प्रोत्साहं वर्धयंते ये मोदंते दिवि ते नराः । हेमंते वह्निदो यश्च तथा ग्रीष्मे जलप्रदः
Those who encourage others rejoice in heaven; one who gives fire in winter, or water in summer—
वर्षा स्वाश्रमदाता च स स्वर्गे मोदते चिरम् । पुण्यकालेषु सर्वेषु नित्य नैमित्तिकादिषु
—and one who gives shelter to his own hermitage during the rains, he delights in heaven for a long time; at all times of merit, whether regular or occasional.
भक्त्या यः कुरुते श्राद्धं स नूनं सुरलोकभाक्
Whoever performs śrāddha with devotion at such times surely attains the world of the gods.
दानं दरिद्रस्य विभोः क्षमित्वं यूनां तपो ज्ञानवतां च मौनम् । इच्छानिवृत्तिश्च सुखोचितानां दया च भूतेषु दिवं नयंति
The charity of the poor, forgiveness of the young, austerity of the wise, restraint of desire by those accustomed to comfort, and compassion for beings—these lead to heaven.
द्विविधः कर्मसंबंधः पापपुण्यसमुद्भवः । सत्यमेव समाश्रित्य क्रियते ह्यत्र निर्णयः
There are two kinds of karmic bonds, arising from sin and virtue; judgment here is made solely on the basis of truth.
तपोध्यानसमायुक्तं तारणाय भवांबुधेः । पापं तु पतनायोक्तं सत्यमेव न संशयः
That which is joined with austerity and meditation leads to crossing the ocean of existence; but sin, it is said, leads to downfall—this is certain, there is no doubt.
बलेन परिचारेण शौर्येणाभियुतस्य च । पुण्यहीनस्य वै पुंसस्तद्बलादिव लीयते
For a man lacking virtue, even if endowed with strength, service, and courage, all that power is dissolved, just as strength and the like disappear.
उन्नता गिरि दुर्गेषु वृक्षाः संति सुपुष्टकाः । पतंति वातवेगेन समूलास्तु घना अपि
On high mountain fortresses, there are trees that are well-nourished; yet, even those great ones are uprooted and fall by the force of the wind.
सत्यधर्मविहीनास्ते तथा यांति यमालयम् । सामान्यं सर्वजंतूंनां बलं धर्मस्तु केवलः
In the same way, those devoid of truth and righteousness go to the abode of Yama; for all beings, strength is common, but righteousness alone is supreme.
येन संतरते जंतुरिहलोके परत्र च । मया सर्वमिदं सम्यक्स्वर्गमार्ग प्रदायकम्
By which a being crosses over in this world and the next—this I have explained fully, as that which grants the path to heaven.
समासेन समाख्यातं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि
I have described it in summary; what more do you wish to hear?
ब्राह्मण उवाच- एतन्मूर्खोऽपि जानाति शुभकर्मकरः पुमान् । न याति नरकं स्वर्गं तथा पापक्रिया रतः
The Brahmin said: Even a fool knows that a man who performs good deeds does not go to hell, and one who delights in sinful acts does not attain heaven.
क्रतुभिर्विविधैरिष्टैर्व्रत दान जपादिभिः । सत्येनाचारकुशलैः स्वर्गसौख्यमवाप्यते
Through various sacrifices, offerings, vows, gifts, recitation, and by truth and skill in conduct, the happiness of heaven is attained.
विद्याचारधनोपेतैर्ऋषिभिर्वेदपारगैः । प्राप्यते पुण्ययोगेन यज्ञैर्नाकस्ततः क्वचित्
By sages endowed with learning, good conduct, and wealth, who are versed in the Vedas, heaven is attained through the accumulation of merit, and never otherwise.
वित्तेन च विना दानं बहुदातुं न शक्यते । विद्यमान धनेनापि कुटुंबासक्तचेतसा
Without wealth, it is not possible to give many gifts; and even with wealth, one whose mind is attached to family cannot give.
अग्निहोत्रादयो धर्मा विशेषेण कलौ युगे । दुष्करा दानधर्मोऽपि दुष्करो भगवन्मतः
Rites like Agnihotra and others are especially difficult in the Kali age; even the practice of giving is difficult, O Blessed One, in my opinion.
