अपरः केशवस्यायं प्रादुर्भावो महात्मनः विख्यातो माथुरे कल्पे सर्वलोकहिताय वै
Another manifestation of the great soul Keśava is renowned in the Māthura era, truly for the welfare of all worlds.
यत्र शाल्वं च चैद्यं च कंसं द्विविदम् एव च अरिष्टं वृषभं केशिं पूतनां दैत्यदारिकाम्
There he slew Śālva, the Caidya, Kaṃsa, Dvivida, Ariṣṭa, Vṛṣabha, Keśin, Pūtanā the demoness—
नागं कुवलयापीडं चाणूरं मुष्टिकं तथा दैत्यान् मानुषदेहेन सूदयाम् आस वीर्यवान्
The heroic one destroyed, in human form, the demon Kuvalayāpīḍa the elephant, Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, and other demons.
छिन्नं बाहुसहस्रं च बाणस्याद्भुतकर्मणः नरकश् च हतः संख्ये यवनश् च महाबलः
The thousand arms of Bāṇa, performer of wondrous deeds, were severed; Naraka was slain in battle, as was the mighty Yavana.
हृतानि च महीपानां सर्वरत्नानि तेजसा दुराचाराश् च निहिताः पार्थिवा ये महीतले
By his splendor, all the jewels of the earth's kings were taken; and those unrighteous rulers upon the earth were subdued.
एष लोकहितार्थाय प्रादुर्भावो महात्मनः कल्की विष्णुयशा नाम शम्भलग्रामसंभवः
For the sake of the world's welfare, the great soul will manifest as Kalki, famed as Viṣṇuyaśas, born in the village of Śambhala.
सर्वलोकहितार्थाय भूयो देवो महायशाः एते चान्ये च बहवो दिव्या देवगणैर् वृताः
Again, for the welfare of all worlds, the illustrious god will appear; and many other divine manifestations, accompanied by hosts of gods.
प्रादुर्भावाः पुराणेषु गीयन्ते ब्रह्मवादिभिः यत्र देवा विमुह्यन्ति प्रादुर्भावानुकीर्तने
These manifestations are sung in the Purāṇas by those who know Brahman, where even the gods are bewildered in recounting the incarnations.
पुराणं वर्तते यत्र वेदश्रुतिसमाहितम् एतद् उद्देशमात्रेण प्रादुर्भावानुकीर्तनम्
Where the Purāṇa is present, imbued with the essence of Vedic revelation, even the mere mention of these manifestations is recited.
कीर्तितं कीर्तनीयस्य सर्वलोकगुरोर् विभोः प्रीयन्ते पितरस् तस्य प्रादुर्भावानुकीर्तनात्
The recounting of the manifestations of the all-pervading, venerable teacher of all worlds is praised; by this, the ancestors are pleased.
विष्णोर् अमितवीर्यस्य यः शृणोति कृताञ्जलिः
He who listens, with hands joined in reverence, to the account of Vishnu's boundless might—
एताश् च योगेश्वरयोगमायाः श्रुत्वा नरो मुच्यति सर्वपापैः ऋद्धिं समृद्धिं विपुलांश् च भोगान् प्राप्नोति शीघ्रं भगवत्प्रसादात्
And who hears these manifestations of the Lord of Yoga and his wondrous powers, is freed from all sins; he swiftly attains prosperity, abundance, and great enjoyments by the grace of the Blessed One.
एवं मया मुनिश्रेष्ठा विष्णोर् अमिततेजसः सर्वपापहराः पुण्याः प्रादुर्भावाः प्रकीर्तिताः
Thus, O foremost of sages, I have described the auspicious manifestations of Vishnu, whose brilliance is immeasurable and which remove all sins.
न तृप्तिम् अधिगच्छामः पुण्यधर्मामृतस्य च मुने त्वन्मुखगीतस्य तथा कौतूहलं हि नः
O sage, we do not attain satisfaction from the nectar of virtuous dharma, nor from the songs spoken by your mouth; indeed, our curiosity remains.
उत्पत्तिं प्रलयं चैव भूतानां कर्मणो गतिम् वेत्सि सर्वं मुने तेन पृच्छामस् त्वां महामतिम्
You know, O sage, the origin and dissolution of beings, the course of their actions; therefore, O wise one, we ask you everything.
