श्लक्ष्णां वाणीं स्वच्छवर्णां मधुरां पापवर्जिताम् स्वगतेनाभिभाषन्ते ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who speak gentle words, clear in meaning, sweet, and free from sin, in their own voice—these people are destined for heaven.
परुषं ये न भाषन्ते कटुकं निष्ठुरं तथा न पैशुन्यरताः सन्तस् ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who do not speak harsh, bitter, or cruel words, who are not devoted to slander—these people are destined for heaven.
पिशुनं न प्रभाषन्ते मित्रभेदकरं तथा परपीडाकरं चैव ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
They do not speak slander, nor words that cause division among friends, nor words that bring harm to others—such people are destined for heaven.
ये वर्जयन्ति परुषं परद्रोहं च मानवाः सर्वभूतसमा दान्तास् ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those humans who avoid harsh speech and harming others, who are self-controlled and regard all beings equally—such people are destined for heaven.
शठप्रलापाद् विरता विरुद्धपरिवर्जकाः सौम्यप्रलापिनो नित्यं ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who refrain from deceitful talk, who avoid opposing others, and who always speak gentle words—such people are destined for heaven.
न कोपाद् व्याहरन्ते ये वाचं हृदयदारिणीम् शान्तिं विन्दन्ति ये क्रुद्धास् ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who do not utter words that wound the heart out of anger, and those who, even when angry, find peace—such people are destined for heaven.
एष वाणीकृतो देवि धर्मः सेव्यः सदा नरैः शुभसत्यगुणैर् नित्यं वर्जनीया मृषा बुधैः
O Devi, this is the dharma concerning speech, always to be observed by people; those who possess good and truthful qualities should always avoid falsehood.
मनसा बध्यते येन कर्मणा पुरुषः सदा तन् मे ब्रूहि महाभाग देवदेव पिनाकधृक्
O greatly fortunate one, O god of gods, bearer of the Pināka bow, tell me: by what action is a person always bound in mind?
मानसेनेह धर्मेण संयुक्ताः पुरुषाः सदा स्वर्गं गच्छन्ति कल्याणि तन् मे कीर्तयतः शृणु
O auspicious one, those people who are always joined with righteousness in mind attain heaven; hear this as I declare it to you.
दुष्प्रणीतेन मनसा दुष्प्रणीतान्तराकृतिः नरो बध्येत येनेह शृणु वा तं शुभानने
O beautiful-faced one, listen: by what wrongful intention or inner disposition a person is bound here, or by what means—hear that from me.
अरण्ये विजने न्यस्तं परस्वं दृश्यते यदा मनसापि न गृह्णन्ति ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
When, even upon seeing another's wealth left alone in a deserted forest, they do not take it even in thought—such people are destined for heaven.
तथैव परदारान् ये कामवृत्ता रहोगताः मनसापि न हिंसन्ति ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Likewise, those who, though driven by desire and in solitude, do not harm another's spouse even in thought—such people are destined for heaven.
शत्रुं मित्रं च ये नित्यं तुल्येन मनसा नराः भजन्ति मैत्र्यं संगम्य ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who always approach both enemy and friend with an equal mind, and join with others in friendship—such people are destined for heaven.
श्रुतवन्तो दयावन्तः शुचयः सत्यसंगराः स्वैर् अर्थैः परिसंतुष्टास् ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who are learned, compassionate, pure, steadfast in truth, and content with their own means—such people are destined for heaven.
अवैरा ये त्व् अनायासा मैत्रचित्तरताः सदा सर्वभूतदयावन्तस् ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who are free from enmity, free from effort (in harming others), always intent on friendly thoughts, and compassionate to all beings—such people are destined for heaven.
ज्ञातवन्तः क्रियावन्तः क्षमावन्तः सुहृत्प्रियाः धर्माधर्मविदो नित्यं ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who possess knowledge, action, patience, and are dear to friends, who always know righteousness and unrighteousness—such people are destined for heaven.
शुभानाम् अशुभानां च कर्मणां फलसंचये निराकाङ्क्षाश् च ये देवि ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who, O Devi, are without desire for the results of good or bad actions—such people are destined for heaven.
पापोपेतान् वर्जयन्ति देवद्विजपराः सदा समुत्थानम् अनुप्राप्तास् ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those who always avoid the wicked, who are devoted to gods and twice-born ones, and who have attained diligence—such people are destined for heaven.
शुभैः कर्मफलैर् देवि मयैते परिकीर्तिताः स्वर्गमार्गपरा भूयः किं त्वं श्रोतुम् इहेच्छसि
O Devi, by these virtuous results of actions I have described those devoted to the path of heaven; what more do you wish to hear here?
महान् मे संशयः कश्चिन् मर्त्यान् प्रति महेश्वर तस्मात् त्वं निपुणेनाद्य मम व्याख्यातुम् अर्हसि
O great Lord, I have a great doubt concerning mortals; therefore, today you should explain it to me thoroughly.
केनायुर् लभते दीर्घं कर्मणा पुरुषः प्रभो तपसा वापि देवेश केनायुर् लभते महत्
By what action does a person, O Lord, obtain long life? Or by what austerity, O Lord of gods, does one gain a great lifespan?
क्षीणायुः केन भवति कर्मणा भुवि मानवः विपाकं कर्मणां देव वक्तुम् अर्हस्य् अनिन्दित
By what deed does a person’s lifespan diminish upon earth, O faultless one? You ought to declare, O god, the result of actions.
अपरे च महाभाग्या मन्दभाग्यास् तथा परे अकुलीनाः कुलीनाश् च संभवन्ति तथा परे
Some are greatly fortunate, others are of little fortune; some are of noble lineage, others are not—such differences also occur.
दुर्दर्शाः केचिद् आभान्ति नराः काष्ठमया इव प्रियदर्शास् तथा चान्ये दर्शनाद् एव मानवाः
Some men appear hard to look upon, like figures made of wood; others are pleasing to the eye, and some are attractive merely by their presence.
दुष्प्रज्ञाः केचिद् आभान्ति केचिद् आभान्ति पण्डिताः महाप्रज्ञास् तथा चान्ये ज्ञानविज्ञानभाविनः
Some appear dull-witted, others learned; some possess great wisdom, and others are endowed with knowledge and discernment.
अल्पवाचास् तथा केचिन् महावाचास् तथा परे दृश्यन्ते पुरुषा देव ततो व्याख्यातुम् अर्हसि
Some are of few words, others are eloquent; such men are seen, O god, so you ought to explain the reason.
हन्त ते ऽहं प्रवक्ष्यामि देवि कर्मफलोदयम् मर्त्यलोके नरः सर्वो येन स्वं फलम् अश्नुते
Now, I shall declare to you, O goddess, the arising of the fruits of actions, by which every man in the mortal world receives his own result.
प्राणातिपाती योगीन्द्रो दण्डहस्तो नरः सदा नित्यम् उद्यतशस्त्रश् च हन्ति भूतगणान् नरः
A man who is a slayer of living beings, a master of yogis, always bearing a staff, ever ready with weapon in hand, kills groups of creatures.
निर्दयः सर्वभूतेभ्यो नित्यम् उद्वेगकारकः अपि कीटपतंगानाम् अशरण्यः सुनिर्घृणः
He is merciless toward all beings, always causing distress; even to insects and flying creatures, he is utterly pitiless and offers no refuge.
एवंभूतो नरो देवि निरयं प्रतिपद्यते विपरीतस् तु धर्मात्मा स्वरूपेणाभिजायते
Such a man, O goddess, attains hell; but the opposite, the righteous one, is born in his true form.