न्यासापहारकाः पापास्तत्र बद्धाश्च बंधनैः
Those sinful ones who steal sacred objects are bound there with fetters.
तथा चतुर्दशोनाम नरकोऽधोमुखः स्थितः
Likewise, there is a hell called 'Fourteen', situated facing downward.
अत्र चाधोमुखा बद्धा वृक्षशाखावलंबिताः
Here, those bound face downward, hanging from the branches of trees.
यूकामत्कुणदंशाद्यैः संकीर्णोऽयं द्विजोत्तम
This place is infested with lice, bugs, and biting insects, O best of twice-born.
कूटसाक्ष्यरतानां च तथैवानृतवादिनाम्
It is likewise for those devoted to false testimony and those who speak lies.
एष षोडश उद्दिष्टो नरको नाम क्षुद्रदः
This sixteenth hell is named 'Kṣudrada', as has been described.
तथा सप्तदशश्चायं क्षाराख्यो नरकः स्मृतः ६.२६.
Similarly, the seventeenth hell is known as 'Kṣāra', so it is remembered.
व्रतभंगकरा ये च ये च पाषण्डिनो नराः
Those who break vows and those men who are heretics,
एष चाष्टादशो नाम कथितश्च निदाघकः
This eighteenth hell is called 'Nidāgha', as has been told.
दूषयंति च ये शास्त्रं काव्यं विप्रं च कन्यकाम्
Those who corrupt scripture, poetry, a Brahmin, or a maiden,
एकोनविंशतिश्चायं प्रख्यातः कूटशाल्मलिः ॥ सुतीक्ष्णकंटकाकीर्णः समंताद्द्विजसत्तम ।ा
This nineteenth hell is renowned as 'Kūṭaśālmalī', O best of twice-born, filled everywhere with sharp thorns.
नास्तिका भिन्नमर्यादा ये च विप्रस्य घातकाः
Those who are atheists, who violate boundaries, and who kill a Brahmin,
एष विंशतिमो नाम नरको द्विजसत्तम
This twentieth hell is named, O best of twice-born.
अत्र यांति नरा विप्र पररंध्रनिरीक्षकाः
Here, O Brahmin, go those men who gaze upon another's wife.
एकविंशतिमा चैषा नाम्ना वैतरणी नदी
This twenty-first is called by name the river Vaitaraṇī.
मृत्युकाले समुत्पन्ने धेनुं यच्छंति ये नराः
At the time of death, those men who give a cow,
अदत्त्वा गां च ये मर्त्या म्रियंते द्विजसत्तम ६.२६.
Those mortals who die without giving a cow, O best of twice-born,
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यत्पृष्टोऽस्मि द्विजोत्तम
All this has been told to you, as you asked, O best of twice-born.
तस्माद्गच्छ गृहं शीघ्रं यावद्गात्रं न दह्यते
Therefore, go quickly to your house before your body is burned.
ब्राह्मण उवाच यदि देव मया सम्यग्गंतव्यं निजमंदिरम्
The Brahmin said: O Lord, if I must indeed return properly to my own home,
तीर्थयात्रापरो नित्यं देवतातिथिपूजकः
constantly devoted to pilgrimage and always worshipping gods and guests,
परोपकारसंयुक्तो नित्यं जपपरायणः
always engaged in acts of charity and devoted to recitation,
वापीकूपतडागानि देवतायतनानि च
constructing ponds, wells, and reservoirs, as well as temples for the gods,
हेमंते वह्निदो यः स्यात्तथा ग्रीष्मे जलप्रदः
giving fire in winter and water in summer,
व्रतोपवाससंयुक्तः शांतात्मा विजितेंद्रियः
practicing vows and fasts, with a peaceful mind and controlled senses,
अन्नप्रदो नरो यः स्याद्विशेषेण तिलप्रदः
a man who gives food, especially one who gives sesame,
वेदाध्ययनसंपन्नः शास्त्रासक्तः सुमृष्टवाक् ६.२६.
endowed with Vedic study, attached to the scriptures, and speaking well,
न याति नरकं स्वर्गे तथा पापक्रियारतः
does not go to hell or heaven if he delights in sinful acts.
तस्मादशुभकर्मापि कर्मणा येन पातकम्
Therefore, even one who performs inauspicious deeds, by which sin is committed,
तन्मेब्रूहि सुरश्रेष्ठ व्रतं नियममेव वा
tell me, O best of gods, a vow or discipline,