ततस्तस्मिन्स्थितं जीवं देहे यमभटास्तदा
Then, when the soul is situated in that, the servants of Yama at that time—
तप्तांबरीषतुल्येन अयोगुडनिभेन च
With garments as hot as fire and resembling lumps of iron,
षडशीतिसहस्राणि योजनानां महीतलात्
Eighty-six thousand yojanas from the surface of the earth,
क्वचिच्छीतं महादुर्गमन्धकारं क्वचिन्महत्।। अग्निसंस्पर्शवदनैः काककाकोलजंबुकैः
In some places it is cold, in others vast, difficult, and dark; elsewhere, with faces like fire, by crows, owls, and jackals—
मक्षिकादंशमशकैर्भक्ष्यते सर्पवृश्चिकैः
It is eaten by flies, gnats, mosquitoes, snakes, and scorpions.
क्वचिच्च भक्ष्यते घोरै राक्षसैः कृष्यतेऽस्यते
And in some places it is devoured by fierce demons, dragged and consumed.
मुहूतैर्दशभिर्याति तं मार्गमतिदुस्तरम्
In just ten moments, he traverses that exceedingly difficult path.
तार्यते च नदीं घोरां पूयशोणितवाहिनीम् 1.2.50.
He crosses the dreadful river that flows with pus and blood.
ततो यमस्य पुरतः स्थाप्यते यमकिंकरैः
Then, he is placed before Yama by the attendants of Yama.
पुण्यकर्मा सौम्यरूपं धर्मराजं तदा किल
The one who has performed virtuous deeds sees the Lord of Dharma in a gentle form at that time.
मरणानंतरं तेषां जंतूनां योनिपूरणम्
After death, these beings are filled into new wombs.
धार्मिकः पूज्यते तत्र पापः पाशगलो भवेत्
There, the righteous are honored, while the sinful are bound by nooses.
आरामद्रुमदातारः फलपुष्पवता पथा
Those who give gardens and trees travel a path adorned with fruits and flowers.
उपानहप्रदा यानैर्वितृषाः पूर्तधर्मिणः
Those who give sandals, vehicles, water, and works of charity are free from thirst.
भक्ष्यभोज्यैस्तथा तृप्ता यांति भोजनदायिन
Those who give food and delicacies attain satisfaction along with those they have fed.
श्रीसूर्यं श्रीमहादेवं भक्ता ये पुरुषोत्तमम्
Those devoted to Śrī, the Sun, Mahādeva, and the Supreme Person—
महीं गां कांचनं लोहं तिलान्कार्पासमेव च
—who give land, cows, gold, iron, sesame, and cotton—
तेषां तत्र गतानां च पापिनां पुण्यकर्मिणाम् 1.2.50.
Among those who arrive there, both sinners and the virtuous—
प्रेतलोके स वसति ततः संवत्सरं नरः
A man dwells in the world of the departed for a year.
सोदकुम्भमथान्नाद्यं बांधवैर्यत्प्रदीयते
There, whatever food and water is offered by relatives is received.
पूर्वदत्तमथान्नाद्यं प्राप्नोति स्वयमेव च
He also obtains the food and drink previously given by himself.
न चाप्युदकदातासौ क्षुत्तृड्भ्यामतिपीड्यते
But if he has not given water, he is tormented by intense hunger and thirst.
मासिमासि च यच्छ्राद्धं षोडशश्राद्धपूर्वकम्
And the monthly śrāddha, preceded by the sixteen śrāddhas—
मानुषेण दिनेनैव प्रेतलोके दिनं स्मृतम्
In the world of the departed, one day is considered equal to a day among humans.
तं च स्माशानिकानाम गणा याम्या भयावहाः
And those terrifying attendants of Yama, known as the Ashanika hosts,
यथेह बन्धने कश्चिद्रक्ष्यते विषमैर्नरैः
Just as here, someone is guarded in bondage by cruel men,
यस्य तस्य न मोक्षोऽस्ति प्रेतत्वाद्वै युगैरपि
For such a one, there is no liberation, due to being a departed soul, even for ages.
पूर्णे संवत्सरे देहं संपूर्णं प्रतिपद्यते 1.2.50.
When a full year is completed, he attains a complete body.
ततः स नरकं याति स्वर्गं वा स्वेन कर्मणा
Then, he goes to hell or to heaven according to his own actions.
सुराद्याः सत्यपर्यंताः स्वर्लोकस्योर्ध्वमाश्रिताः
Those who drink liquor and others, up to those who speak truth, are situated above the world of heaven.