लोहतैलवसास्तंभ कूटशाल्मलसद्मसु । क्षुरकंटककीलोग्र ज्वालास्तंभविभातिषु
On pillars of iron, oil, fat, and in houses of the sharp śālmalī tree, on sharp razors, thorns, spikes, and blazing pillars—
तप्तं वैतरणीपूयपूरितेषु पृथक्पृथक् । असिपत्रवनोत्कृत्त नरनारीस्तनेषु च
In the heated Vaitaraṇī river filled with pus, separately, and on the breasts of men and women cut in the sword-leaf forest—
घोरांधकारग्रहणदारुणेषु मुहुर्मुहुः । पापच्यमानाः क्रंदंतो दारुणैर्विविधैर्वधैः
In terrifying, pitch-dark, dreadful places, again and again, the sinners wail as they are struck by various cruel punishments.
कंठेषु बद्धपाशाश्च भुजगावेष्टिताः क्वचित् । पीड्यमानास्तथा यंत्रैः कृष्यमाणाश्च जानुभिः
With nooses tied around their necks, sometimes entwined by serpents, they are tormented by machines and dragged by their knees.
भग्नपृष्ठशिरोग्रीवाः स्तब्धकंठाः सुदारुणाः । कूटागारे भ्राम्यमाणाः शरीरैर्यातनाक्षमैः
With broken backs, heads, and necks, their throats stiffened in agony, they are whirled about in iron houses, their bodies unable to endure the torment.
पीड्यंते पापिनो राजन्क्रंदमाना विकर्मिणः । सहितं विषयास्वादैः क्रंदनं तैर्विधीयते
The sinful, O King, are tormented, crying out, these wrongdoers; together with the enjoyment of sense pleasures, their wailing is produced.
भुज्यते च कृतं पूर्वमेतत्सर्वैश्च जंतुभिः । परस्त्रीषु कृतः संगः प्रीतये दुःखदो हि सः
And all these creatures experience what they have done before; association with another's wife, though for pleasure, brings suffering.
मुहूर्तविषयास्वादो जातोऽनेकाब्ददुःखदः । वपुषस्तव राजेंद्र प्रातःस्नानस्य माधवे
A moment's enjoyment of sense pleasure brings suffering for countless years; O King, for your body, the morning bath in spring—
विधिना पावनस्यैते प्राप्य स्पर्शं च मारुतः । लब्धसौख्याः क्षणं जाता महसाप्यायितास्तव
By the prescribed purifying bath and the touch of the wind, happiness is gained for a moment, and you are filled with radiance.
आक्रंदरहितास्तेन जातास्ते निरये स्थिताः । नामापि पुण्यशीलानां श्रुतं सौख्याय कीर्तितम्
Because of that, those who dwell in hell become free from wailing; even the name of the virtuous, when heard, is proclaimed as a source of happiness.
जायते तद्वपुस्पर्शवायुस्पर्शः सुखावहः । यम उवाच- इति दूतवचः श्रुत्वा स राजा करुणानिधिः
The touch of that body and the touch of its breath bring pleasure. Yama spoke: Upon hearing the messenger’s words, the king, a reservoir of compassion,
प्रत्युवाच हतान्दूतान्विष्णोरद्भुतकर्मणः । कोमलं हृदयं नूनं साधूनां नवनीतवत्
replied to the slain messengers of Vishnu, whose deeds are wondrous: The hearts of the virtuous are surely as soft as freshly churned butter.
वह्निसंतापसंतप्तं तद्यथा द्रवति स्फुटम् । राजोवाच- नार्तं जंतुमहं हित्वा पीडितुं गंतुमुत्सहे
Just as butter melts when heated by fire, so does their heart melt clearly. The king spoke: I cannot bear to abandon a suffering creature and go to inflict pain.
तं पापिष्ठं धिगार्तानामार्तिं शक्तो न हंति यः । मदंगसंगमोच्छिष्टवायुस्पर्शेन ते यदि
He who is most wicked, who cannot destroy the suffering of the afflicted, deserves reproach. If, by the touch of the breath left from my body’s contact,
जंतवः सुखिनो जातास्तस्मात्तत्र नयंतु माम् । पवित्रयंति जननीमवनीमपि ते नराः
creatures become happy, then let me be taken there. By such men, even their mother and the earth are purified.
