शार्दूलेन हतो ज्येष्ठः कनिष्ठः सर्पदंशितः । एकस्मिन्दिवसे राजन्पापिष्ठौ निधनं गतौ
The elder was killed by a tiger, the younger bitten by a snake; on the same day, O King, the two most sinful met their end.
यमदूतैस्ततोबद्ध्वा पापैर्नीतौ यमालयम् । गत्वाभिजगदुःसर्वे ते दूताः पापिनावुभौ
Then, bound by the messengers of Yama for their sins, they were taken to the abode of Yama; upon arriving, all those messengers reported about both sinners.
धर्मराज नरावेतावानीतौ तव शासनात् । आज्ञां देहि स्वभृत्येषु प्रसीद करवाम किम्
"O Lord of Justice, these two men have been brought here by your command; give your order to your servants—be gracious, what should we do?"
आलोच्य चित्रगुप्तेन तदा दूताञ्जगौ यमः । एकस्तु नीयतां वीर निरयं तीव्रवेदनम्
Then, after consulting with Citragupta, Yama spoke to the messengers: "Let one be taken to a hell of intense suffering, O heroes."
अपरः स्थाप्यतां स्वर्गेयत्र भोगा ह्यनुत्तमाः । कृतांताज्ञां ततः श्रुत्वा दूतैश्च क्षिप्रकारिभिः
"Let the other be placed in heaven, where there are supreme enjoyments." Hearing the command of Death, the swift messengers acted at once.
निक्षिप्तो रौरवे घोरे यो ज्येष्ठो हि नराधिप । तेषां दूतवरः कश्चिदुवाच मधुरं वचः
The elder was cast into the dreadful Raurava hell, O king of men; then, one of the chief messengers spoke sweet words.
विकुंडल मया सार्द्धमेहि स्वर्गं ददामि ते । भुंक्ष्व भोगान्सुदिव्यांस्त्वमर्जितान्स्वेन कर्मणा
O Vikuṇḍala, come with me; I will 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, with a joyful heart, he questioned the messenger on the path, holding doubt in his heart and filled with great wonder, 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 best of messengers, I ask you this profound question. We were born in the same family, performed the same actions alike.
दुर्मृत्युरपि तुल्योभूत्तुल्यो दृष्टो यमस्तथा । कथं स नरके क्षिप्तस्तुल्यकर्म्मा ममाग्रजः
Even Durmṛtyu was equal, and Yama was seen as equal too. How is it that my elder brother, with equal deeds, has been cast into hell?
ममाभवत्कथं नाकमिति मे छिंधि संशयम् । देवदूत न पश्यामि मम स्वर्गस्य कारणम्
How is it that I have attained heaven? Remove this doubt of mine. O divine messenger, I do not see the cause of my reaching 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 names arise for a being due to birth, for the experience of karma.
एकस्मिन्पादपे यद्वच्छकुनानां समागमः । यद्यत्समीहितं कर्म कुरुते पूर्वभावितः
Just as birds gather on a single tree, so each one performs actions as previously determined by their own nature.
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: by their deeds, people experience good and bad.
स्वकृतं भुज्यते वैश्य कालेकाले पुनःपुनः । एकः करोति कर्माणि एकस्तत्फलमश्नुते
One enjoys what one has done, merchant, again and again, in due time. One acts alone, and alone one enjoys the result.
अन्यो न लिप्यते वैश्य कर्मणान्यस्य कुत्रचित् । अपतन्नरके पापैस्तवभ्राता सुदारुणैः । त्वं च धर्मेण धर्मज्ञ स्वर्गं प्राप्नोषि शाश्वतम्
No one is affected by another's actions anywhere, merchant. Your brother has fallen into hell because of terrible sins, while you, knower of righteousness, attain eternal heaven through virtue.
