मध्यदेशे महाग्रामो ब्राह्मणानां बभूव ह । गंगायमुनयोर्मध्ये यामुनस्य गिरेरधः
In the central region, there was a great village of brāhmaṇas, situated between the Gaṅgā and Yamunā rivers, at the foot of the Yamuna mountain.
विद्वांसस्तत्र भूयिष्ठा ब्राह्मणाश्चावसंस्तदा । अथ प्राह यमः कंचित्पुरुषं कृष्णपिंगलम्
There, most of the inhabitants were learned brāhmaṇas. Then Yama spoke to a certain man, dark and tawny in appearance.
रक्ताक्षमूर्द्ध्वरोमाणं काकजंघाक्षिनासिकम् । गच्छ त्वं भो महाग्रामं गत्वा ब्राह्मणमानय
With red eyes, hair standing upright, and limbs like a crow—legs, eyes, and nose—he was told: 'Go, O you, to the great village and bring a brāhmaṇa.'
वसिष्ठगोत्रसंभूतं नामतो यज्ञदत्तकम् । शमे निविष्टं विद्वांसं यज्ञकर्मविशारदम्
He is born of the lineage of Vasiṣṭha, named Yajñadatta, established in tranquility, learned, and expert in sacrificial rites.
नचान्यमानयेथास्त्वं सगोत्रं तस्य पार्श्वतः । सहितादृग्गुणस्तेन तुल्योऽध्ययन जन्मना
Do not bring anyone else from his family or those near him—only one who matches him in qualities, study, and birth.
आकृत्या च तथा चिह्नैः समस्तेनैव सत्तमः । तमानय यथोद्दिष्टा पूजा कार्या हि तस्य मे
By form and by all distinguishing marks, bring that excellent one exactly as described; for I must perform worship for him.
स गत्वा प्रतिकूलं तु चकार यमशासनम् । तमेव मानयामास प्रतिषिद्धो यमेन यः
He went and, acting contrary to the command of Yama, honored only the one whom Yama had forbidden.
तस्मै यमः समुत्थाय पूजां कृत्वा च धर्मवित् । प्रोवाच नीयतामेष सोऽन्य आनीयतामिति
Yama, rising up, performed worship for him according to dharma, and said, 'Let this one be sent back; bring another instead.'
सूत उवाच- एवमुक्ते तु वचने धर्मराजेन स द्विजः । उवाच धर्मराजं तं निर्विण्णो गमनाय वै
Sūta said: When the Lord of Dharma spoke thus, the brāhmaṇa, disheartened at the prospect of returning, addressed Dharmarāja.
ब्राह्मण उवाच- कस्मादहमिहानीतः कस्मात्प्रेरयसे पुनः । गंतुं नैवोत्सहे तत्र मर्त्यलोकं पुनः प्रभो
The brāhmaṇa said: 'Why have I been brought here? Why do you send me back again? I am unable, O Lord, to return to the mortal world.'
यम उवाच- इह क्षीणायुषां पुंसां वासः पुण्यवतां भवेत् । अयं वै धर्मराजस्य लोको धर्मः प्रकीर्तितः
Yama said: 'Here is the abode for those whose lifespan is exhausted, for the virtuous. This is the world of Dharmarāja, renowned as the realm of righteousness.'
सौख्यभूमिरियं सर्वा धर्मराजोऽहमीश्वरः । पुण्यापुण्यानुसारेण जंतूनां सुखदुःखदः
This is the realm of happiness in every way; I, Dharmarāja, am the Lord here, giving happiness or sorrow to beings according to their merit or demerit.
पापिनां यमरूपोऽस्मि नृणां निरयदायकः । तथा पुण्यवतां सौख्य स्वर्गदो धर्म मूर्तिमान्
For sinners, I am Yama, the giver of hell to men; but for the virtuous, I am the embodiment of Dharma, the giver of happiness and heaven.
गच्छ विप्र त्वमद्यैव निलयं स्वं यथागतः । अद्यापि दशवर्षाणामायुस्ते परिवर्तते
Go, brāhmaṇa, today itself, return to your own abode as you came; even now, ten years of your lifespan remain.
क्षये तवायुषः प्राप्तिर्लोकस्यास्य भविष्यति । प्रष्टव्यं च त्वया ह्यन्यत्पृच्छस्व प्रब्रवीमि ते
When your lifespan comes to its end, the people of this world will attain you. You may ask me something else; inquire, and I shall tell you.
