शुभाशुभफलं चापि भुज्यते सर्वदेहिभिः । शिवधर्मस्य चैकस्य फलं तत्रोपभुज्यते
Both good and bad results are experienced by all embodied beings; and there, the fruit of even a single Śiva-dharma is enjoyed.
यस्य यादृग्भवेत्पुण्यं श्रद्धापात्रविशेषतः । भोगाः शिवपुरे तस्य ज्ञेयाः सातिशयाः शुभाः
According to the particular merit one possesses, and the worthiness of one’s faith, the pleasures in Śiva’s city are to be known as exceedingly auspicious.
स्थानप्राप्तिः परं तुल्या भोगाः शांतिमयाः स्थिताः । कुर्यात्पुण्यं महत्तस्मान्महाभोगजिगीषया
The attainment of that place is equally supreme, and the pleasures there are established in peace; therefore, one should perform great merit, desiring the highest enjoyment.
सर्वातिशयमेवैकं भावितं च सुरोत्तमैः । आत्मभोगाधिपत्यं स्याच्छिवः सर्वजगत्पतिः
When one thing alone, cultivated by the best of gods, surpasses all else, then sovereignty over one’s own enjoyment is attained—Śiva is the Lord of all the worlds.
केचित्तत्रैव मुच्यंते ज्ञानयोगरता नराः । आवर्तंते पुनश्चान्ये संसारे भोगतत्पराः
Some men, devoted to the yoga of knowledge, are liberated there itself; others, intent on enjoyment, return again to the cycle of worldly existence.
तस्माद्विमुक्तिमिच्छंस्तु भोगासक्तिं च वर्जयेत् । विरक्तः शांतचित्तात्मा शिवज्ञानमवाप्नुयात्
Therefore, one who desires liberation should abandon attachment to enjoyment; the dispassionate one, with a peaceful mind and self, attains knowledge of Śiva.
ये चापीशान्यहृदया यजंतीशं प्रसंगतः । तेषामपि ददातीशः स्थानं भावानुरूपतः
Even those whose hearts are not devoted to the Lord, but who worship him incidentally, Śiva grants them a place according to their disposition.
तत्रार्चयंति ये रुद्रं सकृदुच्छिन्नकल्मषाः । तेषां पिशाचलोकेषु भोगानीशः प्रयच्छति
Those who worship Rudra there, even once, their sins destroyed, Śiva grants them enjoyments in the realms of spirits.
संतप्ता दुःखभारेण म्रियंते सर्वदेहिनः । अन्नदः पुण्यदः प्रोक्तः प्राणदश्चापि सर्वदः
All embodied beings, oppressed by the burden of suffering, perish; the giver of food is declared to be the giver of merit, and always the giver of life.
तस्मादन्नप्रदानेन सर्वदानफलं लभेत् । त्रैलोक्ये यानि रत्नानि भोगस्त्रीवाहनानि च
Therefore, by giving food, one obtains the fruit of all gifts; all the jewels, enjoyments, women, and vehicles in the three worlds.
अन्नदानप्रदः सर्वमिहामुत्र फलं लभेत् । यस्यान्नपानपुष्टांगः कुरुते पुण्यसंचयम्
The giver of food obtains all fruits, both here and hereafter; he whose body is nourished by food and drink accumulates merit.
अन्नप्रदातुस्तस्यार्धं कर्तुश्चार्धं न संशयः । धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां देहः परमसाधनम्
Of the giver of food, half the merit is his, and half belongs to the one who performs the act—of this there is no doubt; the body is the supreme means for dharma, wealth, desire, and liberation.
स्थितिस्तस्यान्नपानाभ्यामतस्तत्सर्वसाधनम् । अन्नं प्रजापतिः साक्षादन्नं विष्णुः शिवः स्वयम्
Its existence depends on food and drink, thus these are the means for everything; food is Prajapati himself, food is Vishnu, and Shiva himself.
तस्मादन्नसमं दानं न भूतं न भविष्यति । त्रयाणामपि लोकानामुदकं जीवनं स्मृतम्
Therefore, there has never been, nor will there be, a gift equal to food; water is considered the life of all three worlds.