परतापच्छिदो ये तु चंदना इव चंदनम् । परोपकृतये ये तु पीड्यंते कृतिनो हि ते
Those who remove the suffering of others are like sandalwood to sandalwood itself. Those who endure pain for the sake of helping others are truly accomplished.
संतस्त एव ये लोके परदुःखविदारणाः । आर्तानामार्तिनाशार्थं प्राणा येषां तृणोपमाः
Only those who are distressed by the pain of others in this world are truly compassionate. For the sake of ending the suffering of the afflicted, their lives are as insignificant as grass.
तैरियं धार्यते भूमिर्नरैः परहितोद्यतैः । मनसो यत्सुखं नित्यं तत्स्वर्गो नरकोपमः
By such men, devoted to the welfare of others, this earth is sustained. The happiness that arises in the mind is heaven, even if it resembles hell.
तस्मात्परसुखेनैव सुखिनः साधवः सदा । वरं निरयपातोऽत्र वरं प्राणवियोजनम्
Therefore, the virtuous are always happy only through the happiness of others. Better to fall into hell here, better even to lose one’s life,
न पुनः क्षणमार्तानामार्तिनाशमृते सुखम् । दूता ऊचु- जंतवो निरये घोरे पच्यंते तेत्र पापिनः
than to experience happiness for a moment without relieving the suffering of the afflicted. The messengers said: Creatures are cooked in the terrible hell there, O sinner,
स्वकर्मैवोपजीवंति मोहस्थानं न विद्यते । यैर्न दत्तं न च हुतं तीर्थे स्नानं न वा कृतम्
they subsist only on their own actions; there is no place for delusion. Those who have not given, nor offered oblations, nor bathed at holy places,
पुनर्नोपकृतं भक्त्या सुकृतं न कृतं परम् । नेष्टं न तप्तं नो जप्तं यैर्न हृष्टतया नृप
nor served others with devotion, nor performed any supreme good deed, nor made offerings, nor practiced austerity, nor recited prayers with joy, O king,
परस्मिन्निह घोरेषु पच्यंते निरयेषु ते । दुःशीला ये दुराचारा विहाराहारनिंदिताः
such people are cooked in these terrible hells. Those of bad conduct, evil ways, blameworthy in their pleasures and food,
परापकारिणः पापकारिणो दुर्विहारिणः । विदारिणो हि मर्मोक्त्या पापाः परहृदां हि ये
those who harm others, commit sins, indulge in improper pleasures, those who wound others with harsh words, and those who are sinful in the hearts of others,
निरये ते विपच्यंते ये परस्त्रीविहारिणः । एहि नूनं महीपाल गच्छामो हरिमंदिरम्
those who consort with other men’s wives are roasted in hell. Come now, O king, let us go to the abode of Hari.
न ते पुण्यवता युक्तमिहस्था तु मतः परम् । राजोवाच- यद्यहं सुकृती दूताः कस्मादस्मिन्महाभये
It is not proper for those endowed with virtue to remain here, this is the highest opinion. The king spoke: If I am virtuous, O messengers, why am I led on this dreadful path,
नारके पथि वा नीतः किं वा मे सुकृतं परम् । मयापि न कृतं तादृक्सुकृतं कामशालिना
or taken to hell? What supreme good have I done? I too, driven by desire, have not performed such great deeds.
कथं पुरि हरेर्गंता संशयानोऽहमस्मि वै । दूता ऊचु- सुकृतं न कृतं सत्यं त्वया कामवशात्मना
How can I go to the city of Hari? I am indeed doubtful. The messengers said: It is true, you have not performed good deeds, being subject to desire.
नेष्टं यज्ञैर्न वा यज्ञावशिष्टं भवताशितम् । किंतु माधवमासे यद्विधिना वत्सरत्रयम्
Neither what is offered in sacrifice nor what remains from the sacrifice, eaten by you, is desired; but rather, what is performed according to rule in the month of Mādhava for three years.
प्रातः स्नात्वा गुरुवचः प्रेरितेन पुरा त्वया । भक्त्या संपूजितो विष्णुर्विश्वेशो मधुसूदनः
Having bathed in the morning, as formerly instructed by your teacher, with devotion you worshipped Viṣṇu, Lord of the universe, the slayer of Madhu.