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.
गंगातीरे स्थितं पुण्यमाश्रमस्थं द्विजोत्तमम् । तेजोज्वालासमाकीर्णं द्वितीयमिव भास्करम्
On the bank of the Ganges stood a holy sage, the best of twice-born, dwelling in his hermitage, surrounded by a blaze of splendor, like a second sun.
राजमानं महात्मानं ब्रह्मण्यं च द्विजोत्तमम् । भक्त्या प्रणम्य विप्रेशं दंडवच्च पुनः पुनः
Beholding that great-souled, illustrious, and Brahman-devoted sage, the king bowed before the lord of brahmins with devotion, prostrating himself again and again.
तमुवाच महातेजा ब्रह्मसूनुरकल्मषः । उपाविशासने पुण्ये सुखेन सुमहामते
That sinless son of Brahma, radiant with great energy, spoke to him: 'Sit comfortably on this auspicious seat, O one of great wisdom.'
एवमुक्त्वा स योगींद्रः पुनः प्राह तपोधनम् । गृहे पुत्रेषु ते वत्स दारभृत्येषु सर्वदा
Having said this, the lord of yogis again addressed the ascetic: 'O child, is all well in your house, with your sons, wife, and servants at all times?'
क्षेममस्ति महाभाग पुण्यकर्मसु चाग्निषु । निरामयोसि चांगेषु धर्मं पालयसे सदा
'Is all secure, O highly fortunate one, with your meritorious rituals and sacred fires? Are you free from illness in your limbs, and do you always uphold righteousness?'
एवमुक्त्वा महाप्राज्ञः पुनः प्राह सुशर्मणम् । किं करोमि प्रियं कार्यं सुप्रियं ते द्विजोत्तम
Having spoken thus, the wise one again said to Suśarman: 'What dear or most pleasing thing may I do for you, O best of brahmins?'
एवं संभाषितं विप्रं विरराम स कुंभजः । तस्मिन्नुक्ते महाभागे वसिष्ठे मुनिपुंगवे
Thus addressed, the sage Kuṃbhaja ceased speaking to the brahmin; and when the great and illustrious Vasiṣṭha, foremost among sages, was thus addressed—
स होवाच महात्मानं वसिष्ठं तपतां वरम् । भगवञ्छ्रूयतां वाक्यं सुप्रसन्नेन चेतसा
He spoke to the great-souled Vasiṣṭha, best among ascetics: 'O revered one, kindly listen to my words with a serene mind.'
यदि मे सुप्रियं कार्यं त्वयैव मुनिपुंगव । मम प्रश्नार्थसंदेहं विच्छेदय द्विजोत्तम
'If you truly wish to do what is most pleasing for me, O foremost of sages, resolve my question and doubt, O best of brahmins.'
दारिद्र्यं केन पापेन पुत्रसौख्यं कथं नहि । एतन्मे संशयं तात कस्मात्पापाद्वदस्व मे
'By what sin does poverty arise, and why is there no happiness from sons? Tell me, father, from what sin this doubt of mine arises.'