पवित्रमुदकं दिव्यं शुद्धं सर्वरसायनम् । अन्नपानाश्व गो वस्त्र शय्या सूत्रासनानि च
Water is pure, divine, clean, and the universal elixir; food, drink, horses, cows, garments, beds, threads, and seats—
प्रेतलोके प्रशस्तानि दानान्यष्टौ विशेषतः । एवं दानविशेषेण धर्मराजपुरं नरः
These eight gifts are especially praised in the world of the departed; thus, by the excellence of giving, a man reaches the city of Dharma-king.
यस्माद्याति सुखेनैव तस्माद्धर्मं समाचरेत् । ये पुनः क्रूरकर्माणः पापादानविवर्जिताः
Because of this, one goes there with ease, therefore one should practice righteousness; but those who perform cruel deeds, devoid of the gift of merit—
भुंजते दारुणं दुःखं नरके नृपनंदन । तथा सुखं प्रभुंजंति दानकर्तार एव तु
They experience terrible suffering in hell, O delight of kings; but those who are givers indeed enjoy happiness.
तेषां तु संभवेत्सौख्यं कर्मयोगरतात्मनाम् । अप्रमेयगुणैर्दिव्यैर्विमानैः सर्वकामकैः
For those whose minds delight in the path of action, happiness arises; with divine, immeasurable virtues, and celestial palaces fulfilling all desires.
असंख्यैस्तत्पुरं व्याप्तं प्राणिनामुपकारकैः । सहस्रसोमदिव्यं वा सूर्यतेजः समप्रभम्
That city is filled with countless beings who are benefactors of life; it shines like a thousand moons or with the brilliance of the sun.
रुद्रलोकमिति प्रोक्तमशेषगुणसंयुतम् । सर्वेषां शिवभक्तानां तत्पुरं परिकीर्तितम्
It is called Rudra's realm, endowed with all virtues; that city is renowned as belonging to all devotees of Shiva.
रुद्रक्षेत्रे मृतानां च जंगमस्थावरात्मनाम् । अप्येकदिवसं भक्त्या यः पूजयति शंकरम्
For those who die in Rudra's sacred field, whether moving or unmoving beings, even if one worships Shankara with devotion for a single day—
सोपि याति शिवस्थानं किं पुनर्बहुशोर्चयन् । वैष्णवा विष्णुभक्ताश्च विष्णुध्यानपरायणाः
He too attains Shiva's abode—how much more so for one who accumulates much; and the Vaishnavas, devotees of Vishnu, intent on meditation upon Vishnu—
तेपि गच्छंति वैकुंठे समीपं देवचक्रिणः । ब्रह्मवादी च धर्मात्मा ब्रह्मलोकं प्रयाति सः
They too go to Vaikuntha, near the Lord who wields the discus; and the one devoted to Brahman, righteous in soul, goes to Brahma's world.
पुण्यकर्ता सुपुण्येन पुण्यलोकं प्रयाति च । तस्मादीशे सदा भक्तिं भावयेदात्मनात्मनि
The doer of merit, by great merit, attains the world of the virtuous; therefore, one should always cultivate devotion to the Lord, with one's own self in the Self.
हरौ वापि महाराज युक्तात्मा ज्ञानवान्स्वयम् । तस्मात्सर्वविचारेण भावदोषविचारतः
Or to Hari, O great king, with a mind united and possessing knowledge; therefore, with all discernment, considering the faults of the mind—
एवं विष्णुप्रभावेण विशिष्टेनापि कर्मणा । नरः स्थानमवाप्येतदेशभावानुरूपतः
In this way, through the power of Viṣṇu and by distinguished action, a person attains a station corresponding to the nature of his deeds.
इत्येतदपरं प्रोक्तं श्रीमच्छिवपुरं महत् । देहिनां कर्मनिष्ठानां पुनरावर्त्तकं स्मृतम्
Thus, this other great and glorious city of Śiva has been described; it is said to be a place of return for embodied beings devoted to action.
ऊर्ध्वं शिवपुराज्ज्ञेयं वैष्णवं लोकमुत्तमम् । वैष्णवा मानवा यांति विष्णुध्यानपरायणाः
Above Śivapura, one should know, is the supreme Vaiṣṇava world; those devoted to meditation on Viṣṇu, being Vaiṣṇavas, reach there.
ब्राह्मणा ब्रह्मलोकं तु सदाचारा नरोत्तमाः । प्रयांति यज्विनः सर्वे पुरीं तां तत्त्वकोविदाः
Brahmins of noble conduct attain Brahmaloka, and all those who perform sacrifices, being wise in truth, reach that city.