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.
भुंक्ष्व भोगान्न यास्येतां यातनां पापकर्मणाम्
Enjoy pleasures; do not go to the torment reserved for evil deeds.
यदार्त्तजंतुं निर्वाणमानेतुमिति मे मतिः
My intention is to bring liberation to suffering creatures.
तस्मान्न तावद्यास्यामि यावदेते सुदुःखिताः
Therefore, I shall not depart until these greatly afflicted ones are relieved.
प्राप्स्यंते ते यदि सुखं बहवो दुःखिते मयि
If many who suffer because of me attain happiness, I shall remain.
अवश्यमस्माद्गंतव्यं तस्मात्पार्थिव गम्यताम्
It is indeed necessary to depart from here; therefore, O king, go forth.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे धर्मः शक्रेण सहितोब्रवीत्
At that moment, Dharma, together with Indra, spoke.
एह्येहि पुरुषव्याघ्र कृतमेतावता प्रभो 5.2.27.
Come, come, O tiger among men; by this much, O lord, it has been accomplished.
न च मन्युस्त्वया कार्यः शृणु मे वचनं विभो
You should not be angry; listen to my words, O mighty one.
नयामि त्वामहं स्वर्गं त्वया सम्यगुपासितः
I shall lead you to heaven, having been properly worshipped by you.
निमिरुवाच नरके मानवा धर्म पीड्यंतेऽत्र सहस्रशः
Nimi said: In hell, O Dharma, people are tormented here by the thousands.