अग्नौ विपन्ना ये वीराः साधितं यैर् अनाशकम् ये स्वामिमित्रलोकार्थे गोग्रहे संकुले हताः
Heroes who perished in fire, those who accomplished the indestructible, those slain in tumultuous cattle raids for the sake of their lord, friend, or people—
ते विशन्ति नराः शूराः पश्चिमेन तपोधनाः पुर्यां तस्या महाघोरं सर्वसत्त्वभयंकरम्
Those brave men, rich in austerity, enter the city from the west, into that city, which is exceedingly terrifying and strikes fear into all beings.
हाहाकारसमाक्रुष्टं दक्षिणं द्वारम् ईदृशम् अन्धकारसमायुक्तं तीक्ष्णशृङ्गैः समन्वितम्
The southern gate was filled with wailing cries, enveloped in darkness, and set with sharp-pointed spikes.
कण्टकैर् वृश्चिकैः सर्पैर् वज्रकीटैः सुदुर्गमैः विलुम्पद्भिर् वृकैर् व्याघ्रैर् ऋक्षैः सिंहैः सजम्बुकैः
It was made impassable by thorns, scorpions, snakes, and diamond-bodied insects, and infested by wolves, tigers, bears, lions, and jackals who plundered all around.
श्वानमार्जारगृध्रैश् च सज्वालकवलैर् मुखैः प्रवेशस् तेन वै नित्यं सर्वेषाम् अपकारिणाम्
There, dogs, cats, and vultures with flaming mouths devoured flesh; through that entrance always pass all wrongdoers.
ये घातयन्ति विप्रान् गा बालं वृद्धं तथातुरम् शरणागतं विश्वस्तं स्त्रियं मित्रं निरायुधम्
Those who kill brahmins, cows, children, the elderly, the sick, those who slay the trusting, the surrendered, women, friends, or the unarmed—
ये ऽगम्यागामिनो मूढाः परद्रव्यापहारिणः निक्षेपस्यापहर्तारो विषवह्निप्रदाश् च ये
Those who go where they should not, the foolish, those who steal others’ property, those who take entrusted goods, and those who give poison or fire—
परभूमिं गृहं शय्यां वस्त्रालंकारहारिणः पररन्ध्रेषु ये क्रूरा ये सदानृतवादिनः
Those who steal another’s land, house, bed, clothing, or ornaments; those who are cruel in others’ affairs; those who always speak falsehood—
ग्रामराष्ट्रपुरस्थाने महादुःखप्रदा हि ये कूटसाक्षिप्रदातारः कन्याविक्रयकारकाः
Those who cause great suffering in villages, kingdoms, cities, or places; those who give false testimony; those who sell daughters—
अभक्ष्यभक्षणरता ये गच्छन्ति सुतां स्नुषाम् मातरं पितरं चैव ये वदन्ति च पौरुषम्
Those who delight in eating what should not be eaten; those who approach their own son, daughter-in-law, mother, or father; those who speak of sexual acts—
अन्ये ये चैव निर्दिष्टा महापातककारिणः दक्षिणेन तु ते सर्वे द्वारेण प्रविशन्ति वै
And others who are described as doers of great sins—all these enter by the southern gate.
कथं दक्षिणमार्गेण विशन्ति पापिनः पुरम् श्रोतुम् इच्छाम तद् ब्रूहि विस्तरेण तपोधन
How do the sinful enter the city by the southern path? I wish to hear this—tell it in detail, O possessor of austerity.
सुघोरं तन् महाघोरं द्वारं वक्ष्यामि भीषणम् नानाश्वापदसंकीर्णं शिवाशतनिनादितम्
I will describe that most terrible, dreadful gate, frightening, filled with various beasts, resounding with the cries of hundreds of Shivas.
फेत्काररवसंयुक्तम् अगम्यं लोमहर्षणम् भूतप्रेतपिशाचैश् च वृतं चान्यैश् च राक्षसैः
It is accompanied by the sound of howling, inaccessible, hair-raising, surrounded by ghosts, spirits, goblins, and other demons.
एवं दृष्ट्वा सुदूरान्ते द्वारं दुष्कृतकारिणः मोहं गच्छन्ति सहसा त्रासाद् विप्रलपन्ति च
Seeing such a gate at a great distance, the doers of evil deeds fall into delusion, and out of fear, they cry out incoherently.
