पुत्रदारगृहक्षेत्रधनधान्याभिधावतीम्
Pursuing sons, wife, home, land, wealth, and grain—
संत्यज्य कामं क्रोधं च लोभं मोहं मदं तथा
Abandoning desire, anger, greed, delusion, and pride—
व्यापारान्सकलांस्त्क्त्वा पूजयध्वं जनार्दनम्
Having given up all occupations, worship Janārdana.
यावन्नायाति मरणं यावन्नायाति वै जरा
As long as death has not come, as long as old age has not arrived—
धीमान्नकुर्याद्विश्वासं शरीरे ऽस्मिन्विनश्वरे
The wise should not place trust in this perishable body.
आसन्नमरणो देहस्तस्माद्दर्प्पं विमुचत
Since the body is close to death, therefore abandon arrogance.
एतज्ज्ञात्वा महाभाग पूजयस्व जनार्दनम्
Knowing this, O highly fortunate one, worship Janārdana.
भक्त्या यजति यो विष्णुं महापातकवानपि
Even one who is burdened with great sins, if he worships Viṣṇu with devotion—
सर्वतीर्थानि यज्ञाश्च सांगा वेदाश्च सत्तम
All holy places, sacrifices with their limbs, and the Vedas, O noble one—
किं वै वेदैर्मखैः शास्त्रैः किंवा तीर्थनिषेवणैः
What use are the Vedas, sacrifices, scriptures, or even the observance of holy places—
विष्णुभक्तिविहीनानां किं तपोभिर्व्रतैरपि
For those who lack devotion to Viṣṇu, what is the use of austerities or vows?
वेदान्तवेद्यं भवरोगवैद्यं ते यान्ति मर्त्याः पदमच्युतस्य
Those mortals who attain the imperishable abode, which is known through Vedānta and is the physician for the disease of existence—
ज्योतिः स्वरुपं परमच्युताख्यं स्मृत्वा समभ्येति नरः सखायम्
Remembering the supreme, imperishable light-form, a man approaches his friend.
इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामि यममार्गं सुदुर्गमम्
Now I wish to hear about the path of Yama, which is extremely difficult.
सुखदं पुण्यशीलानां पापिनां भयदायकम्
It brings happiness to the virtuous, and terror to the sinful.
यममार्गस्य विस्तारः कथैतः पूर्वसूरिभिः
The expanse of the path to Yama has been described by the ancient sages.
धर्मशून्या नरा यान्ति दुःखेन भृशमर्दिताः
Men devoid of righteousness go, greatly afflicted, in misery.
क्रदन्तो विस्तरं दीनाः पापिनो यान्ति तत्पथि
The sinners, wailing and distressed, travel that path in full.
हन्यमाना यमभटैः प्रतोदाद्यैस्तथायुधैः
They are struck by Yama's attendants with whips and weapons.
क्वचिद्वै दावरुपेणः तीक्ष्णधाराः शिलाः क्वचित्
In some places there are blazing fires, elsewhere sharp-edged stones.
गाढान्धकाराशअच गुहाः कण्टकावरणं महत्
There are deep, pitch-dark caves, and vast thickets of thorns.
शर्कराश्च तथा लोष्टाः सूचीतुल्याश्च कण्टकाः
There are gravel and clods, and thorns sharp as needles.
क्वचिव्द्याव्राश्च गर्जन्ते वर्धन्ते च क्वचिज्ज्वराः
In some places wild beasts roar, elsewhere fevers intensify.
क्रोशन्तश्च रुदन्तश्च म्लायन्तश्चैव पापिनः
The sinners cry out, weep, and wither away.
शास्त्रास्त्रैस्ताड्यमानाश्च पृष्टतो यान्ति पापिनः
Struck from behind by weapons and scriptures, the sinners proceed.
वहॄन्तश्चायसां भारं शिश्राग्रेण प्रयान्ति वै
They carry burdens of iron, moving forward with their heads bowed.
कर्णाभ्यां च तथा केचिद्वहॄन्तो यान्ति पापिनः
Some sinners go carrying loads with their ears as well.
अत्यर्थोच्ङ्वसिताः केचित्केचिदाच्छत्रलोचनाः
Some are excessively swollen, others have umbrella-like eyes.
शोचन्तः स्वानि कर्मणि ज्ञानाज्ञानकृतानि च
They grieve over their deeds, both those done knowingly and unknowingly.
अतीव सुखसंपन्नास्ते यान्ति धर्ममन्दिरम्
Those endowed with great happiness proceed to the abode of righteousness.