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.
निजधर्मप्रसादात्स कुलं पुण्यं प्रयाति वै । ब्राह्मणस्य सुपुण्यस्य क्षत्रियस्य तथैव च
Through the grace of his own righteousness, he attains a virtuous family; whether a Brahmin of great merit or likewise a Kshatriya.
धनाढ्यस्य सुपुण्यस्य वैश्यस्यैव महामते । धर्मेण मोदते तत्र पुनः पुण्यं करोति सः
Or a wealthy and highly meritorious Vaishya, endowed with wisdom; he delights in righteousness there and again performs meritorious deeds.
सोमशर्मोवाच- पापिनां मरणं भद्रे कीदृशैर्लक्षणैर्युतम् । तन्मे त्वं विस्तराद्ब्रूहि यदि जानासि भामिनि
Somaśarman said: O gentle one, what are the signs accompanying the death of sinners? Please tell me in detail, if you know, O beautiful lady.
सुमनोवाच- श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि तस्मात्सिद्धाच्छ्रुतं मया । पापिनां मरणे कांत यादृशं लिंगमेव च
Sumana said: Listen, I shall describe what I have heard from the accomplished; regarding the death of sinners, O beloved, and the marks thereof.
महापातकिनां चैव स्थानं चेष्टां वदाम्यहम् । विण्मूत्रामेध्यसंयुक्तां भूमिं पापसमन्विताम्
I will tell you the place and actions of great sinners: a ground polluted with excrement, urine, and filth, filled with evil.
सतां प्राप्य सुदुष्टात्मा प्राणान्दुःखेन मुंचति । चांडालभूमिं संप्राप्य मरणं याति दुःस्थितः
Having reached the ground of the outcast, the wicked-souled one departs life with great suffering, attaining the place of the Chandala, dying in distress.
गर्दभाचरितां भूमिं वेश्यागेहं समाश्रितः । कल्पपालगृहं गत्वा निधनायोपगच्छति
He dwells in a place frequented by donkeys, or in a prostitute's house; entering the house of a sweeper, he approaches death.
अस्थिचर्मनखैः पूर्णमाश्रितं पापकिल्बिषैः । तां प्राप्य च स दुष्टात्मा मृत्युं याति सुनिश्चितम्
Residing in a place filled with bones, skins, and nails, polluted by evil and sin; upon reaching it, the wicked-souled one certainly meets death.
अन्यां पापसमाचारां प्राप्य मृत्युं स गच्छति । अथ चेष्टां प्रवक्ष्यामि दूतानां तु तमिच्छताम्
Upon reaching another place of sinful conduct, he goes to death; now I will describe the actions of the messengers who desire him.
भैरवान्दारुणान्घोरानतिकृष्णान्महोदरान् । पिंगाक्षान्पीतनीलांश्च अतिश्वेतान्महोदरान्
Fierce, dreadful, terrifying, extremely dark, with huge bellies; tawny-eyed, yellow and blue, exceedingly pale, with huge bellies.