कर्मकर्ता च देही च आत्मा भोजयिता सदा । भोगो विभवभेदश्च नित्कृतिर्मुक्तिरेव च
The doer of actions, the embodied soul, the Self who always experiences, enjoyment, the diversity of wealth, merit, and liberation—all these exist.
सदसद्भेदबीजं च ज्ञानं नानाविधं भवेत् । विषयाणां विभागानां भेदि बीजं च कीर्तितम्
Knowledge, which is the seed of the distinction between existence and non-existence, is of many kinds; it is said to be the seed of the divisions among objects.
बुद्धिर्विवेचना सा च ज्ञानबीजं श्रुतौ श्रुतम् । वायुभेदाश्च प्राणाश्च बलरूपाश्च देहिनाम्
Intellect is discernment, and is called the seed of knowledge in the scriptures; the various forms of air, the vital breaths, and the powers in embodied beings.
इन्द्रियाणां च प्रवरमीश्वरांशमनूहकम् । प्रेरकं कर्मणां चैव दुर्निवार्यं च देहिनाम्
Among the senses, the foremost is considered a portion of the Lord, the unseen mover of actions, and for embodied beings, it is irresistible.
अनिरूप्यमदृश्यं च ज्ञानभेदो मनः स्मृतम् । लोचनं श्रवणं घ्राणं त्वक्च रसनमिन्द्रियम्
Mind is said to be the variety of knowledge, which cannot be precisely defined or seen; sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste are the senses.
अङ्गिनामङ्गरूपं च प्रेरकं सर्वकर्मणाम् । रिपुरूपं मित्ररूपं सुखरूपं च दुःखदम्
The limbs of beings are of the nature of limbs, the instigators of all actions; they take the form of enemy, friend, pleasure, and giver of pain.
सूर्यो वायुश्च पृथिवी ब्रह्माद्या देवताः स्मृताः । प्राणदेहादिभृद्यो हि स जीवः परिकीर्तितः
The sun, air, earth, and deities beginning with Brahma are remembered; the one who supports life, body, and so on is called the jīva.
परमं व्यापकं ब्रह्म निर्गुणः प्रकृतेः परः । कारणं कारणानां च परमात्मा स उच्यते
The supreme, all-pervading Brahman, without qualities and beyond Prakriti, the cause of causes, is called the Supreme Self.
इत्येवं कथितं सर्वं त्वया पृष्टं यथागमम् । ज्ञानिनां ज्ञानरूपं च गच्छ वत्से यथासुखम्
Thus, all that you have asked has been explained according to the scriptures; the form of knowledge for the wise has been given—go, child, as you please.
सावित्र्युवाच त्यक्त्वा क्व यामि कान्तं वा त्वां वा ज्ञानार्णवं ध्रुवम् । यद्यत्करोमि प्रश्नं च तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति
Savitri said: Where shall I go, having abandoned you, my beloved, or you, the unfailing ocean of knowledge? Whatever question I ask, you are worthy to answer.
कां कां योनिं याति जीवः कर्मणा केन वा पुनः । केन वा कर्मणा स्वर्गं केन वा नरकं पितः
By what action does the soul enter which womb, and by what action again? By what action does one go to heaven, and by what action to hell, O father?
केन वा कर्मणा मुक्तिः केन भक्तिर्भवेद् गुरौ । केन वा कर्मणा योगी रोगी वा केन कर्मणा
By what action is there liberation, and by what is there devotion to the guru? By what action does one become a yogi or a sick person?
केन वा दीर्घजीवी च केनाल्पायुश्च कर्मणा । केन वा कर्मणा दुःखी सुखी वा केन कर्मणा
By what action does one become long-lived, and by what action short-lived? By what action is one unhappy, or by what action happy?
अङ्गहीनश्च काणश्च बधिरः केन कर्मणा । अन्धो वा पङ्गुरपि वा प्रमत्तः केन कर्मणा
By what action does one become limbless, one-eyed, or deaf? Or by what action blind, lame, or mad?
क्षिप्तोऽतिलुब्धकश्चौरः केन वा कर्मणा भवेत् । केन सिद्धिमवाप्नोति सालोक्यादिचतुष्टयम्
By what action does one become possessed, extremely greedy, or a thief? By what action does one attain the fourfold perfection, such as residing in the same world as the deity?
