पुराणपठको याति स्तूयमानो मुनीश्वरैः
He who recites the Purāṇas goes, praised by the best of sages.
यमश्चतुर्मुखो भूत्वा शङ्खचक्रगदासिभृत्
Yama, becoming four-faced and bearing conch, discus, mace, and sword,
भो भो बुद्धिमतां श्रेष्ठानरकक्लेषभीरवः
O best among the wise, terrifying is the suffering of hell.
मनुषथ्य जन्म यः प्राप्य सुकृतं न करोति च
He who, having obtained human birth, does not perform good deeds,
अनित्यं प्राप्य मानुष्यं नित्यं यस्तु न साधयेत्
Having attained impermanent humanity, he who does not pursue the eternal,
शरीरं यातनारुपं मलाद्यैः परिदूषितम्
The body, which is a form of torment, is defiled by impurities and the like.
सर्वेषु प्राणिनः श्रेष्ठास्तेषु वै बुद्धिजीविनः
Among all living beings, the best are those endowed with intelligence.
ब्राह्मणेषु च विद्वांसो विद्वत्सु कृतबुद्धयः
Among Brahmins, the learned are best; among the learned, those of firm understanding.
ब्रह्मवादिष्वपि तथा श्रेष्ठो निर्मम उच्यते
Even among those who speak of Brahman, the one without possessiveness is said to be the best.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कर्त्तव्यो धर्मसंग्रहः
Therefore, by every effort, the collection of righteousness should be pursued.
गच्छ स्वपुण्यैर्मत्स्थानं सर्वभोगसमन्वितम्
Go, by your own merits, to my abode, endowed with all enjoyments.
एवं यमस्तमभ्यर्च्य प्रापयित्वा च सद्गतिम्
Thus, having worshipped him, Yama causes him to attain the blessed state.
प्रलयांबुदनिर्घोषो ह्यञ्जनाद्रिसमप्रभः
A roar like the tumult of the waters at dissolution, shining like the Anjana mountain,
योजनत्रयविस्तारो रक्ताक्षो दीर्घनासिकः
Three yojanas wide, with red eyes and a long nose,
मृत्युज्वरादिभिर्युक्तश्चित्रगुत्पो ऽपि भीषणः
Afflicted with the fever of death and the like, even Chitragupta appears terrifying.
ततो ब्रवीति तान्सर्वान्कंपमानांश्च पापिनः
Then he addresses all those sinners, trembling,
भो भो पापा दुराचारा अहॄङ्कारप्रदूषिताः
"O sinners, evil-doers, corrupted by arrogance!
कामक्तोधादिदृष्टेन सगर्वेण तु चेतसा
With minds blinded by desire, anger, and pride,
कृतवन्तः पुरा पापान्यत्यन्तहर्षिताः
You once committed sins, exceedingly delighted,
भृत्यमित्रकलत्रार्थं दुष्कृतं चरितं यथा
For the sake of servant, friend, wife, or wealth, you acted wrongly as you wished.
युष्माभिः पोषिता ये तु पुत्राद्या अन्यतोगताः
Those sons and others whom you nourished have gone elsewhere.
यथा कृतानि पापानि युष्माभिः सुबहूनि वै
Just as you committed many sins,
विचारयध्वं यूयं तु युष्माभिश्चारितं पुरा
Now reflect on what you have done in the past.
दरिद्रे ऽपि च मूर्खे च पण्डिते वा श्रियान्विते
Whether poor, foolish, learned, or endowed with wealth,
चित्रगुत्पेरितं वाक्यं श्रुत्वा ते पापिनस्तदा
Hearing these words spoken by Chitragupta, those sinners at that time—
यमाज्ञाकारिणः क्रूरश्चण्डा दूता भयानकाः
The cruel, fierce, and terrifying messengers who obey Yama’s command—
स्वदुष्कर्मफलं ते तु भुक्त्वान्ते पापशेषतः
Having experienced the fruit of their own evil deeds, and with the residue of sin remaining,
भगवन्संशयो जातो मच्चेतसि दयानिधे
O Lord, a doubt has arisen in my mind, O ocean of compassion.
धर्माश्च विविधाः प्रोक्ताः पापान्यपि बहूनि च
Various forms of righteousness have been described, as well as many kinds of sin.
दिनान्ते ब्रह्मणः प्रोक्तो नाशो लोकत्रयस्य वै
At the end of the day of Brahmā, indeed, the destruction of the three worlds is declared.