तेन संगप्रसंगेन ममैष मतिनिश्चयः । यथा कांत तव प्रोक्तं मयैव च परं शुभम्
From that association and its influence, this is my firm conviction, as you have declared, and as I myself have spoken, for the highest good.
तस्माच्छ्रुतं महासिद्धात्सर्वसंदेहनाशनम् । विप्रधर्मं समाश्रित्य अनुवर्त्तस्व सर्वदा
Therefore, having heard from the great sage that which dispels all doubts, always follow the dharma of the brahmins.
सोमशर्मोवाच- धर्मेण कीदृशो मृत्युर्जन्म चैव वदस्व मे । उभयोर्लक्षणं कांते तत्सर्वं हि वदस्व मे
Somaśarma said: By dharma, what kind of death and birth occur? Tell me, beloved, the characteristics of both—tell me all of this.
सुमनोवाच- सत्य शौच क्षमा शांति तीर्थपुण्यादिकैस्तथा । धर्मश्च पालितो येन तस्य मृत्युं वदाम्यहम्
Sumana said: Truth, purity, forgiveness, peace, and merit from holy places—by these, and by upholding dharma, I will tell you of his death.
रोगो न जायते तस्य न च पीडा कलेवरे । न श्रमो वै न च ग्लानिर्न च स्वेदो भ्रमस्तथा
He does not suffer disease, nor pain in the body; there is no fatigue, no exhaustion, no sweating, nor confusion.
दिव्यरूपधरा भूत्वा गंधर्वा ब्राह्मणास्तथा । वेदपाठसमायुक्ता गीतज्ञानविशारदाः
Assuming a divine form, gandharvas and brahmins, skilled in reciting the Vedas and expert in the knowledge of song, approach.
तस्य पार्श्वं समायांति स्तुतिं कुर्वंति चातुलाम् । स्वस्थो हि आसने युक्तो देवपूजारतः किल
They come near him, offering abundant praise, as he sits at ease, devoted to the worship of the gods.
तीर्थं च लभते प्राज्ञः स्नानार्थं धर्मतत्परः । अग्न्यागारे च गोस्थाने देवतायतनेषु च
The wise one, intent on dharma, attains holy waters for bathing, whether at the fire altar, in the cow pen, or in the temples of the gods.
आरामे च तडागे च यत्राश्वत्थो वटस्तथा । ब्रह्मवृक्षं समाश्रित्य श्रीवृक्षं च तथा पुनः
In a garden or by a pond, wherever there is an ashvattha or banyan tree, taking refuge in the sacred tree, and likewise in the tree of fortune,
अश्वस्थानं समाश्रित्य गजस्थानगतो नरः । अशोकं चूतवृक्षं च समाश्रित्य यदास्थितः
Taking shelter at the place of the ashvattha, or at the place of the elephant, a person who stands by the ashoka or mango tree,
संनिधौ ब्राह्मणानां च राजवेश्मगतोथवा । रणभूमिं समाश्रित्य पूर्वं यत्र मृतो भवेत्
In the presence of brahmins, or within the royal palace, or having taken refuge in the battlefield, where one has previously died,
मृत्युस्थानानि पुण्यानि केवलं धर्मकारणम् । गोग्रहं तु सुसंप्राप्य तथा चामरकंटकम्
The places of death are auspicious, solely for the sake of dharma; having attained the cow enclosure and likewise the amara thorn,
शुद्धधर्मकरो नित्यं धर्मतो धर्मवत्सलः । एवं स्थानं समाप्नोति यदा मृत्युं समाश्रितः
One who always acts with pure dharma, devoted to righteousness, attains such a place when death is embraced.
मातरं पश्यते पुण्यं पितरं च नरोत्तमः । भ्रातरं श्रेयसा युक्तमन्यं स्वजनबांधवम्
The noble man sees his virtuous mother and father, his brother endowed with excellence, and other relatives of his own people.
बंदीजनैस्तथा पुण्यैः स्तूयमानं पुनःपुनः । पापिष्ठं नैव पश्येत मातृपित्रादिकं पुनः
Praised again and again by virtuous attendants, he never sees the most sinful, nor his mother, father, and others again.
