एकदा जनको राजा योगेनासून्समत्यजत् । तदा विमानं संप्राप्तं किंकिणीजालभूषितम्
Once, King Janaka abandoned his life through yoga; at that time, a celestial chariot adorned with networks of small bells arrived.
तदारुह्य गतो राजा सेवकैरूढदेहवान् । मार्गे जगाम धर्मस्य संयमिन्याः पुरोंऽतिके
Then, ascending it, the king—still bearing his body, attended by servants—traveled along the path of righteousness, approaching the abode of Yama.
तदा नरककोटीषु पीड्यंते पापकारिणः । जनकस्यांगपवनं प्राप्य सौख्यं प्रपेदिरे
At that time, in the multitude of hells, those who committed evil acts were suffering; but upon receiving the touch of Janaka’s bodily wind, they attained happiness.
निरये दाहजापीडा जातैषां सुखकारिणी । महादुःखं तदा नष्टं जनकस्यांगवायुना
In hell, the torment of burning pain became, for them, a source of comfort; their great suffering was then destroyed by the wind from Janaka’s body.
तदा तं निर्गतं दृष्ट्वा जंतवः पापपीडिताः । अत्यंतं चुक्रुशुर्भीतास्तद्वियोगमनिच्छवः
Then, seeing him depart, the beings afflicted by sin cried out in great distress, unwilling to be separated from him.
ऊचुस्ते करुणां वाचं मा गच्छ सुकृतिन्नितः । त्वदंगवायुसंस्पर्शात्सुखिनः स्यामपीडिताः
They spoke words of compassion: 'Do not go, O virtuous one! By the touch of the wind from your body, we who are tormented have become happy.'
इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य राजा परमधार्मिकः । मानसे चिंतयामास करुणापूरपूरितः
Hearing these words, the king of supreme righteousness, filled with a flood of compassion, began to reflect in his mind.
चेन्मत्तः प्राणिनां सौख्यं भवेदिह तदा पुनः । अत्रैव च पुरे स्थास्ये स्वर्ग एष मनोरमः
'If, because of me, happiness comes to living beings here, then I shall remain in this very place; this delightful city is my heaven.'
एवं कृत्वा नृपस्तस्थौ तत्रैव निरयाग्रतः । विदधत्प्राणिनां सौख्यमनुकंपितमानसः
Having resolved thus, the king remained there, right before the gates of hell, granting happiness to living beings, his mind filled with compassion.
तत्र धर्मस्तु संप्राप्तो निरयद्वारि दुःखदे । कारयन्यातनास्तीव्रा नानापातककारिणाम्
There, Dharma arrived at the painful gate of hell, inflicting severe punishments on those who committed various sins.
तदा ददर्श राजानं जनकं द्वारिसंस्थितम् । विमानेन महापुण्यकारिणं दययायुतम्
Then, he saw King Janaka standing at the gate, in his celestial chariot, a doer of great merit, endowed with compassion.
तमुवाच प्रेतपतिर्जनकं सहसन्गिरा । राजन्कुतस्त्वं संप्राप्तः सर्वधर्मशिरोमणिः
The lord of the dead spoke to Janaka with gentle words: 'O king, how have you come here, you jewel among upholders of all righteousness?'
एतत्स्थानं पातकिनां दुष्टानां प्राणघातिनाम् । नायांति पुरुषा भूप त्वादृशाः पुण्यकारिणः
'This is the place of sinners, the wicked, and those who take life; men like you, O king, who perform meritorious deeds, do not come here.'
अत्रायांति नरास्ते वै ये परद्रोहतत्पराः । परापवादनिरताः परद्रव्यपरायणाः
'Here come those men who are intent on harming others, who delight in slander, and who are devoted to the wealth of others.'
यो वै कलत्रं धर्मिष्ठं निजसेवापरायणम् । अपराधादृते जह्यात्सनरोऽत्र समाव्रजेत्
'If a man, except for a fault, abandons his virtuous wife who is devoted to his service, he surely comes here.'
