अपृच्छद् योगविज्ञानं तमुवाच प्रजापतिः
He inquired about the knowledge of yoga, and Prajāpati spoke to him.
यस्य कस्य न वक्तव्यं तत्सत्यं नान्यथेति हि
This truth is not to be spoken to just anyone, for it is indeed so and not otherwise.
न विसेषो ऽस्ति पुत्रस्य शिष्यस्य च पितामह
There is no distinction between a son and a disciple, O Grandsire.
धर्मकर्मसमायोगे तथापि गदतः श्रुणु
Even so, when dharma and action are joined, listen as I speak.
सेषपापहरः शिष्य इतीयं वैदिकी श्रुतिः
This Vedic teaching declares: 'The remainder removes sin; the disciple is purified.'
कस्माच्छेषं ततः पापं हरेच्छिष्यश्च तद्वद
Why does the remainder then remove sin, and why is the disciple purified by it? Tell me this.
तथैव चोग्रं भयहारि मानवं वदामि ते साध्य निशामयैनम्
In the same way, I will tell you about the dreadful, fear-dispelling human practice; listen carefully to this.
पारुष्यं सर्वभूतानां प्रथमं नरकं स्मृतम्
Harshness toward all beings is remembered as the first hell.
छेदनं वृक्षजातीनां द्वितीयं नरकं स्मृतम्
The cutting down of trees is remembered as the second hell.
विवादमर्थहेतूत्थं तृतीयं नरकं स्मृतम्
Disputes arising from material motives are remembered as the third hell.
भ्रंशनं निजधर्माणां चतुर्थं नरकं स्मृतम्
Abandoning one's own duties is remembered as the fourth hell.
मिष्टौकाशनमित्युक्तं पञ्चमं तु नृपाचनम्
Eating sweet food is said to be the fifth, and so is the punishment of kings.
यानयुग्यस्य हरणं षष्ठमुक्तं नृपाचनम्
Taking away a vehicle or its harness is declared as the sixth punishment of kings.
राज्ये त्वहितकारित्वं सप्तमं निरयं स्मृतम्
Acting harmfully in governance is remembered as the seventh hell.
लालासंकीर्णमेवोक्तमष्टमं नरकं स्मृतम्
It is said that mixing with saliva is remembered as the eighth hell.
विरोधं बन्धुभिश्चोक्तं नवमं नरपाचनम्
Opposition with relatives is declared as the ninth punishment of men.
शास्त्रस्तेयं धर्मनाशं दशमं परिकीर्तितम्
Stealing scriptures and destroying dharma is proclaimed as the tenth.
एकादशममेवोक्तं नरकं सद्भिरुत्तमम्
The eleventh hell is declared by the virtuous as the highest.
संस्कारपरिहीनत्वमिदं द्वादशमं स्मृतम्
Lack of proper rites is remembered as the twelfth.
संभेदः संविदामेतत् त्रयोदशममुच्यते
Division among agreements is called the thirteenth.
चतुद्र्दशममोवोक्तं नरकं तद् विगर्हितम्
The fourteenth hell is declared as that which is condemned.
स्मृतं तत् पञ्चदशममस्त्यवचनानि च
The fifteenth is remembered as such, and there are also other unspoken ones.
सर्वस्य चाततायित्वलमावासेष्वग्निदीपनम्
The kindling of fire in all dwellings is the mark of universal hospitality.
ईर्षर्याभावश्च सत्येषु उद्धृत्तं तु विगर्हितम्
The absence of envy in those who are truthful, but arrogance is censured.
संयुक्तः प्रीणयेद् देवं संतत्या जगतः पतिम्
One who is endowed with these should please the Lord of the universe through continuity.
पुंनामनरकं घोरं विनाशयति सर्वतः
He destroys the dreadful hell named after men, in every way.
अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि शेषपापस्य लक्षणम्
Now I shall declare further the characteristics of the remaining sin.
पितृणां च द्विजश्रेष्ठ सर्वर्वणेषु चैकता
And, O best of twice-born, the unity of all castes with the ancestors.
मत्स्यादश्च महापापमगम्यागमनं तथा
Eating fish and the like, and the great sin of going to forbidden places.
स्वदोषाच्छादनं पापं परदोषप्रकाशनम्
Concealing one's own faults is sinful, as is exposing the faults of others.