ततस् ताञ् शृङ्खलैः पाशैर् बद्ध्वा कर्षन्ति निर्भयाः ताडयन्ति च दण्डैश् च भर्त्सयन्ति पुनः पुनः
Then, fearless beings bind them with chains and ropes, drag them, beat them with sticks, and threaten them again and again.
लब्धसंज्ञास् ततस् ते वै रुधिरेण परिप्लुताः व्रजन्ति दक्षिणं द्वारं प्रस्खलन्तः पदे पदे
When they regain consciousness, covered in blood, they proceed to the southern gate, stumbling at every step.
तीव्रकण्टकयुक्तेन शर्करानिचितेन च क्षुरधारानिभैस् तीक्ष्णैः पाषाणैर् निचितेन च
On a path strewn with sharp thorns, gravel, and stones as keen as razor blades, they go.
क्वचित् पङ्केन निचिता निरुत्तारैश् च खातकैः लोहसूचीनिभैर् दन्तैः संछन्नेन क्वचित् क्वचित्
In places covered with mud, with deep pits from which there is no escape, and in some places, concealed by iron needle-like teeth.
तटप्रपातविषमैः पर्वतैर् वृक्षसंकुलैः प्रतप्ताङ्गारयुक्तेन यान्ति मार्गेण दुःखिताः
On uneven banks and precipices, mountains crowded with trees, and paths filled with burning embers, the suffering ones proceed.
क्वचिद् विषमगर्ताभिः क्वचिल् लोष्टैः सुपिच्छलैः सुतप्तवालुकाभिश् च तथा तीक्ष्णैश् च शङ्कुभिः
In some places, with uneven pits; in others, with slippery clods; with intensely heated sand and sharp spikes as well.
अयःशृङ्गाटकैस् तप्तैः क्वचिद् दावाग्निना युतम् क्वचित् तप्तशिलाभिश् च क्वचिद् व्याप्तं हिमेन च
In some places, with heated iron spikes; in others, joined with wildfire; in some, with burning stones; in others, covered with snow.
क्वचिद् वालुकया व्याप्तम् आकण्ठान्तःप्रवेशया क्वचिद् दुष्टाम्बुना व्याप्तं क्वचित् कर्षाग्निना पुनः
In some places, covered with sand, entering up to the neck; in others, covered with foul water; in some, again, with scorching fire.
क्वचित् सिंहैर् वृकैर् व्याघ्रैर् दशकीटैश् च दारुणैः क्वचिन् महाजलौकाभिः क्वचिद् अजगरैः पुनः
In some places, with lions, wolves, tigers, and fierce biting insects; in others, with giant leeches; in some, again, with pythons.
मक्षिकाभिश् च रौद्राभिः क्वचित् सर्पविषोल्बणैः क्वचिद् दुष्टगजैश् चैव बलोन्मत्तैः प्रमाथिभिः
In some places, by fierce swarms of flies, in others by serpents swollen with venom, and elsewhere by enraged, maddened, destructive elephants.
पन्थानम् उल्लिखद्भिश् च तीक्ष्णशृङ्गैर् महावृषैः महाशृङ्गैश् च महिषैर् उष्ट्रैर् मत्तैश् च खादनैः
By great bulls with sharp horns blocking the path, by buffaloes with massive horns, and by crazed, biting camels.
डाकिनीभिश् च रौद्राभिर् विकरालैश् च राक्षसैः व्याधिभिश् च महारौद्रैः पीड्यमाना व्रजन्ति ते
By fierce ḍākinīs and terrifying rākṣasas, and afflicted by dreadful, violent diseases, they proceed onward.
महाधूलिविमिश्रेण महाचण्डेन वायुना महापाषाणवर्षेण हन्यमाना निराश्रयाः
Beaten by a mighty, furious wind mixed with thick dust, and by a storm of huge stones, they are left without shelter.
क्वचिद् विद्युन्निपातेन दीर्यमाणा व्रजन्ति ते महता बाणवर्षेण भिद्यमानाश् च सर्वशः
In some places, they are torn apart by falling lightning; everywhere, they are struck by a great shower of arrows.
पतद्भिर् वज्रनिर्घातैर् उल्कापातैः सुदारुणैः प्रदीप्ताङ्गारवर्षेण दह्यमाना विशन्ति च
Struck by falling thunderbolts and terribly fierce meteors, and burned by a rain of blazing coals, they enter onward.