ब्राह्मण उवाच- यत्कृत्वा सुमहत्पुण्यं स्वर्गः स्याद्ब्रूहि तन्मम । सर्वस्य हि प्रमाणंत्वं धर्माधर्मविनिश्चये
The Brahmin said: Tell me what deed, when performed, brings great merit and leads to heaven. For you are the authority for all in the discernment of righteousness and unrighteousness.
यदि देव मया सम्यग्गंतव्यं निजमंदिरे । तद्ब्रूहि कर्मणा केन पतंति नरके नराः
O god, if I am to reach your own abode properly, then tell me: by what action do people fall into hell?
व्रजंति केन वै स्वर्गं तत्सर्वं कृपया वद । यम उवाच- कर्मणा मनसा वाचा ये धर्मविमुखा नराः
And by what do they go to heaven? Please tell me all this out of kindness. Yama said: Those people who turn away from righteousness by action, thought, or word—
विष्णुभक्तिविहीना ये ते वै निरयगामिनः । पश्यंति भेदबुद्ध्या ये ब्रह्माणं शंकरं हरिम्
Those who lack devotion to Vishnu, they are destined for hell. Those who see division between Brahma, Shankara, and Hari—
विरक्ता विष्णुविद्यासु नरा निरयगामिनः । कुलदेशोचितं कर्म यस्त्यक्त्वान्यत्समाचरेत्
Those who are indifferent to the knowledge of Vishnu, such people go to hell. Whoever abandons the actions appropriate to their family and country, and does otherwise—
कामाद्वा यदि वा मोहात्स याति नरकं नरः । अयाज्ययाजकश्चैव याज्यानां च विवर्जकः
Whether out of desire or out of delusion, that person goes to hell. One who performs sacrifices that should not be performed, or neglects those that should be performed—
विरतो विष्णुविद्यासु स भुंक्ते नरकान्बहून् । अदत्वा पितृदेवेभ्यो विप्रेभ्यो मर्त्यबंधुषु
One who turns away from the knowledge of Vishnu, he experiences many hells. A sinner who dies wealthy without giving to ancestors, gods, Brahmins, or mortal relatives—
सधनो म्रियते पापः स याति नरकान्बहून् । सर्वाण्यन्नानि सिद्धानि पाकभेदं करोति यः
He who dies with wealth, not having given to ancestors, gods, Brahmins, or mortal kin, goes to many hells. Whoever, with all food prepared, makes distinctions in cooking—
अवैश्वदेवं भुंजीत स याति नरकं चिरम् । बहुद्रोहेण भूतानां येऽजयंति धनं द्विज
Whoever eats without offering to the gods (Vaiśvadeva) goes to hell for a long time. Those who, by much harm to beings, acquire wealth, O twice-born—
धनवंतो निरयगा दांभिका दुःखभागिनः । नास्तिक्यादथ वा लोभान्मोहात्काले यथोदिते
The wealthy who are deceitful and bringers of suffering are destined for hell. Whether from atheism, greed, or delusion, at the appointed time—
भक्त्या न श्राद्धदा ये स्युः पच्यंते नरकेषु ते । दीयमानस्य वित्तस्य ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तु पापकृत्
Those who do not perform the śrāddha offering with devotion are cooked in hell. If someone, when wealth is being given to Brahmins, acts to obstruct it—
विघ्नमाचरते योऽसौ नरो निरयगो भवेत् । सामान्य दक्षिणां लब्ध्वा गृह्णात्येको विमोहतः
He who creates obstacles when wealth is being given to Brahmins becomes a dweller in hell. If, out of delusion, one person takes the common fee alone—
नास्तिक्यभावनिरतो नरः स्यान्नरकालये । असहिष्णुतया तस्य गुणानां कारणं भवेत्
A person devoted to atheistic thinking dwells in hell. Because of his intolerance, this becomes the cause of his faults.
महत्पापं समुत्पन्नं कारणं नरकस्य तत् । निर्दोषां सुहृदां भार्यां त्यजन्कालेन याति यः
A great sin arises from this, and it is the cause of hell. Whoever abandons a blameless, friendly wife in due time—
न वहेत यशस्तेषां स नरो नरके पतेत् । अधर्मं धर्ममिति यो वदन्मोहवशं गतः
He does not uphold her honor; such a man falls into hell. One who, overcome by delusion, calls unrighteousness righteousness—