गंगाजले प्रयागे च केदारे पुष्करे तथा । व्यासाश्रमे प्रभासे च मृतास्ते विष्णुगामिनः
Those who die in the waters of the Gaṅgā at Prayāga, Kedāra, Puṣkara, Vyāsa's hermitage, or Prabhāsa are destined for Viṣṇu.
द्वारवत्यां कुरुक्षेत्रे योगाभ्यासेन वा मृताः । हरिरित्यक्षरं वक्त्रे येषां ते न पुनर्भवाः
Those who die in Dvāravatī or Kurukṣetra, or through the practice of yoga, and whose mouths utter 'Hari,' do not return to mortal existence.
त्रिरात्रमपि ये विप्र द्वारवत्यां पुरि स्थिताः । मज्जंति गोमती तीरे धन्यास्ते केशवप्रियाः
Even those who, for three nights, remain in the city of Dvāravatī and bathe on the bank of the Gomati are blessed and dear to Keśava.
नरनारायणावासे त्रिरात्रं ये समाश्रिताः । मर्त्यलोके च नंदायां धन्यास्ते केशवप्रियाः
Those who take refuge for three nights in the abode of Nara-Nārāyaṇa, or in Nandā on earth, are blessed and dear to Keśava.
षण्मासमुषिता विप्र पुरुषोत्तमसंनिधौ । ते नूनमच्युतात्मानो दृष्ट्वा स्युरघहारिणः
O Brahmin, those who have stayed for six months in the presence of Puruṣottama are surely souls of Acyuta, having seen the remover of sin.
अनेक जन्मार्जितपुण्यतोये मज्जंति तोये मणिकर्णिकायाः । नमंति विश्वेशमवाप्यकाशीं ते वै मयापीह भवंति वंद्याः
Those who bathe in the waters of Maṇikarṇikā, earned through merit over many births, bow to Viśveśa and attain Kāśī; they are honored by me here.
पूजयित्वा हरिं ये तु भूमौ दर्भ तिलैः सह । तिलान्विकीर्य लोहं च दत्वा धेनुं पयस्विनीम्
Those who worship Hari upon the earth with darbha grass and sesame seeds, who scatter sesame seeds and give iron, and who donate a milch cow,
ये मृता विधिवद्विप्र ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः । उत्पाद्य पुत्रान्संस्थाप्य पितृपैतामहे पदे
Those who die in accordance with the prescribed rites, O Brahmin, are destined for heaven; having produced sons and established them in the ancestral lineage,
निर्ममा निरहंकारा ये मृतास्तेऽपि नाकिनः । स्तैन्यान्निवृत्ताः सततं संतुष्टाः स्वधनेन च
Those who die free from possessiveness and pride are also heaven-bound; always abstaining from stolen food, content with their own wealth,
स्वभाग्येनोपजीवंति ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः । श्लक्ष्णां वाणीं निराबाधां मधुरोपाय वर्जिताम्
Those who live by their own fortune are destined for heaven; whose speech is gentle, unobstructed, and devoid of deceit,
स्वागतेनाभिभाषंते ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः । शुभानामशुभानां च कर्मणां फलसंचये
Those who address others with a welcoming greeting are destined for heaven; in the accumulation of the fruits of auspicious and inauspicious deeds,
विपाकज्ञाश्च ये विप्र ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः । धनधर्मप्रवृत्तानां धर्ममार्गानुयायिनाम्
Those who know the results of actions, O Brahmin, are destined for heaven; among those engaged in wealth and righteousness, who follow the path of dharma,
प्रोत्साहं वर्धयंते ये मोदंते दिवि ते नराः । हेमंते वह्निदो यश्च तथा ग्रीष्मे जलप्रदः
Those who encourage others and rejoice in heaven; who give fire in winter and water in summer,
वर्षा स्वाश्रमदाता च स स्वर्गे मोदते चिरम् । पुण्यकालेषु सर्वेषु नित्य नैमित्तिकादिषु
He who gives shelter during the rainy season enjoys happiness in heaven for a long time; at all times of merit, whether constant or occasional,
भक्त्या यः कुरुते श्राद्धं स नूनं सुरलोकभाक्
Whoever performs śrāddha with devotion surely attains the world of the gods.
