परमात्मा परं ब्रह्म निर्गुणः प्रकृतेः परः
The supreme self, the highest Brahman, is without qualities and beyond nature.
इत्येवं कथितं सर्वं मया पृष्टं यथागमम्
Thus, everything you asked has been explained by me according to the tradition.
सावित्र्युवाच प्रश्नं यद्यत्करोमि त्वां तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति
Savitri said: Whatever question I ask you, you are worthy to answer it.
कां कां योनिं याति जीवः कर्मणा केन वा यम
To which womb does the soul go, by what action, or by what cause, O Yama?
केन वा कर्मणा मुक्तिः केन भक्तिर्भवेद्धरेः
By what action is there liberation, and by what is there devotion to Hari?
केन वा दीर्घजीवी च केनाल्पायुश्च कर्म्मणा
By what action does one become long-lived, and by what action does one have a short life?
अङ्गहीनश्च काणश्च बधिरः केन कर्म्मणा
By what action does one become without limbs, or blind, or deaf?
क्षिप्तोऽतिलुब्धकश्चैव केन वा नरघातकः 2.25.
By what action does one become mad, excessively greedy, or a killer of men?
केन वा ब्राह्मणत्वं च तपस्वित्वं च केन वा
By what is one a brāhmaṇa, and by what is one an ascetic?
गोलोकं केन वा ब्रह्मन्सर्वोत्कृष्टं निरामयम्
By what, O Brāhmaṇa, is Goloka the highest and free from all affliction?
को वा कं नरकं याति कियन्तं तेषु तिष्ठति
Who goes to which hell, and how long do they remain there?
यद्यदस्ति मया पृष्टं तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि
Whatever I have asked, you ought to explain that to me.
नारायण उवाच ।। सावित्रीवचनं श्रुत्वा जगाम विस्मयं यमः । प्रहस्य वक्तुमारेभे कर्मपाकं च जीविनाम्
Nārāyaṇa said: Hearing Sāvitrī’s words, Yama was amazed; smiling, he began to speak about the results of actions for living beings.
यम उवाच ज्ञानं ते पूर्वविदुषां योगिनां ज्ञानिनां परम्
Yama said: The knowledge of the wise of old, of yogis, and of the truly knowledgeable—
सावित्रीवरदानेन त्वं सावित्रीकला सति
By the boon granted to Sāvitrī, you are an aspect of Sāvitrī.
यथा श्रीः श्रीपतेः क्रोडे भवानी च भवोरसि
Just as Śrī is on the lap of Śrīpati, and Bhavānī is on the breast of Bhava,
धर्मोरसि यथा मूर्त्तिः शतरूपा मनौ यथा
Just as Dharma is on his chest, and Śatarūpā is with Manu,
अदितिः कश्यपे चापि यथाऽहल्या च गौतमे
Just as Aditi is with Kaśyapa, and Ahalyā is with Gautama,
यथा रतिः कामदेवे यथा स्वाहा हुताशने
Just as Rati is with Kāma, and Svāhā is with the Fire-god,
वरुणानी च वरुणे यज्ञे च दक्षिणा यथा
Just as Varuṇānī is with Varuṇa, and Dakṣiṇā is with the sacrifice,
सौभाग्या सुप्रिया त्वं च भव सत्यवति प्रिये वृणु देवि महाभागे सर्वं दास्यामि निश्चितम्
So you, O most fortunate and beloved Satyavatī, be blessed and choose, O goddess of great fortune, whatever you desire—I will surely grant it all.
सावित्र्युवाच भविष्यति महाभाग वरमेतन्मदीप्सितम् ।। 2.26.
Sāvitrī said: O greatly fortunate one, let this boon that I desire be fulfilled.
मत्पितुः पुत्रशतकं श्वशुरस्य च चक्षुषी
Let my father have a hundred sons, and let my father-in-law’s sight be restored.
अन्ते सत्यवता सार्द्धं यास्यामि हरिमन्दिरम्
In the end, together with Satyavat, I will go to the abode of Hari.
जीवकर्मविपाकं च श्रोतुं कौतूहलं च मे
I am eager to hear about the results of actions for living beings.
यम उवाच जीवकर्म्मविपाकं च कथयामि निशामय
Yama said: I will tell you about the results of actions for living beings—listen.
शुभानामशुभानां च कर्म्मणां जन्म भारते
In Bhārata, birth arises from both auspicious and inauspicious actions.
सुरा दैत्या दानवाश्च गन्धर्वा राक्षसादयः
The gods, demons, Dānavas, Gandharvas, Rākṣasas, and others—
विशिष्टजीविनः कर्म्म भुञ्जते सर्वयोनिषु
Beings of special merit experience the results of their actions in all forms of birth.
शुभाशुभं भुञ्जते च कर्म पूर्वार्जितं परम्
They enjoy or suffer the highest fruits of good and bad deeds performed previously.