आस्ते पातालमूलस्थः शेषो ऽशेषसुरार्चितः तस्य वीर्यं प्रभावश् च स्वरूपं रूपम् एव च
Śeṣa dwells at the root of the netherworld, worshipped by all the gods; his power, might, true nature, and very form—
नहि वर्णयितुं शक्यं ज्ञातुं वा त्रिदशैर् अपि यस्यैषा सकला पृथ्वी फणामणिशिखारुणा
Cannot be described or known even by the gods; the whole earth, reddened by the crest-jewels on his hoods, is but a part of him.
आस्ते कुसुममालेव कस् तद्वीर्यं वदिष्यति यदा विजृम्भते ऽनन्तो मदाघूर्णितलोचनः
He rests as if garlanded with flowers—who can speak of his might? When Ananta stretches out, his eyes rolling with intoxication—
तदा चलति भूर् एषा साद्रितोयाधिकानना गन्धर्वाप्सरसः सिद्धाः किंनरोरगवारणाः
Then this earth, with its mountains, waters, and forests, trembles; Gandharvas, Apsarases, Siddhas, Kinnaras, serpents, and elephants—
नान्तं गुणानां गच्छन्ति ततो ऽनन्तो ऽयम् अव्ययः यस्य नागवधूहस्तैर् लापितं हरिचन्दनम्
Cannot reach the end of his qualities; thus he is called Ananta, the imperishable. The sandal paste applied by the hands of serpent maidens—
मुहुः श्वासानिलायस्तं याति दिक्पटवासताम् यम् आराध्य पुराणर्षिर् गर्गो ज्योतींषि तत्त्वतः
Is repeatedly dried by the wind of his breath, spreading in all directions. By worshipping him, the ancient sage Garga truly understood the stars.
ज्ञातवान् सकलं चैव निमित्तपठितं फलम् तेनेयं नागवर्येण शिरसा विधृता मही बिभर्ति सकलांल् लोकान् सदेवासुरमानुषान्
He knew all the results described by omens; by this best of serpents, the earth is upheld upon his head, supporting all the worlds with gods, asuras, and humans.
ततश् चानन्तरं विप्रा नरका रौरवादयः पापिनो येषु पात्यन्ते ताञ् शृणुध्वं द्विजोत्तमाः
Then, O Brāhmaṇas, come the hells, beginning with Raurava, into which the sinful are cast; listen to these, O best of twice-born.
रौरवः शौकरो रोधस् तानो विशसनस् तथा महाज्वालस् तप्तकुड्यो महालोभो विमोहनः
Raurava, Shukara, Rodha, Tana, Vishasana, Mahajvala, Taptakudya, Mahalobha, and Vimohana—
रुधिरान्धो वसातप्तः कृमीशः कृमिभोजनः असिपत्त्रवनं कृष्णो लालाभक्षश् च दारुणः
Rudhira-andha, Vasataptah, Krimisha, Krimibhojana, Asipattravana, Krishna, Lalabhaksha, and Daruna—
तथा पूयवहः पापो वह्निज्वालो ह्य् अधःशिराः सदंशः कृष्णसूत्रश् च तमश् चावीचिर् एव च
Likewise, Puyavaha, Papa, Vahnijvala, Adhahshira, Sadamsha, Krishnasutra, Tamas, and Avichi—
श्वभोजनो ऽथाप्रतिष्ठोमआवीचिश् च तथापरः इत्य् एवमादयश् चान्ये नरका भृशदारुणाः
Shvabhojana, Apratishtha, Avichi, and others as well—these and more are the exceedingly terrible hells.
यमस्य विषये घोराः शस्त्राग्निविषदर्शिनः पतन्ति येषु पुरुषाः पापकर्मरताश् च ये
In the realm of Yama, dreadful and filled with weapons, fire, and venom, those people fall who delight in evil deeds.
कूटसाक्षी तथा सम्यक् पक्षपातेन यो वदेत् यश् चान्यद् अनृतं वक्ति स नरो याति रौरवम्
He who gives false testimony, or speaks with partiality, or utters another kind of falsehood—such a man goes to Raurava.
भ्रूणहा पुरहन्ता च गोघ्नश् च मुनिसत्तमाः यान्ति ते रौरवं घोरं यश् चोच्छ्वासनिरोधकः
He who kills a fetus, destroys a city, kills a cow, or obstructs another’s breath, O best of sages, they go to the terrible Raurava.
