प्रज्वलंतमिवादित्यं तपसा द्योतितान्तरम्
He appeared blazing like the sun, his inner being radiant with austerity.
यमादर्शननामैतद्व्रतं जन्तुभयापहम्
This vow is called 'The Vision of Yama,' which removes the fear of creatures.
पश्यामि दंडपुरुषैर्मद्देहात्प्रज्वलन्निव
I saw men with staffs, as if blazing, dragging me from my body.
अंगुष्ठमात्रः पुरुषो बलदाकृष्य रोषितः
A man the size of a thumb, seized violently and enraged—
क्षणात्सभायां पश्यामि यमं पिंगललोचनम्
In a moment, I saw in the assembly Yama, with tawny eyes.
वातपित्तमहाश्लेष्मैर्मूर्तिमद्भिरुपासितम्
He was attended by forms embodying wind, bile, and great phlegm.
ज्वरगर्दभशीर्षादिभगंदरमलक्षयैः
With fevers, donkey-headed beings, and those marked by swelling of the belly and other deformities.
वेदनाभिः प्रमेहैश्च पिटकैर्गंडबुद्बुदैः 4.89.
With pains, urinary disorders, boils, swellings, and blisters.
इत्थं बहुविधै रौद्रैर्नानारूपभयंकरैः
Thus, with many kinds of fierce, terrifying beings of various forms—
राक्षसैर्दानवैरुग्रैरुपविष्टैः पुरःस्थितैः
With rakṣasas, fierce dānavas, seated and standing before him—
सिंहैर्व्याघ्रैर्वराहैश्च तरक्षैश्चानुजंतुकैः
With lions, tigers, boars, hyenas, and jackals—
गृध्रैरुलूकैर्बहुभिर्मत्कुणैर्डाकिनीग्रहैः
With vultures, owls, many insects, and witches possessing magical powers—
पिशाचैर्यक्षकूष्मांडैः पाशखड्गधनुर्द्धरैः
By flesh-eating spirits, yakṣas, and kūṣmāṇḍas, armed with nooses, swords, and bows,
बृहत्कायैर्नारकीयैः पापिष्ठानां नियामकैः
With large-bodied, hellish beings, controllers of the most sinful,
असिभंगामिषच्छेदरुधिरस्रावकादिभिः
With broken swords, torn flesh, and streams of blood and the like,
स आह किंकरान्सर्वान्धर्मराजो जनार्दन
Then Dharmarāja Janārdana addressed all the attendants,
मुद्गलो नाम कौडिन्ये नगरे भीष्मकात्मजः
There was one named Mudgala, son of Bhīṣmaka, in the city of Kauḍinya,
इत्युक्तास्ते गतास्तस्मादायाताः पुनरेव ते 4.89.
Thus addressed, they departed from there and then returned again.
अस्माभिस्तत्र क्षीणायुर्न देही लक्षितो गतैः
By us, when we went there, the embodied one, whose merits were exhausted, was not seen.
कृता त्रयोदशी यैस्तु नरकार्तिविनाशिनी
By whom the Trayodaśī, which destroys the pain of hell, has been performed,
उज्जयिन्यां प्रयागे वा भैरवे वाथ ये मृताः
Those who have died at Ujjayinī, Prayāga, or at Bhairava,
किं तत्र वद कर्तव्यं पुरुषैस्तव तुष्टिदम्
What, then, should be done there by men to please you? Tell me.
त्रयोदश्यां सौम्यदिने सूर्यांगारकवर्जितः
On the Trayodaśī, on an auspicious day, avoiding the Sun and Mars,
मम नाम्ना द्विजानष्टौ पंच चैव समाह्वयेत्
One should summon eight Brāhmaṇas in my name, and five as well.
अंतर्वासोवृतान्भक्तान्सौपदिष्टदिगुन्मुखान्
Devotees, covered with upper garments, facing the prescribed directions,
स्नापयेद्गन्धकाषायैः सुखोष्णांबुभिरेव च
He should bathe them with fragrant decoctions and pleasantly warm water.
शुचिर्भूत्वा तथाचांतो व्रती भक्तिपरायणः 4.89.
Having become pure, calm, observant of vows, and devoted to worship,
प्राङ्मुखानुपविष्टांश्च त्रयोदश पृथक्पृथक्
He should seat the thirteen, each separately, facing east.
सुव्यञ्जनं सुपक्वान्नं भूयोभूयो निवेदयेत्
He should offer repeatedly well-cooked food, properly seasoned.
प्रस्थमात्रैरथैकैकं ताम्रपात्रसमन्वितैः
Each one with a measure of a prastha, served in copper vessels.