श्रूयते यमलोकस्य मार्गः परमदुर्गमः दुःखक्लेशकरः शश्वत् सर्वभूतभयावहः
It is heard that the path to the realm of Yama is extremely difficult, causing suffering and pain, eternally bringing fear to all creatures.
कथं तेन नरा यान्ति मार्गेण यमसादनम् प्रमाणं चैव मार्गस्य ब्रूहि नो वदतां वर
How do men travel by that path to the abode of Yama? Tell us, O best of speakers, the measure and nature of that path.
मुने पृच्छाम सर्वज्ञ ब्रूहि सर्वम् अशेषतः कथं नरकदुःखानि नाप्नुवन्ति नरान् मुने
O sage, we ask you, all-knowing one, tell us everything in full: how do men avoid the sufferings of hell?
केनोपायेन दानेन धर्मेण नियमेन च मानुषस्य च याम्यस्य लोकस्य कियद् अन्तरम्
By what means, by what gift, by what dharma or discipline, and what is the distance between the human world and the realm of Yama?
कथं च स्वर्गतिं यान्ति नरकं केन कर्मणा स्वर्गस्थानानि कियन्ति कियन्ति नरकाणि च
How do men attain heaven, and by what action do they go to hell? How many places are there in heaven, and how many hells?
कथं सुकृतिनो यान्ति कथं दुष्कृतकारिणः किं रूपं किं प्रमाणं वा को वर्णस् तूभयोर् अपि जीवस्य नीयमानस्य यमलोकं ब्रवीहि नः
How do the virtuous go, and how do the wicked act? What is their form, what is their measure, and what is the color of the soul led to the realm of Yama? Tell us.
शृणुध्वं मुनिशार्दूला वदतो मम सुव्रताः संसारचक्रम् अजरं स्थितिर् यस्य न विद्यते
Hear, O tiger among sages, as I speak, O steadfast ones: the wheel of existence is ageless, and its state is never fixed.
सो ऽहं वदामि वः सर्वं यममार्गस्य निर्णयम् उत्क्रान्तिकालाद् आरभ्य यथा नान्यो वदिष्यति
I shall tell you all the determination of the path to Yama, beginning from the moment of departure, as no other will speak.
स्वरूपं चैव मार्गस्य यन् मां पृच्छथ सत्तमाः यमलोकस्य चाध्वानम् अन्तरं मानुषस्य च
I shall describe the nature of the path, which you ask me, O noble ones, and the journey to the realm of Yama, as well as the distance from the human world.
योजनानां सहस्राणि षडशीतिस् तद् अन्तरम् तप्तताम्रम् इवातप्तं तद् अध्वानम् उदाहृतम्
The distance is eighty-six thousand yojanas; that route is described as burning hot, like heated copper.
तद् अवश्यं हि गन्तव्यं प्राणिभिर् जीवसंज्ञकैः पुण्यान् पुण्यकृतो यान्ति पापान् पापकृतो ऽधमाः
All beings possessing the sign of life must certainly traverse it; the virtuous go to auspicious realms, the wicked to lower ones.
द्वाविंशतिश् च नरका यमस्य विषये स्थिताः येषु दुष्कृतकर्माणो विपच्यन्ते पृथक् पृथक्
There are twenty-two hells established in the domain of Yama, in which those who perform evil deeds are cooked separately.
नरको रौरवो रौद्रः शूकरस् ताल एव च कुम्भीपाको महाघोरः शाल्मलो ऽथ विमोहनः
The hells are: Raurava, Raudra, Shukara, Tala, Kumbhipaka, the most terrible, Shalmali, and Vimohana.
कीटादः कृमिभक्षश् च नालाभक्षो भ्रमस् तथा नद्यः पूयवहाश् चान्या रुधिराम्भस् तथैव च
There are those who eat insects, those who feed on worms, those who consume filth, and others who wander; there are rivers carrying pus, and others of blood and water as well.
अग्निज्वालो महाघोरः संदंशः शुनभोजनः घोरा वैतरणी चैव असिपत्त्रवनं तथा
There is a blazing, terrible fire; biting iron pincers; food of dogs; the dreadful river Vaitarani; and the forest of sword-leaves.