मित्रं वञ्चयते यस्तु धनलोभेन लोभितः । आगत्यात्र नरः पीडां मत्तः प्राप्नोति दारुणाम्
'He who deceives a friend, driven by greed for wealth, comes here and suffers terrible torment from me.'
यो रामं मनसा वाचा कर्मणा दंभतोऽपि वा । द्वेषाद्वाचोपहासाद्वा न स्मरत्येव मूढधीः
'He who, out of delusion, does not remember Rama in mind, word, or deed—even out of hypocrisy, hatred, or mockery—'
तं बध्नामि पुनस्त्वेषु निक्षिप्य श्रपयामि च । यैः स्मृतो न रमानाथो नरकक्लेशवारकः
'I bind him again, cast him among these, and make him suffer; for those by whom the Lord of Rama is not remembered are barred from the torments of hell.'
तावत्पापं मनुष्याणामंगेषु नृप तिष्ठति । यावद्रामं न रसना गृणाति कलि दुर्मतेः
O King, sin remains upon the bodies of men for as long as their tongues do not utter the name of Rama in this age of Kali, corrupted by evil minds.
महापापकरा राजन्ये भवंति महामते । तानानयंति मद्भृत्यास्त्वादृशान्द्रष्टुमक्षमाः
O wise one, rulers become perpetrators of great sins; my servants bring such people, unable to bear even the sight of them.
तस्माद्गच्छ महाराज भुंक्ष्व भोगाननेकशः । विमानवरमारुह्य भुंक्ष्व पुण्यमुपार्जितम्
Therefore, O great king, go and enjoy many pleasures; ascend the excellent celestial vehicle and partake of the merit you have earned.
इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्यध र्मराजस्य तत्पतेः । उवाच धर्मराजानं करुणापूरपूरितः
Hearing these words from the lord of Dharma, the king responded, his heart filled with compassion.
जनक उवाच। अहं गच्छामि नो नाथ जीवानामनुकम्पया । मदंगवायुना ह्येते सुखं प्राप्ताः स्म संस्थिताः
Janaka said: I will not depart, O Lord, out of compassion for the living; by the breath of my body, these beings have attained happiness and remain settled.
एतान्मुंचसि चेद्राजन्सर्वान्वै निरयस्थितान् । ततो गच्छामि सुखितः स्वर्गं पुण्यजनाश्रितम्
If you release all these beings, O King, who dwell in hell, then I will joyfully go to heaven, the refuge of the virtuous.
जाबालिरुवाच। इति वाक्यमथाश्रुत्य जनकं प्रत्युवाच सः । प्रत्येकं निर्दिशञ्जीवान्निरयस्थाननेकशः
Jabali said: Hearing these words, he replied to Janaka, indicating each of the many beings residing in hell.
धर्म उवाच। अयं मित्र कलत्रं वै विश्वस्तमनुजग्मिवान् । तस्मादेनं लोहशंकौ वर्षायुतमपीपचम्
Dharma said: This one followed his friend and wife with trust; therefore, let him be roasted in an iron cauldron for ten thousand years.
पश्चादेनं सूकराणां योनौ निक्षिप्य दोषिणम् । मानुषेष्ववतार्योऽयं षंढचिह्नेन चिह्नितः
Afterwards, let this sinner be cast into the womb of swine; then, let him be reborn among humans, marked with the sign of a eunuch.
अनेन परदाराश्च बलादालिगिता मुहुः । तस्मादयं पच्यतेऽत्र रौरवे शतहायनम्
This one repeatedly seized the wives of others by force; therefore, he is cooked here in the hell called Raurava for a hundred years.
अयं तु परकीयं स्वं मुषित्वा बुभुजे कुधीः । तस्मादस्य करौ छित्त्वा पचेयं पूयशोणिते
This wicked one, having stolen another's property, enjoyed it as his own; therefore, his hands should be cut off and he should be cooked in pus and blood.
अयं सायंतने प्राप्तमतिथिं क्षुधयार्दितम् । वाण्यापि नाकरोत्तस्य पूजनं स्वागतं न च
This one, when a guest arrived in the evening afflicted by hunger, did not offer him even a word, nor did he provide hospitality or welcome.