विकुंडल उवाच- आबाल्यान्मम पापेषु न पुण्येषु रतं मनः । अस्मिञ्जन्मनि हे दूत दुष्कृतं हि कृतं मया
Vikuṇḍala said: From childhood, my mind was not inclined to virtue but to sin. In this life, O messenger, I have indeed committed evil.
देवदूत न जानामि सुकृतं कर्म चात्मनः । यदि जानासि मत्पुण्यं तन्मे त्वं कृपया वद
O divine messenger, I do not know of any good deed of my own. If you know of any merit of mine, please tell me out of kindness.
देवदूत उवाच- शृणु वैश्य प्रवक्ष्यामि यत्त्वया पुण्यमर्जितम् । जानामि तदहं सर्वं न त्वं वेत्सि सुनिश्चितम्
The divine messenger said: Hear, merchant, I will tell you the merit you have acquired. I know it all, though you certainly do not remember.
हरिमित्रसुतो विप्रः सुमित्रो वेदपारगः । आसीत्तस्याश्रमः पुण्यो यमुना दक्षिणेतटे
There was a brāhmaṇa named Sumitra, son of Harimitra, learned in the Vedas. His holy hermitage was on the southern bank of the Yamunā.
तेन सख्यं वने तस्मिंस्तव जातं विशांवर । तत्संगेन त्वया स्नातं माघमासद्वयं तथा
In that forest, O Viśāṃvara, you formed a friendship with him. Through that association, you bathed for two months of Māgha.
कालिंदी पुण्यपानीये सर्वपापहरे वरे । तत्तीर्थे लोकविख्याते नाम्ना पापप्रणाशने
In the sacred, sin-destroying waters of the Kālindī, at that famous holy place known for removing sins.
एकेन सर्वपापेभ्यो विमुक्तस्त्वं विशांपते । द्वितीयमाघपुण्येन प्राप्तः स्वर्गस्त्वयानघ
By that one act, O lord of men, you were freed from all sins. By the merit of the second Māgha, you attained heaven, O sinless one.
त्वं तत्पुण्यप्रभावेण मोदस्व सततं दिवि । नरकेषु तव भ्राता महतीं पापयातनाम्
By the power of that merit, you may always rejoice in heaven, while your brother endures great torment in hell because of his sins.
छिद्यमानोऽसिपत्रैश्च भिद्यमानस्तु मुद्गरैः । चूर्ण्यमानः शिलापृष्ठे तप्तांगारेषु भर्जितः
Being cut by swords with sharp edges, being struck with clubs, being crushed upon stone slabs, and being roasted upon burning coals—
इति दूतवचः श्रुत्वा भ्रातृदुःखेन दुःखितः । पुलकांकित सर्वांगो दीनोऽसौ विनयान्वितः
Hearing these words of the messenger, afflicted by his brother’s suffering, his whole body bristling with horripilation, he became dejected and humble.
उवाच तं देवदूतं मधुरं निपुणं वचः । मैत्री सप्तपदी साधो सतां भवति सत्फला
He spoke to that divine messenger sweet and skillful words: 'O noble one, the friendship of those who walk seven steps together with the virtuous bears true fruit.'
मित्रभावं विचिंत्य त्वं मामुपाकर्तुमर्हसि । ततो हि श्रोतुमिच्छामि सर्वज्ञस्त्वं मतो मम
'Considering our bond of friendship, you ought to help me; therefore, I wish to hear from you, for I regard you as all-knowing.'
यमलोकं न पश्यंति कर्मणा केन मानवाः । गच्छंति निरयं येन तन्मे त्वं कृपया वद
'By what actions do people not see the realm of Yama, and by what do they go to hell? Out of compassion, tell me this.'
देवदूत उवाच- सम्यक्पृष्टं त्वया वैश्य नष्टपापोऽसि सांप्रतम् । विशुद्धे हृदये पुंसां बुद्धिः श्रेयसि जायते
The divine messenger said: 'You have asked rightly, O Vaiśya; you are now free from sin. In those whose hearts are pure, discernment for the highest good arises.'