अस्ति भूभितले ख्याता मधुराख्या महापुरी
There is a great city on earth, renowned as Madhura.
तस्यामासीद्द्विजश्रेष्ठो गोकर्ण इति विश्रुतः
In that city lived a foremost Brahmin, famous as Gokarna.
अथापरोऽस्ति तन्नामा तत्र विप्रो वयोऽन्वितः
And there was another, bearing that name, an aged Brahmin in that place.
कस्यचित्त्वथकालस्य यमः प्राह स्वकिंकरम्
At a certain time, Yama spoke to his own attendant.
अद्य गच्छ द्रुतं दूत मथुराख्यां महापुरीम्
Today, go quickly, messenger, to the great city called Mathura.
तस्यायुषः क्षयो जातो मध्याह्नेऽद्यतने दिने .
The span of his life has ended at midday on this very day.
विभ्रमादानयामास गोकर्णं च चिरायुषम्
By mistake, he brought Gokarna, who is long-lived.
ततः कोपपरीतात्मा यमः प्रोवाच किंकरम्
Then, filled with anger, Yama spoke to his attendant.
तस्मात्प्रापय तत्रैव यावदस्य च बन्धुभिः ६.२६.
Therefore, bring him there at once, along with his relatives.
ब्राह्मण उवाच नाहं तत्र गमिष्यामि दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोस्मि तेंऽतिकम्
The Brahmin said: I will not go there; by fate, I have reached your presence.
आयुःशेषेण विप्रेन्द्र पूर्णेनाथ त्यजामि न
O best of Brahmins, as long as my lifespan remains, I will not abandon it while it is still full.
तत एव हि मे नाम धर्मराज इति स्मृतम्
For this very reason, I am remembered by the name Dharmaraja.
तस्माद्गच्छ गृहं विप्र यावद्गात्रं न दह्यते
Therefore, go home, O Brahmin, while your body is not yet burned.
प्रार्थयस्व मनोऽभीष्टं वरं ब्राह्मणसत्तम
Ask for whatever boon your mind desires, O best of Brahmins.
तन्ममाचक्ष्व पृच्छामि वरश्चैष भवेन्मम
So tell me this—I ask you—and let this be my boon.
एते ये नरका रौद्राः सेविताः पापकर्मभिः
These hells, fierce and dreadful, are inhabited by those who perform evil deeds.
कृत्स्नशः कथितुं शक्या नैववर्षशतैरपि
It is not possible to describe them all, even in a hundred years.
कीर्तयिष्यामि तेषां ते प्राधान्येन द्विजोत्तम
I will recount to you their chief ones, O best of twice-born.
आद्योऽयं रौरवो नाम नरको द्विजसत्तम ६.२६.
The first of these is the hell called Raurava, O best of Brahmins.
हा मातस्तात पुत्रेति प्रकुर्वंति सुदारुणम्
There, they cry out terribly, 'Alas, mother! Alas, father! Alas, son!'
द्वितीय एष विप्रेंद्र महारौरवसंज्ञितः
The second, O foremost of Brahmins, is called Maharaurava.
रोरूयमाणैर्दाहार्तैः पच्यमानै र्हविर्भुजा
There, the suffering, burning, and wailing ones are cooked and devoured by fierce beings.
तृतीयोंऽधतमोनाम नरकः सुभयावहः
The third hell is called Andhatama, bringing terrible fear.
दुष्टेन चक्षुषा दृष्टाः परदारा नराधमैः
The lowest of men who look at the wives of others with wicked eyes—
चतुर्थोऽयं प्रतप्ताख्यो नरकः संप्रकीर्तितः
This fourth hell is known as Pratapata.
यैः कृता सततं निंदा गुरुदेवतपस्वि नाम्
It is for those who constantly slander teachers, gods, and ascetics.
एषोऽन्यः पंचमो नाम सुप्रसिद्धो विदारकः
This is another, the fifth, well-known as Vidaraka.
प्राणांतिकं पुरा दत्तं यैर्दुःखं प्राणिनां नरैः ६.२६.
Those men who once caused mortal suffering to living beings—
बीभत्सुरिति विख्यातः सप्तमो नरकाधमः
The seventh hell is infamous as Bibhatsu.
राजगामि च पैशुन्यं यैः कृतं सुदुरात्मभिः
Those evil-hearted ones who carried tales to the king—