चतुरश्रं चतुर्द्वारं सप्तप्राकारतोरणम् । स्वयं तिष्ठति वै यस्यां यमो दूतैः समन्वितः ॥ २,३३.
It is square, with four gates, and seven ramparts with arches; in it, Yama himself sits, surrounded by his messengers.
योजनानां सहस्रं वै प्रमाणेन तदुच्यते । सर्वरत्नमयं दिव्यं विद्युज्ज्वालार्कतैजसम् ॥ २,३३.
It is said to measure a thousand yojanas; made of all kinds of jewels, divine, blazing like lightning and the sun.
तद्गुहं धर्मराजस्य विस्तीर्णं काञ्चनप्रभम् । योजनानां पञ्चशतप्रमाणेन समुच्छ्रितम् ॥ २,३३.
That palace of the Lord of Justice is vast, shining like gold, and rises to a height of five hundred yojanas.
वृतं स्तम्भसहस्रैस्तु वैदूर्यमणिमण्डितम् । मुक्ताजालगवाक्षं च पताकाशतभूषितम् ॥ २,३३.
It is surrounded by a thousand pillars, adorned with beryl and gems; with windows latticed with pearls and decorated with hundreds of banners.
घण्टाशतनिनादाढ्यं तोरणानां शतैर्वृतम् । एवमादिभिरन्यैश्च भूषणैर्भूषितं सदा ॥ २,३३.
Resounding with the peal of a hundred bells, encircled by hundreds of gateways; always adorned with such ornaments and others as well.
तत्रस्थो भगवान् धर्म आसने तु समे शुभे । दशयो जनविस्तीर्णे नीलजीमूतसन्निभे ॥ २,३३.
There, the venerable Lord of Justice sits upon a level, auspicious throne, ten yojanas wide, resembling a dark rain cloud.
धर्मज्ञो धर्मशीलश्च धर्मयुक्तो हितो यमः । भयदः पापयुक्तानां धार्मिकाणां सुखप्रदः ॥ २,३३.
Yama, who knows righteousness, whose nature is righteous, who is joined with righteousness and acts for the welfare of all, brings fear to those engaged in evil, and gives happiness to the virtuous.
मन्दमारु तसंयोगैरुत्सवैर्विविधैस्तथा । व्याख्यानैर्विविधैर्युक्तः शङ्खवादित्रनिः स्वनैः ॥ २,३३.
He is surrounded by gentle breezes, various festivals, diverse explanations, and the sounds of conch shells and musical instruments.
पुरमध्यप्रवेशे तु चित्रगुप्तस्य वै गृहम् । पञ्चविंशतिसंख्यानां योजनानां सुविस्तरम् ॥ २,३३.
In the center of the city stands the house of Citragupta, spacious and measuring twenty-five yojanas in extent.
दशोच्छ्रितं महादिव्यं लोहप्राकारवोष्टितम् । प्रतोलीशतसंचारं पतताकाशतशोभितम् ॥ २,३३.
It rises ten units high, is grand and divine, enclosed by an iron wall, with hundreds of gateways and adorned with hundreds of banners.
दीपिकाशतसङ्कीर्णं गीतध्वनिसमाकुलम् । विचित्रचित्रकुशलैश्चित्रगुप्तस्य वै गृहम् ॥ २,३३.
Filled with hundreds of lamps and resounding with songs, the house of Citragupta is decorated by those skilled in various arts.
मणिमुक्तामये दिव्ये आसने परमाद्भुते । तत्रस्थो गणयत्यायुर्मानुषेष्वितरेषु च ॥ २,३३.
Seated on a wondrous, divine throne made of jewels and pearls, he counts the lifespan of humans and others.
न मुह्यति कदाचित्स सुकृते दुष्कृतेऽपि वा । यद्येनोपार्जितं यावत्तावद्वै वेत्ति तस्य तत् ॥ २,३३.
He never becomes confused, whether regarding good or evil deeds; whatever has been acquired by anyone, he knows exactly that.
दशाष्टदोषरहितं कृत कर्म लिखत्यसौ । चित्रगुप्तालयाताच्यां ज्वरस्यास्ति महागृहम् ॥ २,३३.
He records actions free from ten and eight faults; in the house of Citragupta, there is a great hall for fever.
दक्षिणे चापि शूलस्य लताविस्फोटकस्य च । पश्चिमे काल पाशस्य अजीर्णस्यारुचेस्तथा ॥ २,३३.
To the south are the halls for the spear and for the bursting creeper; to the west, for the noose of Time, indigestion, and loss of appetite.
मध्यपीठोत्तरे ज्ञेयो तथा चान्या विषचिका । ऐशन्यां वै शिरोऽर्तिश्च आग्नेय्याञ्चैव मृकता ॥ २,३३.
To the north of the central seat is the hall for poison fever; in the northeast, for headache; and in the southeast, for leprosy.
