तस्य प्राणान गच्छंति बहुपीडासमाकुलाः । पतते कंपते चैव मूर्च्छते च पुनःपुनः
His life-breaths depart, overwhelmed by much suffering; he falls, trembles, and loses consciousness again and again.
एवं पीडासमायुक्तो दुःखं भुंक्तेति मोहितः । तस्य प्राणाः सुदुःखेन महाकष्टैः प्रचालिताः
Thus, afflicted by suffering, he endures pain in delusion; his life-breaths are shaken by intense distress and great hardship.
अपानमार्गमाश्रित्य शृणु कांत प्रयांति ते । एवं प्राणी महामुग्धो लोभमोहसमन्वितः
Taking the path of the downward breath, hear, dear one, how they depart; thus, the living being, greatly deluded by greed and ignorance—
नीयते यमदूतैस्तु तस्य दुःखं वदाम्यहम्
—is led away by the messengers of Yama; I will tell you of his suffering.
सुमनोवाच- अंगारसंचये मार्गे घृष्यमाणो हि नीयते । दह्यमानः स दुष्टात्मा चेष्टमानः पुनः पुनः
Sumanā said: Dragged along a path strewn with embers, he is led away, burning, that wicked soul, struggling again and again.
यत्रातपो महातीव्रो द्वादशादित्यतापितः । नीयते तेन मार्गेण संतप्तः सूर्यरश्मिभिः
Where the heat is extremely intense, scorched by the blaze of twelve suns, he is led along that path, tormented by the rays of the sun.
पर्वतेष्वेव दुर्गेषु छायाहीनेषु दुर्मतिः । नीयते तेन मार्गेण क्षुधातृष्णाप्रपीडितः
On mountains that are difficult and without shade, that evil-minded one is led along that path, tormented by hunger and thirst.
स दूतैर्हन्यमानस्तु गदाखड्गैः परश्वधैः । कशाभिस्ताड्यमानस्तु निंद्यमानस्तु दूतकैः
There, beaten by the messengers with clubs, swords, and axes, struck with whips, and reviled by the messengers—
ततः शीतमये मार्गे वायुना सेव्यते पुनः । तेन शीतेन दुःखी स भूत्वा याति न संशयः
Then, on a path filled with cold, he is again assailed by the wind; from that cold, he becomes miserable, without doubt.
आकृष्यमाणो दूतैस्तु नानादुर्गेषु नीयते । एवं पापी स दुष्टात्मा देवब्राह्मणनिंदकः
Dragged by the messengers, he is led through various difficult places; thus, that sinner, the wicked soul, who reviled gods and Brahmins.
सर्वपापसमाचारो नीयते यमकिंकरैः । यमं पश्यति दुष्टात्मा कृष्णांजनचयोपमम्
Engaged in all kinds of sinful conduct, he is led by Yama's attendants; the wicked soul sees Yama, dark as a mass of black ointment.
तमुग्रं दारुणं भीमं भीमदूतैः समावृतम् । सर्वव्याधिसमाकीर्णं चित्रगुप्तसमन्वितम्
He sees that fierce, dreadful, and terrifying one, surrounded by fearsome messengers, filled with all diseases, accompanied by Citragupta.
आरूढं महिषं देवं धर्मराजं द्विजोत्तम । दंष्ट्राकरालमत्युग्रं तस्यास्यं कालसंनिभम्
O best of twice-born, he sees the god Dharmaraja mounted on a buffalo, with a terrifying face like death itself, fierce and with protruding fangs.
पीतवासं गदाहस्तं रक्तगंधानुलेपनम् । रक्तमाल्यकृताभूषं गदाहस्तं भयंकरम्
Clad in yellow garments, holding a mace, his body smeared with red sandal paste, adorned with red garlands, he stands, mace in hand, fearsome to behold.
एवंविधं महाकायं यमं पश्यति दुर्मतिः । तं दृष्ट्वा समनुप्राप्तं सर्वधर्मबहिष्कृतम्
That wicked person sees Yama, of immense form, appearing in this way; seeing him approach, cast out from all righteousness.
