सात्त्विकः पुण्यशीलत्वान्निःश्रेयसमवाप्नुयात्
A person of sattvic nature, because of virtuous conduct, attains the highest good.
वैचित्र्याण्येव सृष्टानि नरकाण्यत्र तत्र च
Various kinds of hells have indeed been created here and there.
चंडालो वा भवेत्प्रेत्य पुरुषो ब्रह्महत्यया
A man who commits the killing of a Brahmin becomes a Chandala after death.
प्राप्नुयात्कर्मकर्तृत्वं सुरापानेन च द्विजः
By drinking liquor, a twice-born attains the status of a perpetrator of actions.
यद्यत्तु चोरयेत्तत्तच्छून्यं स्यादन्यजन्मनि
Whatever one steals becomes absent for him in another birth.
नपुंसकत्वं संगच्छेत्पुरुषो गुरुतल्पगः
A man who approaches his teacher’s wife attains impotence.
नरके कालसूत्राख्ये निवसेत्परदारगः
One who violates another’s wife dwells in the hell called Kālasūtra.
महाघोरे च पिशुनोऽवीच्यां धर्मविनिंदकः
A slanderer dwells in the dreadful Avīci, and a reviler of dharma in a most terrible place.
संहारे छन्नपापिष्ठो मृषावादी भयानके 1.3.2.5.
A great sinner who speaks falsehood dwells in the terrifying hell of concealment at the dissolution.
वज्रे परद्रोहरतो मांसाशी तरले द्विज
O twice-born, one who delights in betraying others and eats flesh is in the unstable hell called Vajra.
अश्वघ्नोपि निरुच्छ्वासे वसेद्गोघ्नश्च दारुणे
Even a horse-killer dwells breathless, and a cow-killer in a cruel hell.
देवस्वहारी दहने घोरघोरे परस्वहृत्
A thief of divine property is in the blazing hell, and one who steals others’ wealth in a most dreadful one.
बध्नंति पाशैर्निघ्नंति दंडैर्विध्यंति शंकुभिः
They bind with nooses, strike with rods, and pierce with stakes.
कालेयकाश्च व्याघ्राश्च हिंस्राश्चान्ये दशंत्यमून्
Serpents, tigers, and other fierce creatures bite them.
खनंति गहने श्वभ्रे कशाभिस्ताडयंति च
They dig in deep pits and beat with whips.
बाह्यन्ते दुर्वहान्भारान्यमदूतैर्हि पापिनः
The sinful are made to carry unbearable burdens by the messengers of Yama.
स्वर्णापहारी कुनखी दुश्चर्मा गुरुतल्पगः
A thief of gold, one with deformed nails, one with impure skin, and one who violates his teacher’s wife—
कूटसाक्षी चाक्षिरोगी मंदाग्निश्चाग्रभोजनः
A false witness, one with eye disease, one with weak digestion, and one who eats before elders—
परदाररतः पंगु बधिरः परनिंदकः 1.3.2.5.
A man who delights in another's wife becomes lame, deaf, or a slanderer of others.
अभ्यागतातिथित्यागी कपोलकंटको भवेत्
One who neglects a guest who has arrived becomes a thorn in the cheek.
मर्यादाभेदको दासस्तटाकारामहृत्खरः
A servant who breaks boundaries becomes a donkey that steals from the banks of ponds.
विष्णुद्रोही च सरठः शिवद्रोही च मूषकः
An enemy of Viṣṇu becomes a lizard, and one hostile to Śiva becomes a mouse.
तच्चास्मिन्नरुणक्षेत्रे कर्तव्यः सम्यगास्तिकैः
This should be performed in the Aruṇa region by those who are truly faithful.
इति निशम्य स दुष्कृतकारिणां बहुविधां नरकेषु नृणां व्यथाम्
Having heard thus of the many kinds of suffering in hells for those who commit evil deeds,
सर्वेषामवधत्स्व त्वमवलंब्यास्तिकीं धियम्
Relying on faith, you should destroy the sins of all.
ब्रह्महा प्राप्य शोणाद्रिं निमग्नः खड्गतीर्थके
A slayer of a Brahmin, reaching Śoṇa mountain, should immerse himself at the Khaḍga Tīrtha.
कृतोपवासः संपूज्य प्रयतः परमेश्वरम्
Having fasted, worshipped, and purified himself, he should honor the Supreme Lord.
विशेषपूजाशुश्रूषां कुर्याद्देवस्य भक्तितः
He should serve the deity with special worship and attentive devotion.
सुरापोऽप्यरुणक्षेत्रे वर्षमेकं वसन्प्रति
Even one who has drunk liquor, residing in the Aruṇa region for one year,
क्षीरेण स्नापयेद्देवं शतरुद्रीयमुच्चरन्
Should bathe the deity with milk, reciting the Śatarudrīya hymn.