दृष्टं केनेति प्रत्यक्षं प्रत्युक्त्यैवं वदन्ति ते दिवा रात्रौ प्रयत्नेन पापं कुर्वन्ति ये नराः
By whom has it been seen?—they say, 'by direct perception.' In this way, those men who commit sins by day and night with effort, speak.
नाचरन्ति हि ते धर्मं प्रमादेनापि मोहिताः इहैव फलभोक्तारः परत्र विमुखाश् च ये
Indeed, they do not practice righteousness, deluded even by negligence; such people are enjoyers of results only in this world and are turned away from the next.
ते पतन्ति सुघोरेषु नरकेषु नराधमाः दारुणो नरके वासः स्वर्गवासः सुखप्रदः नरैः संप्राप्यते तत्र कर्म कृत्वा शुभाशुभम्
Those worst among men fall into terrible hells; dwelling in hell is dreadful, while dwelling in heaven brings happiness. There, people attain accordingly, having performed good or evil deeds.
अहो ऽतिदुःखं घोरं च यममार्गे त्वयोदितम् नरकाणि च घोराणि द्वारं याम्यं च सत्तम
Alas, how extremely painful and terrible is the path of Yama you have described, and the dreadful hells, and the gate of Yama, O noble one.
अस्त्य् उपायो न वा ब्रह्मन् यममार्गे ऽतिभीषणे ब्रूहि येन नरा यान्ति सुखेन यमसादनम्
Is there a means or not, O Brahman, for that most fearsome path of Yama? Tell me by which men may reach Yama’s abode with ease.
इह ये धर्मसंयुक्तास् त्व् अहिंसानिरता नराः गुरुशुश्रूषणे युक्ता देवब्राह्मणपूजकाः
Those here who are devoted to righteousness, intent on nonviolence, engaged in serving their teachers, and worshippers of gods and Brahmins—
यस्मिन् मनुष्यलोकास् ते सभार्याः ससुतास् तथा तम् अध्वानं च गच्छन्ति यथा तत् कथयामि वः
Those men, together with their wives and sons, travel that path to the world of men; I will tell you how they go there.
विमानैर् विविधैर् दिव्यैः काञ्चनध्वजशोभितैः धर्मराजपुरं यान्ति सेवमानाप्सरोगणैः
They go to the city of Dharma’s Lord in various divine chariots adorned with golden banners, attended by groups of Apsarases.
ब्राह्मणेभ्यस् तु दानानि नानारूपाणि भक्तितः ये प्रयच्छन्ति ते यान्ति सुखेनैव महापथे
Those who give various kinds of gifts to Brahmins with devotion, they travel the great path with ease.
अन्नं ये तु प्रयच्छन्ति ब्राह्मणेभ्यः सुसंकृतम् श्रोत्रियेभ्यो विशेषेण भक्त्या परमया युताः
Those who give well-prepared food to Brahmins, especially to learned ones, endowed with supreme devotion—
तरुणीभिर् वरस्त्रीभिः सेव्यमानाः प्रयत्नतः धर्मराजपुरं यान्ति विमानैर् अभ्यलंकृतैः
Attended diligently by young and excellent women, they go to the city of Dharma’s Lord in splendid chariots.
ये च सत्यं प्रभाषन्ते बहिर् अन्तश् च निर्मलाः ते ऽपि यान्त्य् अमरप्रख्या विमानैर् यममन्दिरम्
Those who speak the truth, pure both outwardly and inwardly, they too, like immortals, go in chariots to the mansion of Yama.
गोदानानि पवित्राणि विष्णुम् उद्दिश्य साधुषु ये प्रयच्छन्ति धर्मज्ञाः कृशेषु कृशवृत्तिषु
Those who, knowing righteousness, give pure gifts of cows to the virtuous, dedicated to Viṣṇu, especially to the poor and those of meager means—
ते यान्ति दिव्यवर्णाभैर् विमानैर् मणिचित्रितैः धर्मराजपुरं श्रीमान् सेव्यमानाप्सरोगणैः
They go in chariots of divine hue, adorned with jewels, to the splendid city of Dharma’s Lord, attended by groups of Apsarases.
