न पुराणेतिहासानां श्रुतीनामागमस्य वा । यत्नाद्भोक्ता तथा देहसंस्कारैकप्रवर्तकः
He did not study Purāṇas, Itihāsas, Śrutis, or Āgamas; he was diligent only in eating and in bodily rites.
तादृशस्य द्विजस्याथ समालक्ष्यायुरत्यगात् । लक्षांतरे तथैकस्मिन्वत्सरे मासि पंचमे
Observing such a twice-born, his lifespan ended; after a hundred thousand years, in one year, in the fifth month—
तृतीय दिवसे रात्र्यां पुराणं श्रुतवानिदम् । स्वसंपादितवित्तस्य येन दानं न वै कृतम्
On the third night, he heard this Purāṇa; yet, though possessing wealth, he did not give charity.
दिनेदिने भुज्यमानं निःसारं स्यात्क्रमेण हि । वर्षाण्येव च तावंति नरके पच्यते ध्रुवम्
Day by day, what is eaten becomes devoid of essence, gradually; for as many years, he is certainly cooked in hell.
कृमियोनिसहस्रं च अनुभूय ततः परम् । दरिद्रो व्याधितोऽबंधुर्दुष्टभार्यो बहुप्रजः
After experiencing a thousand worm births, then afterwards, he becomes poor, diseased, friendless, with a wicked wife and many children.
दिनेदिने भिक्षितेन याचितेन च जीवनम् । यन्न क्वापि च बीजानां मग्नानामथ मार्गणात्
Day by day, living by begging and what is asked for; and nowhere, even among seeds sunk and searched for—
लब्धेनजीवनं कर्म भृत्यानामथ जीवनम् । मध्ये श्रोत्रविहीनश्च नेत्रहीनः स्खलन्मलः
The livelihood obtained is for the work of servants, and likewise their sustenance; among them, one is deaf, another blind, another stumbles, and another is impure.
एवं पुराणं श्रुत्वा साविक्ष्वाकुर्भृशदुःखितः । मनसा चिंतयच्चेदं स्मारं स्मारं द्विजाधमः
Having heard thus the Purāṇa, Sāvikṣvāku was greatly distressed; that lowest of the twice-born kept pondering this again and again in his mind.
रूपपुष्पैर्माहिष्मयी दुर्गापि फलवर्जिता । तथा पुराणरहिता विद्या नो गतिदर्शनी
Even the goddess Durgā, worshipped with beautiful flowers, yields no fruit if the offering is from a buffalo; likewise, knowledge without the Purāṇa does not reveal the path.
बहुशास्त्रं समभ्यस्य बहुवेदान्सविस्तरान् । पुंसोश्रुतपुराणस्य सम्यग्याति न दर्शनम्
Even after studying many śāstras and the Vedas in detail, for a person who has not heard the Purāṇa, true understanding does not arise.
शंभुरुवाच- एवं चिंतयतस्तस्य अकालमरणं त्वभूत् । यमलोकं गतश्चाथ यमेन परिभाषितः
Śambhu said: While he was thinking thus, untimely death befell him; he went to the realm of Yama and was addressed by Yama.
यम उवाच- अनेकपापयुक्तोसि पुण्यं नैव महत्तव । न वेदाध्यापनात्प्राप्तं पापं च विदितं तव
Yama said: You are engaged in many sins, and your merit is not great; you have not gained merit from teaching the Veda, and your sins are known.
कोटिवर्षाणि नरके तवस्थितिरिति द्विज । आयुरस्ति तवात्यल्पं गम्यतां पौर्विकीं तनुम्
O twice-born, your stay in hell will be for ten million years; your lifespan is very short—go and take up your former body.
कुरु पुण्यं हितं दानं देवतापूजनं जपम् । सांगमध्यापनं विप्र भोजनं भस्मधारणम्
Perform meritorious acts, give charity, worship the deities, recite mantras, teach with proper method, feed the Brahmins, and wear sacred ash.
भज विश्वेश्वरं देवं देवदेवमुमापतिम् । तस्य प्रयत्नमात्रेण मम लोकं न गच्छसि
Worship Viśveśvara, the god of gods, the consort of Umā; by merely making the effort, you will not come to my realm.
