कुमार्गगौ दुरात्मानौ पितृमित्रनिषेधकौ । अधर्मनिरतौ दुष्टौ परदाराभिगामिनौ
They followed evil paths, were wicked at heart, opposed their father's friends, engaged in unrighteous acts, were corrupt, and pursued other men's wives.
गीतवादित्रनिरतौ वीणावेणुविनोदिनौ । वारस्त्रीशतसंयुक्तौ गायंतौ चेरतुस्तदा
Devoted to singing and playing instruments, delighting in the lute and flute, they wandered about, accompanied by hundreds of courtesans, singing.
चाटुकारजनैर्युक्तौ बिंबोष्ठीषु विशारदौ । सुवेषौ चारुवसनौ चारुचंदनरूषितौ
Surrounded by flatterers, skilled in charming women with red lips, well-dressed, adorned in beautiful garments, and smeared with fragrant sandalwood paste.
तथा सुगंधिमालाढ्यौ कस्तूरीलक्ष्मलक्षितौ । नानालंकारशोभाढ्यौ मौक्तिकाहारहारिणौ
Thus, adorned with fragrant garlands, marked with musk and saffron, resplendent with various ornaments, and wearing pearl necklaces.
गजवाजिरथौघेन क्रीडंतौ तावितस्तदा । मधुपानसमायुक्तौ परस्त्रीरतिमोहितौ
At that time, they played with herds of elephants, horses, and chariots, indulged in drinking wine, and were infatuated with the pleasures of other men's wives.
नाशयंतौ पितृद्रव्यं सहस्रं ददतुः शतम् । तस्थतुः स्वगृहे रम्ये नित्यं भोगपरायणौ
They squandered their father's wealth, giving away a thousand for a hundred, and remained always in their splendid home, devoted to enjoyment.
इत्थं तु तद्धनं ताभ्यां विनियुक्तमसद्व्ययैः । वारस्त्री विट शैलूष मल्ल चारण बंदिषु
In this way, that wealth was wasted by them on improper expenses—on courtesans, pimps, actors, wrestlers, spies, and bards.
अपात्रे तद्धनं दत्तं क्षिप्तं बीजमिवोषरे । न सत्पात्रे च तद्दत्तं न ब्राह्मणमुखे हुतम्
That wealth was given to the unworthy, cast away like seed on barren ground; it was not given to the worthy, nor offered into the mouth of a Brahmin.
नार्चितो भूतभृद्विष्णुः सर्वपापप्रणाशनः । उभयोरेव तद्द्रव्यमचिरेण क्षयं ययौ
They did not worship Vishnu, the sustainer of beings, destroyer of all sins; thus, all their wealth was soon lost.
ततस्तौ दुःखमापन्नौ कार्पण्यं परमं गतौ । शोचमानौ तु मुह्यंतौ क्षुत्पीडादुःखपीडितौ
Then, they fell into misery, reached the utmost poverty, and, afflicted by hunger and sorrow, they grieved and became bewildered.
तयोस्तु तिष्ठतोर्गेहे नास्ति यद्भुज्यते तदा । स्वजनैर्बांधवैस्सर्वैः सेवकैरुपजीविभिः
As they remained in their house, there was nothing to eat, and all their relatives, friends, servants, and dependents abandoned them.
द्रव्याभावे परित्यक्तौ चिंत्यमानौ ततः पुरे । पश्चाच्चौर्य्यं समारब्धं ताभ्यां च नगरे नृप
Lacking wealth, they were forsaken and became the subject of gossip in the city; afterwards, the two began to steal in the town, O King.
राजतो लोकतो भीतौ स्वपुरान्निःसृतौ तदा । चक्रतुर्वनवासं तौ सर्वेषामुपपीडितौ
Fearing the king and the people, they left their own city and dwelt in the forest, oppressed by all.
जघ्नतुः सततं मूढौ शितैर्बाणैर्विषार्पितैः । नानापक्षिवराहांश्च हरिणान्रोहितांस्तथा
The two fools constantly killed, with sharp, poisoned arrows, various birds, boars, deer, and red antelopes.
शशकाञ्छल्लकान्गोधान्श्वापदांश्चेतरान्बहून् । महाबलौ भिल्लसंगावाखेटकभुजौ सदा
They slew hares, partridges, monitor lizards, wild beasts, and many others; mighty as they were, always in the company of hunters, wielding bows.
