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.
निरयं याति हिंसात्मा याति स्वर्गम् अहिंसकः यातनां निरये रौद्रां सकृच्छ्रां लभते नरः
The violent one goes to hell, the nonviolent attains heaven; in hell, a man receives fierce and painful torments.
यः कश्चिन् निरयात् तस्मात् समुत्तरति कर्हिचित् मानुष्यं लभते वापि हीनायुस् तत्र जायते
Whoever at some time rises from hell may obtain human birth, but is born there with a diminished lifespan.
पापेन कर्मणा देवि युक्तो हिंसादिभिर् यतः अहितः सर्वभूतानां हीनायुर् उपजायते
Through sinful action, O goddess, involving violence and the like, being harmful to all beings, one is born with a shortened life.
शुभेन कर्मणा देवि प्राणिघातविवर्जितः शुभेन कर्मणा देवि प्राणिघातविवर्जितः निक्षिप्तशस्त्रो निर्दण्डो न हिंसति कदाचन
Through virtuous action, O goddess, avoiding the killing of living beings, through virtuous action, O goddess, avoiding the killing of living beings, laying aside weapons, without a staff, he never harms anyone.
न घातयति नो हन्ति घ्नन्तं नैवानुमोदते सर्वभूतेषु सस्नेहो यथात्मनि तथा परे
He does not kill, nor strike, nor approve of killing; he is affectionate toward all beings, as toward himself and others.
ईदृशः पुरुषो नित्यं देवि देवत्वम् अश्नुते उपपन्नान् सुखान् भोगान् सदाश्नाति मुदा युतः
Such a person always attains divinity, O goddess, and enjoys appropriate pleasures and delights, ever filled with joy.
अथ चेन् मानुषे लोके कदाचिद् उपपद्यते एष दीर्घायुषां मार्गः सुवृत्तानां सुकर्मणाम् प्राणिहिंसाविमोक्षेण ब्रह्मणा समुदीरितः
If at any time he is born in the human world, this is the path of those with long life, of the well-behaved and virtuous, declared by Brahma as abstaining from violence to living beings.
किंशीलः किंसमाचारः पुरुषः कैश् च कर्मभिः स्वर्गं समभिपद्येत संप्रदानेन केन वा
What character, what conduct, and by what actions does a person attain heaven? Or by what act of giving?
दाता ब्राह्मणसत्कर्ता दीनार्तकृपणादिषु भक्षभोज्यान्नपानानां वाससां च महामतिः
He is a giver, one who honors Brahmins, and is compassionate toward the poor, the distressed, and others; he is wise regarding food, offerings, drinks, and clothing.
प्रतिश्रयान् सभाः कुर्यात् प्रपाः पुष्करिणीस् तथा नित्यकादीनि कर्माणि करोति प्रयतः शुचिः
He should make shelters and assembly halls, drinking places and ponds as well; he diligently performs daily and other prescribed acts with purity.