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.
कर्म्मणा चाशुभेनैव भ्रमन्ति नरकेषु च
Through evil actions alone, they wander in the realms of hell.
निर्वाणरूपा सेवा च कृष्णस्य परमात्मनः 2.26.
Service to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Self, is of the nature of liberation.
दीर्घजीवी च क्षीणायुः सुखी दुःखी च निश्चितम्
One is certainly long-lived or short-lived, happy or unhappy.
सिद्ध्यादिकमवाप्नोति सर्वोत्कृष्टेन कर्म्मणा
By the most excellent actions, one attains success and other achievements.
सुदुर्लभं सुभोग्यं च पुराणेषु श्रुतिष्वपि
That which is extremely rare and most enjoyable is spoken of in the Purāṇas and the Vedas.
दुर्लभा मानवी जातिः सर्वजातिषु भारते
Among all births in Bhārata, a human birth is difficult to obtain.
विष्णुभक्तो द्विजश्चैव गरीयान्भारते ततः
Therefore, in Bhārata, a twice-born devotee of Viṣṇu is the most exalted.
सकामश्च प्रधानश्च निष्कामो भक्त एव च
Whether desiring, prominent, or free from desire, only the devotee—
स याति देहं त्यक्ता च पदं विष्णोर्निरामयम्
Upon leaving the body, he attains Viṣṇu’s flawless abode.
ये सेवन्ते च द्विभुजं कृष्णमात्मानमीश्वरम्
Those who serve Kṛṣṇa, the two-armed Lord, the Self, the Lord—