति मुद्गल
'Those who have not performed austerities, nor offered great sacrifices, nor the untruthful or atheists, O Mudgala, do not go there.'
धर्मात्मानो जितात्मानः शान्ता दान्ता विमत्सराः। दानधर्मरताः पुंसः शूराश्चाहितलक्षणाः
'The righteous, self-controlled, peaceful, restrained, free from envy, devoted to charity and virtue, and the brave with auspicious marks—such men go there.'
तत्रगच्छन्ति धर्माग्र्यं कृत्वा शमदमात्मकम्। लोकान्पुण्यकृतां ब्रह्मन्सद्भिराचरितान्नृभिः
'Having performed supreme righteousness, with minds of tranquility and self-control, men reach those worlds of the virtuous, O Brahmin, which are inhabited by the good.'
देवाः साध्यास्तथा विश्वे तथैव च महर्षयः। यामा धामाश्च मौद्गल्य गन्धर्वाप्सरसस्तथा
'The gods, Sādhyas, Viśvedevas, great sages, Yamas, Dharmas, O descendant of Mudgala, and also Gandharvas and Apsarases dwell there.'
एषां देवनिकायानां पृथक्पृथगनेकशः। भास्वन्तः कामसंपन्ना लोकास्तेजोमयाः शुभाः
'These hosts of divine beings, each in their own splendid, radiant, and delightful worlds, filled with every desire, shine brilliantly.'
त्रयस्त्रिंशत्सहस्राणि योजनानि हिरण्मयः। मेरुः पर्वतराड्यत्रदेवोद्यानानि मुद्गल
'Thirty-three thousand yojanas in extent is golden Meru, the king of mountains, where the gardens of the gods are, O Mudgala.'
नन्दनान्यतिरम्याणि तत्रोद्यानानि मुद्गल। सर्वकामफलैर्वृक्षैः शोभितानि समन्ततः
'There, O Mudgala, are the exceedingly delightful Nandana and other gardens, adorned on all sides with trees bearing every desired fruit.'
नन्दनादीनि पुण्यानि विहाराः पुण्यकर्मणाम्। न क्षुत्पिपासे न ग्लानिर्न शीतोष्णे भयं तथा
'Nandana and similar holy pleasure-grounds are for those who have performed virtuous deeds; there is no hunger or thirst, no fatigue, nor fear of heat or cold.'
बीभत्समशुभं वाऽपि रोगो वा तत्र कश्चन। मनोज्ञाः सर्वतो गन्धाः सुखस्पर्शाश्च सर्वशः
'There is nothing repulsive or inauspicious, nor any disease at all; everywhere are delightful fragrances and pleasing touches.'
शब्दाः श्रुतिमनोग्राह्याः सर्वतस्तत्रवै मुने। न शोको न जरा तत्र नायासपरिदेवने
'Sounds there are pleasing to the ear and mind in every direction, O sage; there is no sorrow, no old age, nor toil or lamentation.'
ईदृशः स मुने लोकः स्वकर्मफलहेतुकः। सुकृतैस्तत्रपुरुषाः संभवन्त्यात्मकर्मभिः
'Such is that world, O sage, arising from the fruits of one's own deeds; by virtuous actions, men are born there according to their own karma.'
तैजसानि शरीराणि भवन्त्य्रोपपद्यताम्। कर्मजान्येव मौद्गल्य न मातृपितृजान्युत
Fiery bodies arise, let this be understood; O Maudgalya, they are born of karma alone, not from mother and father.
रन संस्वेदो न दौर्गन्ध्यं पुरीषं मूत्रमेव च। तेषां न च रजोवस्त्रं बाधते तत्रवै मुने
There is no sweat from exertion, nor foul odor, nor excrement or urine; and for them, O sage, even menstrual cloth does not trouble.
न म्लायन्ति स्रजस्तेषां दिव्यगन्धा मनोरमाः। समूह्यन्ते विमानैश्च ब्रह्मन्नेवंविधा हि ते
Their garlands do not wither, being divinely fragrant and delightful; and they are carried in celestial chariots, O Brahman, for such are they.
ईर्ष्याशोकक्लमापेता मोहमात्सर्यवर्जिताः। सुखं संर्गजितस्तत्रवर्तयन्ते महामुने
Freed from envy, sorrow, and fatigue, devoid of delusion and jealousy, they dwell there in happiness, O great sage.
तेषां तथाविधानां तु लोकानां मुनिपुङ्गव। उपर्युपरि शक्रस् लोका दिव्या गुणान्विताः
Above the worlds of such beings, O foremost of sages, are the divine realms of Indra, endowed with virtues.
परतो ब्रह्मणस्तस्य लोकस्तेजोमयः शुभः। यत्र यान्त्यृषयो ब्रह्मन्पूताः स्वैः कर्मभिः शुभैः
Beyond that is the radiant, auspicious world of Brahman, where purified seers go, O Brahman, by their own virtuous deeds.
ऋभवो नाम तत्रान्ये देवानामपि देवताः। तेषां लोकाः परतरे यान्यजन्तीह देवताः
There, others called the Ribhus, who are gods even among the gods, dwell; their worlds are still higher, which the deities here worship.
स्वयंप्रभास्ते भास्वन्तो लोकाः कामदुघाः परे। न तेषां स्त्रीकृतस्तापो न भोगैश्वर्यमत्सरः
Those worlds are self-luminous, shining, and wish-fulfilling, supreme; there is no suffering caused by women, nor pride in enjoyment or wealth.
न वर्तयन्त्याहुतिभिस्ते नाप्यमृतभोजनाः। तथा दिव्यशरीरास्ते न च विग्रहमूर्तयः
They do not maintain themselves by offerings, nor do they eat ambrosial food; their bodies are divine, and they are not forms of conflict.
नासुखाः सुखकामास्ते देवदेवाः सनातनाः। न कल्पपरिवर्तेषु परिवर्तन्ति ते तथा
Those godly gods, eternal, are not unhappy, being desirous of happiness; nor do they change with the cycles of time.
रजरा मृत्युः कुतस्तेषां हर्षः प्रीतिः सुखं न च। न दुःखं न सुखं चापि रागद्वेषौ कुतो मुने
For them, O sage, there is no passion, death, delight, affection, or happiness; neither sorrow nor joy, nor attachment or aversion.
देवानामपि मौद्गल्यकाङ्क्षिता सा गतिः परा। दुष्प्रापा परमा सिद्धिरगम्या कामगोचरैः
O Maudgalya, that supreme state is desired even by the gods; it is most difficult to attain, the highest perfection, inaccessible to those attached to desire.
त्रयस्त्रिंशदिमे लोकाः शेषा लोका मनीषिभिः। गम्यन्ते नियमैः श्रेष्ठैर्दानैर्वा विधिपूर्वकैः
These thirty-three worlds, and the remaining realms, O wise one, are reached by the best disciplines or by prescribed gifts.
सेयं दानकृता व्युष्टिरनुप्राप्ता सुखं त्वया। तां रभुङ्क्ष्व सुकृतैर्लब्धां तपसा द्योतितप्रभः
This prosperity, gained by giving, has come to you, bringing happiness; enjoy that, won by good deeds, O radiant one, shining with austerity.