दानं दरिद्रस्य विभोः क्षमित्वं यूनां तपो ज्ञानवतां च मौनम् । इच्छानिवृत्तिश्च सुखोचितानां दया च भूतेषु दिवं नयंति
Charity from the poor, forgiveness from the young, austerity from the wise, silence from the learned, renunciation of desires from those accustomed to pleasure, and compassion toward beings—all lead to heaven.
द्विविधः कर्मसंबंधः पापपुण्यसमुद्भवः । सत्यमेव समाश्रित्य क्रियते ह्यत्र निर्णयः
There are two kinds of karmic connection, arising from sin and merit; relying only on truth, the determination is made here.
तपोध्यानसमायुक्तं तारणाय भवांबुधेः । पापं तु पतनायोक्तं सत्यमेव न संशयः
Austerity and meditation are joined for crossing the ocean of existence; sin is said to cause downfall, and truth alone—there is no doubt.
बलेन परिचारेण शौर्येणाभियुतस्य च । पुण्यहीनस्य वै पुंसस्तद्बलादिव लीयते
Through strength, service, and courage, even for one who is endowed with these, if merit is lacking, all such strength and qualities are dissolved.
उन्नता गिरि दुर्गेषु वृक्षाः संति सुपुष्टकाः । पतंति वातवेगेन समूलास्तु घना अपि
Tall trees in mountain fortresses are well-nourished, yet they fall, roots and all, by the force of the wind, even though they are dense.
सत्यधर्मविहीनास्ते तथा यांति यमालयम् । सामान्यं सर्वजंतूंनां बलं धर्मस्तु केवलः
Those devoid of truth and righteousness likewise go to the abode of Yama; strength is common to all creatures, but righteousness alone is paramount.
येन संतरते जंतुरिहलोके परत्र च । मया सर्वमिदं सम्यक्स्वर्गमार्ग प्रदायकम्
By which a creature crosses over in this world and the next; by me, all this has been properly explained, which leads to the path of heaven.
समासेन समाख्यातं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि
In brief, it has been declared; 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 this—that a man who performs auspicious deeds does not go to hell, while one devoted to sinful acts does not attain heaven.
क्रतुभिर्विविधैरिष्टैर्व्रत दान जपादिभिः । सत्येनाचारकुशलैः स्वर्गसौख्यमवाप्यते
Happiness in heaven is attained through various sacrifices, vows, gifts, recitation, truthfulness, and skillful conduct.
विद्याचारधनोपेतैर्ऋषिभिर्वेदपारगैः । प्राप्यते पुण्ययोगेन यज्ञैर्नाकस्ततः क्वचित्
By sages accomplished in knowledge, conduct, and wealth, and who have mastered the Vedas, heaven is attained through the accumulation of merit by sacrifices—never otherwise.
वित्तेन च विना दानं बहुदातुं न शक्यते । विद्यमान धनेनापि कुटुंबासक्तचेतसा
Without wealth, it is not possible to give many gifts; even when wealth exists, those whose minds are attached to their families cannot give.
अग्निहोत्रादयो धर्मा विशेषेण कलौ युगे । दुष्करा दानधर्मोऽपि दुष्करो भगवन्मतः
Rites such as Agnihotra and other duties are especially difficult in the Kali age; even the duty of giving is considered difficult, O Lord.
अल्पायासेन धर्मेण लभ्यते धर्मसंचयः । तन्मे विशेषतो ब्रूहि धर्माधर्मप्रदर्शक
By a duty that requires little effort, a store of merit can be obtained; therefore, tell me in detail, O revealer of right and wrong.
तदेकं कथ्यतां धर्मं सर्वधर्मोत्तमोत्तमम् । कृतेनैकेन येनेह सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत्
Tell me that one supreme duty, the highest of all duties, by which, if performed here, all sins are destroyed.