सुरापो ब्रह्महा हर्ता सुवर्णस्य च शूकरे प्रयाति नरके यश् च तैः संसर्गम् उपैति वै
A drinker of liquor, a Brahmin-killer, a thief, one who steals gold, or associates with such—these go to the hell named Shukara.
राजन्यवैश्यहा चैव तथैव गुरुतल्पगः तप्तकुम्भे स्वसृगामी हन्ति राजभटं च यः
He who kills a Kshatriya or Vaishya, violates his teacher’s bed, has intercourse with his sister, or kills a royal servant—such a one falls into the heated cauldron.
माध्वीविक्रयकृन् वध्यपालः केसरविक्रयी तप्तलोहे पतन्त्य् एते यश् च भक्तं परित्यजेत्
One who sells honey, guards the condemned, sells lion’s hair, or abandons food—these fall into molten metal.
सुतां स्नुषां चापि गत्वा महाज्वाले निपात्यते अवमन्ता गुरूणां यो यश् चाक्रोष्टा नराधमः
He who approaches his daughter or daughter-in-law is cast into Mahajvala; one who insults teachers or abuses others, O worst of men, meets the same fate.
वेददूषयिता यश् च वेदविक्रयकश् च यः अगम्यगामी यश् च स्यात् ते यान्ति शबलं द्विजाः
He who corrupts the Veda, sells the Veda, or goes to forbidden women—these, O twice-born, go to Shabala.
चौरो विमोहे पतति मर्यादादूषकस् तथा देवद्विजपितृद्वेष्टा रत्नदूषयिता च यः
A thief falls into Vimoha; one who violates boundaries, hates gods, Brahmins, or ancestors, or corrupts gems—
स याति कृमिभक्ष्ये वै कृमीशे तु दुरिष्टिकृत् पितृदेवातिथीन् यस् तु पर्यश्नाति नराधमः
He goes to Krimibhaksha; but one who commits grave sins, or eats before offering to ancestors, gods, or guests, O worst of men—
लालाभक्ष्ये स यात्य् उग्रे शरकर्ता च वेधके करोति कर्णिनो यश् च यश् च खड्गादिकृन् नरः
He goes to Lalabhaksha; one who wounds with arrows, pierces, mutilates ears, or wields a sword—
प्रयान्त्य् एते विशसने नरके भृशदारुणे असत्प्रतिग्रहीता च नरके यात्य् अधोमुखे
All these go to Vishasana, the exceedingly dreadful hell; and one who accepts improper gifts goes to the hell with his head downward.
अयाज्ययाजकस् तत्र तथा नक्षत्रसूचकः कृमिपूये नरश् चैको याति मिष्टान्नभुक् सदा
He who performs sacrifices for the unworthy, or predicts omens from stars, or always eats fine food—such a man goes alone to the hell of worms and pus.
लाक्षामांसरसानां च तिलानां लवणस्य च विक्रेता ब्राह्मणो याति तम् एव नरकं द्विजाः
A Brahmin who sells lac, meat, juices, sesame, or salt, O twice-born, goes to that very hell.
मार्जारकुक्कुटच्छागश्ववराहविहंगमान् पोषयन् नरकं याति तम् एव द्विजसत्तमाः
He who maintains cats, cocks, goats, horses, boars, or birds, O best of twice-born, goes to hell.
रङ्गोपजीवी कैवर्तः कुण्डाशी गरदस् तथा सूची माहिषिकश् चैव पर्वगामी च यो द्विजः
A gambler, a fisherman, one who eats from a pit, a poisoner, a needle-maker, a buffalo-keeper, and a twice-born who travels on festival days—
अगारदाही मित्रघ्नः शकुनिग्रामयाजकः रुधिरान्धे पतन्त्य् एते सोमं विक्रीणते च ये
An arsonist, a friend-slayer, a bird-catcher, a village priest, those blinded by blood, and those who sell Soma—all these fall.
मधुहा ग्रामहन्ता च याति वैतरणीं नरः रेतःपानादिकर्तारो मर्यादाभेदिनश् च ये
A honey-thief, a village-destroyer, one who drinks semen, and those who break boundaries—all these men go to the Vaitarani river.