अतिसारश्च नैरृत्यां वायव्यां दाहसंज्ञकः । एभिः परिवृतो नित्यं चित्रगुप्तः स तिष्ठति ॥ २,३३.
In the southwest is the hall for diarrhea; in the northwest, for burning sensation; surrounded by these, Citragupta always remains.
यत्कर्म कुरुते कश्चित्तत्सर्वं विलखत्यसौ । धर्मराजगृहद्वारि दूतास्तार्क्ष्य तथा निशि । तिष्ठन्ति पापकर्माणः पच्यमाना नराधमाः ॥ २,३३.
Whatever action anyone performs, he records it all; at the door of the house of the Lord of Dharma, messengers of Garuda stand at night, while the wicked, suffering for their evil deeds, are cooked.
यमदूतैर्महापाशैर्हन्यमानाश्च मुद्गरैः । वध्यन्ते विविधैः पापैः पूर्वकर्मकृतैर्नराः ॥ २,३३.
Struck by the messengers of Yama with great nooses and clubs, men are punished for various sins caused by their previous actions.
नानाप्रहारणाग्रैश्च नानायन्त्रैस्तथा परे । छिद्यन्ते पापकर्माणः क्रकचैः काष्ठवद्द्विधा ॥ २,३३.
Others, with various sharp weapons and different devices, are cut apart like wood by saws, those who have committed evil deeds.
अन्ये ज्वलद्भिरङ्गारैर्वेष्टिताः परितो भृशम् । पूर्वकर्मविपाकेन ध्मायन्ते लोहपिण्डवत् ॥ २,३३.
Some are surrounded on all sides by burning coals and are blown upon like lumps of iron, as a result of their previous actions.
क्षिप्त्वान्ये च धरापृष्ठे कुठारेणावकर्तिताः । क्रन्दमानाश्च दृश्यन्ते पूर्वकर्मविपाकतः ॥ २,३३.
Others are thrown upon the ground and cut with axes; crying out, they are seen suffering due to the consequences of their past actions.
केचिद्गुडमयैः पाकैस्तैलपाकैस्तथा परे । पीड्यन्ते यमदूतैश्च पापिष्ठाः सुभृशं नराः ॥ २,३३.
Some are tormented with cakes made of molasses, others with oil-cakes; the most sinful men are severely afflicted by the messengers of Yama.
क्षणाह्नि प्रार्थयन्त्यन्ये देहिदेहीति कोटिशः । यमलोके मया दृष्टा ममस्वं भक्षितं त्वया ॥ २,३३.
Others, for moments or days, pray repeatedly, 'Give me a body, give me a body!' In Yama's realm, I have seen countless ones whose own food has been consumed by you.
इत्येवं बहुशस्तार्क्ष्य नरकाः पापिनां स्मृताः । कर्मभिर्बहुभिः प्रोक्तैः सर्वशास्त्रेषु भाषितैः । दानोपकारं वक्ष्यामि यथा तत्र सुखं भवेत् ॥ २,३३.
Thus, O Tārkṣya, many hells for sinners are described, spoken of in all the scriptures with various actions explained; now I shall speak of charity and helpful acts, by which happiness is attained there.
श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् ३४ श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । शृणु तार्क्ष्य यथान्यायं धर्माधर्म्स्य लक्षणम् । सुकृतं दुष्कृतं नॄणामग्रे धावति धावताम् ॥ २,३४.
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Listen, O Tārkṣya, to the proper characteristics of righteousness and unrighteousness; good and evil deeds swiftly pursue men at the appointed time.
कृते तपः प्रशंसन्ति त्रेतायां ज्ञानसाधनम् । द्वापरे यज्ञदाने च दानमेकं कलौ युगे ॥ २,३४.
In the Kṛta age, austerity is praised; in the Tretā, the pursuit of knowledge; in the Dvāpara, sacrifice and charity; but in the Kali age, charity alone.
गृहस्थानां स्मृतो धर्म उत्तमानां विचक्षणैः । इष्टापूर्ते स्वशक्त्या हि कुर्वतां नास्ति पातकम् ॥ २,३४.
For householders, the wise declare that their highest duty is to perform sacrifices and charitable works according to their ability; for those who do so, there is no sin.
वृक्षस्तु रोपितो येन खनिकूपजलाशयाः । यममार्गे सुखं तस्य व्रजतो नितरां भवेत् ॥ २,३४.
Whoever plants a tree, or digs wells, ponds, and reservoirs, for him there is abundant happiness as he journeys on the path of Yama.
अग्नितापप्रदातारे यैः शीतपीडिते द्विजे । तप्यमानाः सुखं यान्ति सर्व कामैः प्रपूरिताः ॥ २,३४.
Those who give fire to the cold and suffering, or warmth to distressed Brāhmaṇas, themselves go happily, their desires fulfilled, when they are tormented.