यमः पश्यति तं दुष्टं पापिष्ठं धर्मकंटकम् । शासयेत्तु महादुःखैः पीडाभिर्दारुमुद्गलैः
Yama sees that evil, most sinful one, a thorn to righteousness, and punishes him with great sufferings, torments, and cruel clubs.
यावद्युगसहस्रांतं तावत्कालं प्रपच्यते । नानाविधे च नरके पच्यते च पुनः पुनः
For as long as a thousand ages, he is cooked for that duration; again and again he is tormented in various kinds of hell.
नारकीं याति वै योनिं कृमिकोटिषु पापकृत् । अमेध्ये पच्यते नित्यं हाहाभूतो विचेतनः
The doer of evil goes to a hellish womb among millions of worms; he is constantly tormented in filth, crying out in pain, bereft of consciousness.
मरणं च स पापात्मा एवं याति सुनिश्चितम् । एवं पापस्य संयोगं भुंक्ते चैव सु दुर्मतिः
That sinful soul certainly meets such a death; thus, the wicked one endures the consequences of his evil deeds.
पुनर्जन्म प्रवक्ष्यामि यासु योनिषु याति च । शुनां योनिशतं प्राप्य भुंक्ते वै पातकं पुनः
Now I will tell you about the rebirths into which he enters; after attaining a hundred births as a dog, he again experiences sin.
व्याघ्रो भवति दुष्टात्मा रासभीं याति वै पुनः । मार्जार शूकरीं योनिं सर्पयोनिं तथैव च
The evil-minded one becomes a tiger, then again enters the womb of a donkey, a cat, a pig, and also a serpent.
नानाभेदासु सर्वासु तिर्यक्षु च पुनः पुनः । पापपक्षिषु संयाति अन्यासु महतीषु च
Again and again he enters all sorts of lower births, among various kinds of animals, among sinful birds, and among other great forms.
चांडाल भिल्लयोनिं च पुलिंदीं याति पापकृत् । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं पापिनां जन्म चैव हि
The doer of evil is born among Chandalas, Bhillas, and Pulindas; thus I have told you all about the birth of sinners.
मरणे शृणु कांत त्वं चेष्टां तेषां सुदारुणाम् । पापपुण्यसमाचारस्तवाग्रे कथितो मया
At the time of death, O beloved, listen to their most dreadful state; I have described to you the deeds of sin and merit.
अन्यदेवं प्रवक्ष्यामि यदि पृच्छसि मानद
Now I will tell you something else, if you ask, O giver of honor.
सोमशर्मोवाच- सर्वं देवि समाख्यातं धर्मसंस्थानमुत्तमम् । कथं पुत्रमहं विंद्यां सर्वज्ञं गुणसंयुतम्
Soma Sharma said: O goddess, you have told me everything, the supreme foundation of righteousness; how can I obtain a son who is all-knowing and endowed with virtues?
वद त्वं मे महाभागे यदि जानासि सुव्रते । दानधर्मादिकं भद्रे परत्रेह न संशयः
Tell me, O highly fortunate one, if you know, O virtuous lady; about charity, righteousness, and the like, there is no doubt here or hereafter.
सुमनोवाच- वसिष्ठं गच्छ धर्मज्ञं तं प्रार्थय महामुनिम् । तस्मात्प्राप्स्यसि वै पुत्रं धर्मज्ञं धर्मवत्सलम्
Sumana said: Go to Vasistha, the knower of righteousness, and beseech that great sage; from him you will surely obtain a son, wise and devoted to righteousness.
सूत उवाच- एवमुक्ते तया वाक्ये सोमशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः । एवं करिष्ये कल्याणि तव वाक्यं न संशयः
Suta said: Thus addressed by her, Soma Sharma, the best of twice-born, replied: 'I will do so, O auspicious one, your words are beyond doubt.'
एवमुक्त्वा जगामाशु सोमशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः । वसिष्ठं सर्ववेत्तारं दिव्यं तं तपतां वरम्
Having spoken thus, Soma Sharma, the best of twice-born, quickly went to Vasistha, the knower of all, the divine, the foremost of ascetics.