यत्किंचित्प्रत्यहं पापिन्पुराणं शृणु सादरम् । ततस्तच्छ्रवणादेव नेक्षसे मम यातनाः
O sinner, listen with reverence to even a little of the Purāṇa every day; from that very hearing, you will not see my torments.
यमस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणः स्वां ययौ तनुम् । अथेशपूजनकृते यत्नमास्थाय स द्विजः
Hearing Yama’s words, the Brāhmaṇa returned to his own body; then, that twice-born made effort to worship the Lord.
अगमन्मुनिवर्यं तु जाबालिशिवपूजकम् । तपः स्वाध्यायसंपन्नं श्रुतिस्मृतिविवेचकम्
He approached the eminent sage Jābāli, a worshipper of Śiva, accomplished in austerity and study, and skilled in discerning the meaning of śruti and smṛti.
पुराणतत्त्ववेत्तारं लक्षशिष्यसमावृतम् । जराशिथिलसर्वांगं वेदवेदांगपारगम्
He was a knower of Purāṇic truth, surrounded by hundreds of disciples, his body weakened by old age, but accomplished in the Vedas and their branches.
द्रष्टुकामो ययौ शैलं मंदरं चारुकंदरम् । नानाविहंगसंपूर्णं नानापुष्पलतावृतम्
Desiring to see him, he went to the charming Mandara mountain, filled with various birds and covered with diverse flowering creepers.
सर्वर्तुकुसुमोपेतं नानागंधोपशोभितम् । किन्नराणां च मिथुनैर्गीतपूर्णमहागुहम्
Adorned with flowers of all seasons, beautified by various fragrances, and with great caves filled with the songs of Kinnara couples.
अनेकरूपलावण्य वनितोषितपादपम् । लंबमानविचित्राभिस्ताभिः शोभितपादपम्
Its trees were delighted by the beauty of many forms of women, and those trees were adorned with their various hanging ornaments.
रतिश्रमप्रसुप्तानां बोधनादितषट्पदम् । कूजंति च पिकाः कामं वियुक्तानां युजे किल
The bees awaken those who have fallen asleep from the fatigue of love; and the cuckoos sing freely for those separated from their beloveds.
नानामुनिगणाकीर्णं प्रशांतमृगचारिणम् । अप्सरोगणसंकीर्णं गंधर्वगणसेवितम्
It was filled with groups of various sages, with peaceful wild animals, crowded with hosts of apsarases, and attended by companies of gandharvas.
नानासिद्धमुखोद्भूतगीतपूर्णवनांतरम् । विचित्रफलसंपूर्णं नानादेवालयान्वितम्
Within the forest, filled with songs arising from the mouths of various siddhas, abundant with wondrous fruits, and adorned with many temples of the gods,
प्रासादशतसंबाधं नानागृहसमन्वितम् । सिंहाननैर्गजमुखैरुलूकवदनैरथ
Crowded with hundreds of palaces, accompanied by diverse houses, with lion faces, elephant faces, owl faces, and others,
अमुखैर्विमुखैरुग्रैरर्द्धवक्त्रैर्मृगीमुखैः । रुरुजंतुकगोधाहि वानरर्क्षमुखैरपि
With faces that are mouthless, turned away, fierce, half-faced, deer-faced, and also with faces of antelope, jackal, iguana, snake, monkey, and bear,
व्याघ्रवृश्चिकभल्लूष्ट्रश्वानगर्दभतुंडकैः । समस्तजीववदनसदृशास्यैर्गणेश्वरैः । वल्लीमुखैर्वृक्षमुखैः शिलावक्त्रैरयोमुखैः
With faces of tiger, scorpion, bear, camel, dog, donkey, and boar; with lords of hosts whose faces resemble all living beings; with creeper faces, tree faces, stone faces, and iron faces,
शंखमुक्तादिजलजवदनैरुपशोभितम् । अधिकांगैरनंगैश्च जटिलैः शिखिमुंडितैः
Adorned with faces like conch, pearl, water creatures; with those having extra limbs or without limbs, with matted hair, crested, or shaven-headed,
पत्रिवक्त्रैर्द्विषड्वक्त्रैस्त्रिविग्रहमुखैरपि । घंटास्यैः शूर्पवदनकर्णपादमुखैरपि
With leaf faces, two-faced, six-faced, and three-formed faces; with bell mouths, winnowing basket faces, ear, foot, and mouth faces as well,