गीतं गायंति गंधर्वाः स्तुवंतिस्तावकाः स्तवैः । मंत्रपाठैस्तथा विप्रा माता स्नेहेन पूजयेत्
The Gandharvas sing songs, the devotees praise with hymns, the brahmins recite mantras, and the mother worships with affection.
पितास्वजनवर्गाश्च धर्मात्मानं महामतिम् । एवं दूताः समाख्याताः पुण्यस्थानानि ते विभो
The father and groups of relatives honor the righteous one of great wisdom; thus, messengers have been described, and these are the auspicious places, O mighty one.
प्रत्यक्षान्पश्यते दूतान्हास्यस्नेहसमाविलान् । न च स्वप्नेन मोहेन क्लेदयुक्तेन नैव सः
He sees the messengers directly, filled with laughter and affection; nor is he troubled by dreams, delusion, or distress.
धर्मराजो महाप्राज्ञो भवंतं तु समाह्वयेत् । एह्येहि त्वं महाभाग यत्र धर्मः स तिष्ठति
The wise king of dharma summons him: 'Come, come, O greatly fortunate one, to the place where dharma abides.'
तस्य मोहो न च भ्रांतिर्न ग्लानिः स्मृतिविभ्रमः । जायते नात्र संदेहः प्रसन्नात्मा स तिष्ठति
He has neither delusion nor confusion, nor fatigue or loss of memory; there is no doubt here, and he remains with a clear mind.
ज्ञानविज्ञानसंपन्नः स्मरन्देवं जनार्दनम् । तैः सार्द्धं तु प्रयात्येवं संतुष्टो हृष्टमानसः
Endowed with knowledge and wisdom, remembering Janardana as a deity, he departs together with them, satisfied and with a joyful heart.
एकत्वं जायते तत्र त्यजतः स्वंकलेवरम् । दशमद्वारमाश्रित्य आत्मा तस्य स गच्छति
Unity arises there for the one abandoning his own body; taking refuge at the tenth gate, his soul departs.
शिबिका तस्य आयाति हंसयानं मनोहरम् । विमानमेव चायाति हयो वा गज उत्तमः
A palanquin arrives for him, a delightful swan vehicle; a celestial chariot comes, or a horse or an excellent elephant.
छत्रेण ध्रियमाणेन चामरैर्व्यजनैस्तथा । वीज्यमानः स पुण्यात्मा पुण्यैरेवं समंततः
With an umbrella held above, and fanned by yak-tail fans, that virtuous soul is honored everywhere by the virtuous.
गीयमानस्तु धर्मात्मा स्तूयमानस्तु पंडितैः । बंदिभिश्चारणैर्दिव्यैर्ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः
The righteous soul is sung about, praised by scholars, by divine bards and brahmins who are masters of the Vedas.
साधुभिः स्तूयमानस्तु सर्वसौख्यसमन्वितः । यथादानप्रभावेण फलमाप्नोति तत्र सः
Praised by the virtuous, endowed with all happiness, he attains the fruit there according to the power of his giving.
आरामवाटिकामध्ये स प्रयाति सुखेन वै । अप्सरोभिः समाकीर्णो दिव्याभिर्मंगलैर्युतः
He proceeds comfortably into the midst of gardens and groves, surrounded by celestial nymphs adorned with auspicious ornaments.
देवैः संस्तूयमानस्तु धर्मराजं प्रपश्यति । देवाश्च धर्मसंयुक्ता जग्मुः संमुखमेव तम्
Praised by the gods, he beholds the Lord of Dharma; and the gods, united with righteousness, approach him directly.
एह्येहि वै महाभाग भुंक्ष्व भोगान्मनोनुगान् । एवं स पश्यते धर्मं सौम्यरूपं महामतिम्
Come, come, O greatly fortunate one, enjoy pleasures in accordance with your desires; thus he sees Dharma, gentle in form and possessing great wisdom.
स्वस्य पुण्यप्रभावेण भुंक्ते च स्वर्गमेव सः । भोगक्षयात्सधर्मात्मा पुनर्जन्म प्रयाति वै
By the power of his own merit, he enjoys heaven; when his pleasures are exhausted, the righteous-souled one goes to birth again.