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.
एतत्स्वर्गसुखं विप्र लोका नानाविधास्तथा। गुणाः स्वर्गस्य प्रोक्तास्ते दोषानपि निबोध मे
This is the happiness of heaven, O Brahmin, and likewise the various worlds; the virtues of heaven have been described—now hear its faults from me.
कृस्य कर्मणस्तत्रभुज्यते यत्फलं दिवि। न चान्त्क्रियते कर्म मूलच्छेदेन भुज्यते
There, the fruit of action is enjoyed in heaven, but the action is not ended at the root—it is only experienced.
सोऽत्रदोषो मम मतस्तस्यान्ते पतनं च यत्। सुखव्याप्तमनस्कानां पतनं यच्च मुद्गल
Therefore, in my view, that is a fault, and at its end there is a fall; and for those whose minds are filled with happiness, O Mudgala, there is also a fall.
असंतोषः परीतापो दृष्ट्वा दीप्ततराः श्रियः। यद्भवत्यवरे स्थाने स्थितानां तत्सुदुष्करम्
Dissatisfaction and distress arise when one sees brighter prosperity; for those who remain in a lower place, that is very difficult to bear.
संज्ञामोहश्चपततां रजसा च प्रधर्षणम्। प्रम्लानेषु च माल्येषु ततः पिपतिषोर्भयम्
Confusion of awareness, the arrogance of those who fall, agitation from passion, and fear when garlands wither and one is about to descend—these arise.
आब्रह्मभवनादेते दोषा मौद्गल्य दारुणाः। नाकलोकेसुकृतिनां गुणास्त्वयुतशो नृणाम्
O Maudgalya, these terrible faults extend even up to Brahma’s abode; but in the heavenly worlds, the virtues of the righteous are present among people by the tens of thousands.
अयं त्वन्यो गुणः श्रेष्ठश्च्युतानां स्वर्गतो मुने। शुभानुशययोगेन मनुष्येषूपजायते
Yet, O sage, there is another supreme virtue for those who have fallen from heaven: through the power of auspicious impressions, it arises among humans.
तत्रापि स महाभागः कुले महति जायते। न चेत्संबुध्यते तत्रगच्छत्यधमतां ततः
There too, O greatly fortunate one, he is born into a noble family; but if he does not awaken there, he then falls to a lower state.
इह यत्क्रियते कर्म तत्परत्रोपभुज्यते। कर्मभूमिरियं ब्रह्मन्फलभूमिरसौ मता
Whatever action is performed here is enjoyed as its result elsewhere; this world, O Brahman, is the field of action, while that is considered the field of result.
महान्तस्तु अमी दोपास्त्वया स्वर्गस्य कीर्तिताः। निर्दोष एव यस्त्यन्यो लोकं तं प्रवदस्व मे
These, as you have described, are the great faults of heaven; if there is any other world free from fault, tell me of it.