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.'
यद्यप्यवसरोनास्ति मम सेवापरस्य वै । तथापि च तव स्नेहात्प्रवक्ष्यामि यथामति
'Though I am always engaged in service and have little leisure, still, out of affection for you, I will tell you according to my understanding.'
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा सर्वावस्थासु सर्वदा । परपीडां न कुर्वंति न ते यांति यमालयम्
'Those who, by deed, mind, or speech, never cause harm to others in any situation, at any time, do not go to the abode of Yama.'
न वेदैर्न च दानैश्च न तपोभिर्न चाध्वरैः । कथंचित्स्वर्गतिं यांति पुरुषाः प्राणिहिंसकाः
'Not by Vedic study, nor by gifts, nor by austerities, nor by sacrifices do those who harm living beings ever attain heaven.'
अहिंसा परमो धर्मो ह्यहिंसैव परं तपः । अहिंसा परमं दानमित्याहुर्मुनयः सदा
'Nonviolence is the highest dharma; nonviolence is indeed the supreme austerity; nonviolence is the highest gift—so the sages always declare.'
मशकान्सरीसृपान्दंशान्यूकाद्यान्मानवांस्तथा । आत्मौपम्येन पश्यंति मानवा ये दयालवः
'Those compassionate people who see mosquitoes, reptiles, biting insects, and even humans with the measure of themselves—'
तप्तांगारमयस्कीलं मादंप्रेतरंगिणीम् । दुर्गतिं नैव गच्छंति कृतांतस्य च ते नराः
'They do not go to the hell of burning coals, iron spikes, or the river of wine; such people do not reach the realm of death.'
भूतानि येऽत्र हिंसंति जलस्थलचराणि च । जीवनार्थं च ते यांति कालसूत्रं च दुर्गतिम्
'Those who harm living beings here—whether aquatic or land-dwelling—for the sake of their own life, they go to the Kālasūtra hell and to evil destinies.'
श्वमांसभोजनास्तत्र पूयशोणितपायिनः । मज्जंतश्च वसापंके दष्टाः कीटैरधोमुखैः
'There, those who eat dog’s flesh, who drink pus and blood, sink into pools of fat and are bitten by downward-facing insects.'
परस्परं च खादंतो ध्वांते चान्योन्य घातिनः । वसंति कल्पानेकांस्ते रुदंतो दारुणं रवम्
'There, eating one another, killing each other in darkness, they dwell for countless aeons, crying out with terrible wails.'
कृमियोनि शतं गत्वा स्थावराः स्युश्चिरं तु ते । ततोच्छंति ते क्रूरास्तिर्यग्योनि शतेषु च
'Having entered a hundred wombs of worms, they become immobile for a long time; then those cruel ones are born in a hundred animal births.'
पश्चाद्भवंति जातांधाः काणाः कुब्जाश्च पंगवः । दरिद्राश्चांगहीनाश्च मानुषाः प्राणिहिंसकाः
'Afterwards, when born as humans, they are blind, one-eyed, hunchbacked, lame, poor, and mutilated—those who have harmed living beings.'
तस्माद्वैश्य परत्रेह कर्मणा मनसा गिरा । लोकद्वयसुखप्रेप्सुर्धर्मज्ञो न तदाचरेत्
'Therefore, O Vaiśya, one who desires happiness in both worlds and knows dharma should not commit such acts by deed, mind, or speech, here or hereafter.'
लोकद्वयेन विंदंति सुखानि प्राणिहिंसकाः । येन हिंसन्ति भूतानि न ते बिभ्यति कुत्रचित्
Those who harm living beings and take pleasure from both worlds do not fear anywhere, for they cause suffering to creatures.
प्रविशंति यथा नद्यः समुद्रमृजुवक्रगाः । सर्वे धर्मा अहिंसायां प्रविशंति तथा दृढम्
Just as all rivers, whether straight or winding, enter the ocean, so too all virtues firmly culminate in non-violence.
स स्नातः सर्वतीर्थेषु सर्वयज्ञेषु दीक्षितः । अभयं येन भूतेभ्यो दत्तमत्र विंशांवर
He who has granted fearlessness to living beings here, O Viṃśāṃvara, is as one who has bathed in all sacred waters and been initiated in all sacrifices.
ये नियोगांश्च शास्त्रोक्तान्धर्माधर्म विमिश्रितान् । पालयंतीह ये वैश्य न ते यांति यमालयम्
Those Vaiśyas who uphold the duties prescribed in the scriptures, even those mixed with righteousness and unrighteousness, do not go to the abode of Yama.
ब्रह्मचारी गृहस्थश्च वानप्रस्थो यतिस्तथा । स्वधर्मनिरताः सर्वे नाकपृष्ठे वसंति ते
All who are devoted to their own duties—be they student, householder, forest-dweller, or renunciant—dwell on the summit of heaven.
यथोक्तचारिणः सर्वे वर्णाश्रमसमन्विताः । नरा जितेंद्रिया यांति ब्रह्मलोकं तु शाश्वतम्
All men endowed with the orders and stages of life, who act as prescribed and have mastered their senses, attain the eternal world of Brahma.
इष्टापूर्तरता ये च पंचयज्ञरताश्च ये । दयान्विताश्च ये नित्यं नेक्षंते ते यमालयम्
Those who delight in acts of charity and sacrifice, who are devoted to the five great offerings, and who are always compassionate, do not see the abode of Yama.
इंद्रियार्थनिवृत्ता ये समर्था वेदवादिनः । अग्निपूजारता नित्यं ते विप्राः स्वर्गगामिनः
Those learned Brāhmaṇas who refrain from sense pleasures, are skilled in Vedic discourse, and are ever devoted to the worship of fire, go to heaven.