उपानद्युगलं छत्त्रं शय्यासनम् अथापि वा ये प्रयच्छन्ति वस्त्राणि तथैवाभरणानि च
Those who give pairs of shoes, umbrellas, beds, seats, garments, and ornaments—
ते यान्त्य् अश्वै रथैश् चैव कुञ्जरैश् चाप्य् अलंकृताः धर्मराजपुरं दिव्यं छत्त्रैः सौवर्णराजतैः
They go, adorned, in horses, chariots, and elephants, to the divine city of Dharma’s Lord, with umbrellas of gold and silver.
ये च भक्त्या प्रयच्छन्ति गुडपानकम् अर्चितम् ओदनं च द्विजाग्र्येभ्यो विशुद्धेनान्तरात्मना
Those who, with devotion and pure hearts, offer sweet drinks and honored rice to the foremost twice-born—
ते यान्ति काञ्चनैर् यानैर् विविधैस् तु यमालयम् वरस्त्रीभिर् यथाकामं सेव्यमानाः पुनः पुनः
They go to Yama’s abode in various golden vehicles, repeatedly attended as they wish by excellent women.
ये च क्षीरं प्रयच्छन्ति घृतं दधि गुडं मधु ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रयत्नेन शुद्ध्योपेतं सुसंस्कृतम्
Those who diligently offer milk, clarified butter, curds, jaggery, and honey—pure and well-prepared—to Brahmins,
चक्रवाकप्रयुक्तैश् च विमानैस् तु हिरण्मयैः यान्ति गन्धर्ववादित्रैः सेव्यमाना यमालयम्
travel in golden chariots adorned with chakravaka birds, attended by Gandharvas playing instruments, to the abode of Yama.
ये फलानि प्रयच्छन्ति पुष्पाणि सुरभीणि च हंसयुक्तैर् विमानैस् तु यान्ति धर्मपुरं नराः
Those who give fruits and fragrant flowers journey in chariots drawn by swans to the city of Dharma.
ये तिलांस् तिलधेनुं च घृतधेनुम् अथापि वा श्रोत्रियेभ्यः प्रयच्छन्ति विप्रेभ्यः श्रद्धयान्विताः
Those who offer sesame seeds, cows yielding sesame, cows yielding clarified butter, to learned Brahmins with faith,
सोममण्डलसंकाशैर् यानैस् ते यान्ति निर्मलैः गन्धर्वैर् उपगीयन्ते पुरे वैवस्वतस्य ते
travel in pure vehicles shining like the moon's orb, praised by Gandharvas, to the city of Vaivasvata.
येषां वाप्यश् च कूपाश् च तडागानि सरांसि च दीर्घिकाः पुष्करिण्यश् च शीतलाश् च जलाशयाः
Those whose ponds, wells, lakes, reservoirs, and lotus-filled cool water bodies exist,
यानैस् ते हेमचन्द्राभैर् दिव्यघण्टानिनादितैः व्यजनैस् तालवृन्तैश् च वीज्यमाना महाप्रभाः
travel in vehicles radiant as gold and moonlight, resounding with divine bells, fanned by palm-leaf fans, shining greatly.
येषां देवकुलान्य् अत्र चित्राण्य् आयतनानि च रत्नैः प्रस्फुरमाणानि मनोज्ञानि शुभानि च
Those whose temples and shrines here are splendid, adorned with gems, delightful and auspicious,
ते यान्ति लोकपालैस् तु विमानैर् वातरंहसैः धर्मराजपुरं दिव्यं नानाजनसमाकुलम्
travel with the guardians of the worlds in swift chariots to the divine city of Dharma, crowded with many people.
पानीयं ये प्रयच्छन्ति सर्वप्राण्युपजीवितम् ते वितृष्णाः सुखं यान्ति विमानैस् तं महापथम्
Those who give water, sustaining all living beings, go thirstless and happily along the great path in chariots.
काष्ठपादुकयानानि पीठकान्य् आसनानि च यैर् दत्तानि द्विजातिभ्यस् ते ऽध्वानं यान्ति वै सुखम्
Those who give wooden sandals, seats, and benches to twice-borns travel the journey comfortably.
सौवर्णमणिपीठेषु पादौ कृत्वोत्तमेषु च ते प्रयान्ति विमानैस् तु अप्सरोगणमण्डितैः
Placing their feet on golden and jeweled seats, they proceed in chariots surrounded by groups of Apsaras.