एवं मांसमयाहारौ पापाहारौ परंतप । कदाचिद्भूधरं प्राप्तो ह्येकोऽन्यश्च वनं गतः
Thus, subsisting on sinful food—meat, O scorcher of foes—once, one of them reached a mountain, while the other went into the forest.
शार्दूलेन हतो ज्येष्ठः कनिष्ठः सर्पदंशितः । एकस्मिन्दिवसे राजन्पापिष्ठौ निधनं गतौ
The elder was slain by a tiger, the younger bitten by a serpent; on a single day, O King, the most sinful both met their end.
यमदूतैस्ततोबद्ध्वा पापैर्नीतौ यमालयम् । गत्वाभिजगदुःसर्वे ते दूताः पापिनावुभौ
Then, bound by the messengers of Yama, they were led away by their sins to the abode of Yama; having arrived, all those messengers declared that both were sinners.
धर्मराज नरावेतावानीतौ तव शासनात् । आज्ञां देहि स्वभृत्येषु प्रसीद करवाम किम्
O King of Dharma, these two men have been brought here by your command; grant an order to your servants, be gracious—what shall we do?
आलोच्य चित्रगुप्तेन तदा दूताञ्जगौ यमः । एकस्तु नीयतां वीर निरयं तीव्रवेदनम्
Having consulted with Citragupta, Yama then spoke to the messengers: 'Let one be led, O hero, to hell, where intense suffering prevails.'
अपरः स्थाप्यतां स्वर्गेयत्र भोगा ह्यनुत्तमाः । कृतांताज्ञां ततः श्रुत्वा दूतैश्च क्षिप्रकारिभिः
'Let the other be established in heaven, where enjoyments are truly unsurpassed.' Hearing the command of Death, the swift messengers acted accordingly.
निक्षिप्तो रौरवे घोरे यो ज्येष्ठो हि नराधिप । तेषां दूतवरः कश्चिदुवाच मधुरं वचः
The elder, O lord of men, was cast into the dreadful Raurava hell; then one among their chief messengers spoke sweet words.
विकुंडल मया सार्द्धमेहि स्वर्गं ददामि ते । भुंक्ष्व भोगान्सुदिव्यांस्त्वमर्जितान्स्वेन कर्मणा
'Vikuṇḍala, come with me; I grant you heaven. Enjoy the most divine pleasures, earned by your own actions.'
नारदउवाच- ततो हृष्टमनाः सोऽथ दूतं पप्रच्छ तं पथि । संदेहं हृदि कृत्वा तु विस्मयं परमं गतः । विचारयन्हृदि स्वर्गः कस्य हेतोः फलं मम
Nārada said: Then, his mind delighted, he questioned that messenger on the path, having formed a doubt in his heart and reached great astonishment, pondering within, 'For what reason is heaven the fruit for me?'
विकुंडल उवाच- हे दूतवर पृच्छामि संशयं त्वामहं परम् । आवां जातौ कुले तुल्ये तुल्यं कर्म तथा कृतम्
Vikuṇḍala said: O chief messenger, I ask you my highest doubt. We two were born in the same family, performed the same deeds likewise.
दुर्मृत्युरपि तुल्योभूत्तुल्यो दृष्टो यमस्तथा । कथं स नरके क्षिप्तस्तुल्यकर्म्मा ममाग्रजः
Even our deaths were alike, and Yama was seen similarly; how is it that my elder brother, with equal actions, was cast into hell?
ममाभवत्कथं नाकमिति मे छिंधि संशयम् । देवदूत न पश्यामि मम स्वर्गस्य कारणम्
How did heaven come to me? Resolve this doubt of mine. O divine messenger, I do not see the cause for my attainment of heaven.
देवदूत उवाच- माता पिता सुतो जाया स्वसा भ्राता विकुंडल । जन्महेतोरियं संज्ञा जंतोः कर्म्मोपभुक्तये
The divine messenger said: Mother, father, son, wife, sister, brother, O Vikuṇḍala—these are names arising from birth, for the experience of deeds by the living being.
एकस्मिन्पादपे यद्वच्छकुनानां समागमः । यद्यत्समीहितं कर्म कुरुते पूर्वभावितः
Just as birds gather on a single tree, so each performs the actions desired, shaped by previous causes.
तस्य तस्य फलं भुंक्ते कर्म्मणः पुरुषः सदा । सत्यं वदामि ते प्रीत्या नरैः कर्म्म शुभाशुभम्
Each person always enjoys the fruit of their own actions. I speak the truth to you with affection: among men, actions—good or bad—bring their results.