स तं दुर्गंधमालक्ष्य पुरुषं तमुवाच ह
Seeing that foul-smelling place, he spoke to that man.
देशोऽयं कश्च देवानामेतदिच्छामि वेदितुम् पुरतो दर्शयन्मार्गमित एहीत्युवाच ह
What is this land, and whose among the gods? I wish to know this. Leading the way ahead, he said, 'Come here.'
भूयः स राजा तं प्राह किंकरं विनयान्वितः
Again, the king respectfully asked that servant,
येनेदं व्यसनं प्राप्तं मया च धार्मिकेण हि
By what cause have I, though righteous, come to this misfortune?
जातो विदेहविषये सम्यग्मनुजपालकः
Born in the land of Videha, I was truly a protector of men.
धर्मप्रधानकल्पेन मनुनात्र यथा पुरा
With Manu’s ancient rule, righteousness was my chief principle here.
नोत्सृष्टश्चैव संग्रामो नातिथिर्विमुखोऽभवत् 5.2.27.
I never abandoned battle, nor turned away a guest.
सोऽहं कथमिमं प्राप्तो नरकं भृशदारुणम् उवाच प्रणतो भूत्वा क्रूरोऽपि प्रश्रितं वचः
How then have I come to this exceedingly dreadful hell? Bowing down, he spoke humble words, though he was fierce.
किन्तु स्वल्पं कृतं पापं भवंतं स्मारयामि तत्
But I will remind you of a small sin you committed.
उक्ता या दक्षिणा श्राद्धे न दत्ता सा त्वया नृप
The offering prescribed at the śrāddha was not given by you, O king.
एतावदेव ते पापं नान्य त्किंचन विद्यते
This alone is your sin; there is nothing else at all.
एवं श्रुत्वा तु राजर्षिर्निमिर्दूतमथाब्रवीत्
Hearing this, the royal sage Nimi then spoke to the messenger.
किंचित्पृच्छामि ते तत्त्वं यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि
I wish to ask you something; you should tell the truth as it is.
पुनः पुनश्च नेत्राणि तद्वत्तेषां भवंति हि
Again and again, their eyes become like that.
हरंत्येषां तथा जिह्वां जायमानां पुनर्नवाम्
They take away their tongues as well, which are born anew each time.
किमेते नष्टचित्ताश्च तुद्यंतेऽहर्निशं नराः कियत्कालं भविष्यंति तन्ममोद्दे शतो वद
Are these men, whose minds are lost, tormented day and night? For how long will this be? Please tell me exactly.
तत्तेहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि संक्षेपेण यथातथम् ।। 5.2.27.
I shall now explain this to you here, briefly and truthfully.
पुण्या पुण्ये हि पुरुषः पर्यायेण समश्नुते
A person attains merit through meritorious deeds, each in its proper turn.
न तु भोगादृते पुण्यं पापं कर्म च मानवः
But apart from enjoyment, a human does not experience the fruits of merit or sin.
एवमेते महापापा यातनाभिरहर्निशम्
Thus, these great sinners endure punishments day and night.
देवत्वेऽथ मनुष्यत्वे तिर्यक्त्वेऽथ शुभाशुभम्
In the states of divinity, humanity, or animal existence, both auspicious and inauspicious results occur.
एतदुद्देशतो राजन्भवता कथितं मया
O King, I have explained this to you in summary.
तदेह्यन्यत्र गच्छावि यथा दृष्टं त्वयाधुना
Now, let us go elsewhere, as you have seen here just now.
तदा हि सर्वैरुद्घुष्टं यातना स्थायिभिर्नृभिः त्वदंगसंगी पवनो देहान्ह्लादयते हि नः
Then, when all those suffering men cried out, the wind that touched your body brought us relief.
परितापं च गात्रेभ्यः पीडा बाधाश्च कृत्स्नशः
All the pain, distress, and torment vanished from our limbs.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तेषां तं याम्यपुरुषं नृपः
Hearing these words from them, the king addressed the servant of Yama.
किं मया कर्म तत्पुण्यं मर्त्यलोके महत्कृतम् 5.2.27.
What great meritorious act did I perform in the mortal world?
आश्विनस्य चतुर्दश्यां तस्येदं फलमीदृशम्
On the fourteenth day of the month of Ashvina, this is the fruit obtained.
ततस्तद्गात्रसंसर्गी पवनो ह्लाददायकः
Then, the wind that touched those bodies brought delight.
ततो भद्रमुखात्राहं स्थास्ये स्थाणुरिवाचलः
Therefore, O noble-faced one, I shall remain here, unmoving like a pillar.