अल्पायासेन धर्मेण लभ्यते धर्मसंचयः । तन्मे विशेषतो ब्रूहि धर्माधर्मप्रदर्शक
By a small effort in righteousness, a store of merit is obtained; therefore, tell me especially, O revealer of dharma and adharma.
तदेकं कथ्यतां धर्मं सर्वधर्मोत्तमोत्तमम् । कृतेनैकेन येनेह सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत्
Tell me that one supreme dharma, highest among all dharmas, by which, through a single act, all sins here may be destroyed.
धनं धान्यं यशो धर्ममायुर्येनाभि वर्त्तते । मर्त्यलोकेऽपि सख्यं स्यात्स्वर्गो येनाक्षयो भवेत्
By which wealth, grain, fame, righteousness, and long life increase; by which, even in the world of mortals, friendship arises, and by which heaven becomes inexhaustible.
साक्षान्नारायणो येन भक्तानामभयप्रदः । तुष्येदस्यप्रसादेन कामः करतले स्थितः
By which Lord Nārāyaṇa himself grants fearlessness to devotees; by whose grace, desire is as if held in the palm of the hand.
सर्वयज्ञ तपोदानतीर्थसेवाधिकं फलम् । लभ्यते येन यद्यस्ति वैवस्वत तदादिश
By which the highest fruit, greater than all sacrifices, austerities, gifts, and pilgrimages, is obtained—if such exists, O Vaivasvata, declare it.
अनुग्राह्यो ह्यहं देव यदि धर्मोपदेशतः । सर्वधर्मक्रियासारं तदेकं कृपया वद
If I am to be favored by you, O Lord, with instruction in dharma, then out of compassion, tell me that one essence of all dharmic acts.
पापानामनुरूपाणि प्रायश्चित्तानि यद्यथा । तथा तथैव संस्मृत्य कथितानि मनीषिभिः
The expiations are prescribed according to the nature of the sins; thus, the wise have described them, recalling each as appropriate.
कर्तुं तानि न शक्यंते देव प्रत्येकशो नरैः । सर्वपापहरं पुण्यमेकं चेदस्ति तद्वद
O god, people are not able to perform each of these individually; if there is one single meritorious act that removes all sins, please tell it.
सूत उवाच-। इत्युक्त्वा ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठो यमं धर्मस्वरूपिणम् । तुष्टाव प्रयतो भूत्वा सूक्ष्मधर्माभिकामुकः
Sūta said: Having spoken thus, the foremost brāhmaṇa, desiring subtle righteousness, became composed and praised Yama, the embodiment of dharma.
ब्राह्मण उवाच- नमस्ते सर्वशमन नमस्ते जगतांपते । नमोऽस्तु देवरूपाय स्वर्गमार्गप्रदायिने
The brāhmaṇa said: Salutations to you, who bring peace to all; salutations to you, lord of the worlds; salutations to you, who appear as a god and grant the path to heaven.
धर्मशास्त्रस्वरूपाय धर्मराज नमोस्तुते । त्वया भूः पाल्यते देवाप्यंतरिक्षं च द्यौर्महः
Salutations to you, King of Dharma, who are the very form of the scriptures of righteousness; by you, O god, the earth, the heavens, the mid-space, and the great sky are protected.
जनस्तपस्तथासत्यं सर्वस्वं पाल्यते त्वया । न त्वया रहितं किंचिज्जगत्स्थावर जंगमम्
The world of men, the world of ascetics, the world of truth—all are protected by you; there is nothing, whether moving or unmoving in the world, that exists without you.
विद्यते त्वद्गृहीतं तु सद्यो नश्यति वै जगत् । त्वमात्मा सर्वभूतानां सतां सत्वस्वरूपवान्
Whatever is not held by you is immediately destroyed; you are the self of all beings, possessing the true nature of the good.
राजसानां रजस्त्वं च तामसानां तमस्तथा । चतुष्पदां भवान्देव चतुःशृंगस्त्रिलोचनः
You are rajas among those of rajas nature, and likewise tamas among those of tamas nature; O god, you are four-footed, four-horned, and three-eyed.