कुण्डानि च न पश्यन्ति तत्र नैव पतंति च
They do not see the pits there, nor do they fall into them.
किमाकाराणि कुण्डानि कानि तेषां मतानि च
What are the forms of these pits, and what are the opinions about them?
स्वदेहे भस्मसाद्भूते यांति लोकान्तरं नराः
When their own bodies have been reduced to ashes, people go to other worlds.
सुचिरं क्लेशभोगेन कथं देहो न नश्यति
Through long experience of suffering, how does the body not perish?
नारायण उवाच कथां कथितुमारेभे गुरुं नत्वा च नारद
Nārāyaṇa said: Having bowed to the teacher, O Nārada, he began to narrate the story.
यम उवाच पुराणेष्वितिहासेषु पाञ्चरात्रादिकेषु च
Yama said: In the Purāṇas, in the ancient histories, and in the texts like the Pāñcarātra,
अन्येषु सर्वशास्त्रेषु वेदांगेषु च सुव्रते 2.32.
And in all other scriptures, in the limbs of the Veda as well, O virtuous one,
जन्ममृत्युजरारोगशोकसन्तापतारणम्
The means to cross over birth, death, old age, disease, grief, and suffering,
कारणं सर्वसिद्धीनां नरकार्णवतारणम्
The cause of all accomplishments, and the means to cross the ocean of hell,
गोलोकमार्गसोपानमविनाशिपदप्रदम्
The stairway to the path of Goloka, granting the imperishable state,
कुण्डानि यमदूतं च यमं च यमकिङ्करान्
The pits, the messengers of Yama, Yama himself, and the servants of Yama—
हरिव्रतं ये कुर्वंति गृहिणः कर्मभोगिनः
Those householders who observe the vow of Hari while engaged in worldly actions,
प्रणमंति हरिं नित्यं हर्य्यर्चां पूजयन्ति च
Who bow to Hari daily and worship the image of Hari,
त्रिसन्ध्यपूता विप्राश्च शुद्धाचारसमन्विताः
The twice-born who are purified at the three junctions of the day and endowed with pure conduct,
ते स्वर्गभोगिनोऽन्ये च शुद्धा देवान्यकिंकराः निवृत्तिं न हि लिप्सन्ति कृष्णसेवां विना नराः
They, and others who enjoy heavenly pleasures, and pure divine attendants, do not seek liberation except through service to Krishna.
स्वधर्म्मनिरताश्चापि स्वधर्मविरतास्तथा
Those devoted to their own duty, as well as those who are not devoted to their own duty,
भीताः कृष्णोपासकाच्च वैनतेयादिवोरगाः 2.32.
Terrified by the devotees of Krishna, the serpents such as Garuda flee.
यास्यसीति च सर्वत्र हरिभक्ताश्रमं विना
Everywhere, except for the hermitage of Hari's devotees, you shall depart.
करोति नखराञ्जल्या चित्रगुप्तश्च भीतवत्
Citragupta, trembling with fear, folds his hands in reverence.
विलंघ्य ब्रह्मलोकं च गोलोके गच्छतां सताम्
Bypassing Brahmaloka, the virtuous proceed to Goloka.
यथा सुप्रज्वलद्वह्नौ काष्ठानि च तृणानि च
Just as wood and grass are consumed in a blazing fire,
कामश्च कामिनं याति लोभ क्रोधौ ततः सति
Desire follows the desirer, and then greed and anger likewise.
कालः शुभाशुभं कर्म्म हर्षो भोगस्तथैव च
Time, good and bad deeds, joy, and enjoyment likewise follow.
शृणु देहस्य विवृतिं कथयामि यथागमम्
Listen, I will tell you about the dissolution of the body as taught in scripture.
देहिनां देहबीजं च स्रष्टुः सृष्टिविधौ परम्
The seed of the body for embodied beings is supreme in the act of creation by the Creator.
स कृत्रिमो नश्वरश्च भस्मसाच्च भवेदिह
It is artificial and perishable, and here it becomes ashes.
बिभर्ति सूक्ष्मदेहं च तद्रूपं भोगहेतवे 2.32.
He bears a subtle body of that form for the sake of enjoyment.
जलेन नष्टो देहो वा प्रहारे सुचिरं कृते
If the body is destroyed by water or by a prolonged blow,
तप्तद्रवे तप्तलौहे तप्तपाषाण एव च
Or in heated liquid, heated iron, or heated stone,
न च दग्धो न भग्नश्च भुंक्ते संतापमेव च कुण्डानां लक्षणं सर्वं निबोध कथयामि ते
He is neither burned nor broken, but only experiences suffering; listen, I will tell you all the characteristics of the pits.