केन वा ब्राह्मणत्वं च तपस्वित्वं च केन वा । स्वर्गभोगादिकं केन वैकुण्ठं केन कर्मणा
By what action does one become a Brahmin, or an ascetic? By what action does one enjoy heavenly pleasures, or by what action does one reach Vaikuntha?
गोलोकं केन वा ब्रह्मन् सर्वोत्कृष्टं निरामयम् । नरको वा कतिविधः किंसंख्यो नाम किं च वा
O Brahman, by whom was Goloka created, that supreme and flawless realm? And how many kinds of hell are there, by what names, and of what number?
को वा कं नरकं याति कियन्तं तेषु तिष्ठति । पापिनां कर्मणा केन को वा व्याधिः प्रजायते । यद्यत्प्रियं मया पृष्टं तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि
Who goes to which hell, and for how long do they remain there? By what actions do sinners incur disease, and what diseases arise? Whatever I have asked out of affection, you ought to explain to me.
सावित्र्युपाख्याने कर्मविपाकवर्णनम् श्रीनारायण उवाच सावित्रीवचनं श्रुत्वा जगाम विस्मयं यमः । प्रहस्य वक्तुमारेभे कर्मपाकं तु जीविनाम्
Narration of the results of actions in the story of Savitri. Shri Narayana said: Hearing Savitri’s words, Yama was filled with wonder; smiling, he began to speak about the results of actions for living beings.
धर्म उवाच कन्या द्वादशवर्षीया वत्से त्वं वयसाधुना । ज्ञानं ते पूर्वविदुषां ज्ञानिनां योगिनां परम्
Dharma said: O child, though you are only twelve years old, you possess the supreme knowledge known to the wise and to great yogis of the past.
सावित्रीवरदानेन त्वं सावित्री कला सती । प्राप्ता पुरा भूभृता च तपसा तत्समा सुते
By the boon granted to Savitri, you are indeed a portion of Savitri herself, O virtuous one; formerly, by your austerity, you attained this, equal to the earth-supporting king.
यथा श्रीः श्रीपतेः क्रोडे भवानी च भवोरसि । यथादितिः कश्यपे च यथाहल्या च गौतमे
Just as Shri is on the lap of Shri-pati, Bhavani on the chest of Bhava, Aditi with Kashyapa, and Ahalya with Gautama,
यथा शची महेन्द्रे च यथा चन्द्रे च रोहिणी । यथा रतिः कामदेवे यथा स्वाहा हुताशने
Just as Shachi is with Mahendra, Rohini with Chandra, Rati with Kamadeva, and Svaha with the Fire-god,
यथा स्वधा च पितृषु यथा सन्ध्या दिवाकरे । वरुणानी च वरुणे यज्ञे च दक्षिणा यथा
Just as Svadha is among the ancestors, Sandhya with the Sun, Varunani with Varuna, and Dakshina in the sacrifice,
यथा वराहे पृथिवी देवसेना च कार्तिके । सौभाग्या सुप्रिया त्वं च तथा सत्यवतः प्रिये
Just as the Earth is with Varaha, Devasena with Kartikeya, Saubhagya and Supriya, so too are you, beloved of Satyavat.
अयं तुभ्यं वरो दत्तोऽप्यपरं च यथेप्सितम् । शृणु देवि महाभागे ददामि सकलेप्सितम्
This boon has been granted to you, and whatever else you desire as well; listen, O great and fortunate goddess, I will grant you all that you wish.
सावित्र्युवाच सत्यवत औरसानां पुत्राणां शतकं मम । भविष्यति महाभाग वरमेतन्मदीप्सितम्
Savitri said: May I have a hundred sons born from Satyavat, O greatly fortunate one; this is the boon I desire.
मत्पितुः पुत्रशतकं श्वशुरस्य च चक्षुषी । राज्यलाभो भवत्वेवं वरमेतन्मदीप्सितम्
May my father have a hundred sons, and may my father-in-law’s sight be restored; may the kingdom be regained—this is the boon I desire.
अन्ते सत्यवता सार्धं यास्यामि हरिमन्दिरम् । समतीते लक्षवर्षे देहीदं मे जगत्प्रभो
At the end, may I go to the abode of Hari together with Satyavat; when a hundred thousand years have passed, O Lord of the world, grant me this.
जीवकर्मविपाकं च श्रोतुं कौतूहलं मम । विश्वनिस्तारबीजं च तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि
I am eager to hear about the results of actions for living beings, and also the seed that delivers all from the world; please explain this to me.