Varaha Purana

किञ्चिदन्तरमागम्य वेदनार्थाः पतन्ति हि

Coming a little closer, they fall for the sake of experiencing pain.

शिरस्येवोपविष्टस्य प्रस्थितस्य प्रधावतः

Whether sitting, setting out, or running, it is as if upon their very heads.

करीषगर्त्तस्तत्रैव कुम्भीपाकः सुदारुणः

There is also the pit of excrement, and the dreadful Kumbhīpāka hell.

पाटयन्ति सुमार्गेण राक्षसाः करपत्रिकाः

The demons, with their sharp claws, tear apart by a cruel path.

असिपत्रवनं चात्र शृङ्गाटकवनं तथा

Here is also the forest of sword-leaves, and likewise the forest of pointed spikes.

दह्यते छिद्यते चैव विध्यते भिद्यते पथा 200.

He is burned, cut, pierced, and broken along the path.

श्यामाश्च शबलाश्चैव श्वानस्तेऽत्र दुरासदाः

There are black and spotted dogs here, fierce and hard to approach.

कण्टकैः प्रतिकूलैश्च तत्रान्या कूट शाल्मलिः

There also stands the silk-cotton tree, full of thorns and hostile.

यद्दुःखं तस्य दुर्बुद्धेः प्रतिकूलं च तस्य यत्

Whatever suffering and adversity belongs to that wicked-minded one.

शीतकामस्य वै चोष्णमुष्णकामस्य शीतलम्

For one desiring cold, there is heat; for one desiring heat, there is cold.

छिन्नाश्च शतधाप्येवं ह्यनिशं तैः सहस्रशः

They are cut into hundreds of pieces, constantly, by thousands.

सलिलं च नदीं घोरां व्यालाकीर्णां भयानकाम्

There is a dreadful river, filled with water and terrifying serpents.

करम्भवालुका नाम शतयोजनमायता

It is called Karambha-sand, stretching for a hundred yojanas.

ततो वैतरणी नाम क्षारोदा तु महानदी

Then comes the great river named Vaitarani, with salty water.

अगाधपङ्का वै तत्र चर्ममांसास्थिभेदना

There, the mud is deep, breaking skin, flesh, and bones.

उलूकाश्च धनुर्मात्रा वज्रजिह्वास्थिभेदनाः 200.

Owls, measuring a bow in length, with diamond-like tongues, break bones.

समुत्तीर्य तु कृच्छ्रेण तस्माद्योजनकर्दमात्

Having crossed with difficulty that yojana-long mire,

यत्र वै मूषिकगणा भक्षयन्ति ह्यनेकशः

There, groups of mice devour him in countless ways.

प्रभाते वायुना स्पृष्टः पुनर्मांसं स विन्दति

Touched by the wind in the morning, he regains his flesh again.

सहकारवनं नाम रौद्रा यत्र च पक्षिणः

There is a dreadful mango grove, where birds also dwell.

निःशिराजालकश्चैव निरक्षिश्रवणस्तथा

He is without a net of veins, and likewise without eyes or ears.

सन्ध्याभ्र इव चाभाति प्रदीप्तो नित्यमेव तु

It shines always, blazing like an evening cloud.

यमचुल्लीति विख्याता गम्भीरा सा त्रियोजनम्

It is known as Yama's furnace, deep and three yojanas wide.

तत्र प्रेतसहस्राणि प्रयुतान्यर्बुदानि च

There, thousands upon thousands of departed spirits, and even tens of millions, are found.

चुल्लीकुक्षौ तु विश्रान्ता वेगिनी वहते तु सा 200.

There, in the belly of the cullī, they come to rest, and that swift current carries them onward.

एकैकं दुस्तरं घोरं यथापूर्वं यथाक्रमात्

Each one is difficult to cross and terrifying, just as before, in their proper order.

दश तत्र लताः शूलाः कुम्भीपाकास्त्रयोदश

There are ten thorny creepers and thirteen cauldrons of boiling punishment.

राक्षसैर्निरनुक्रोशैर्दुर्निरीक्ष्यैस्ततस्ततः

There, everywhere, are pitiless Rākṣasas, dreadful to behold.

शुष्कोदपाने धूमे च अधःशीर्षोऽवलम्बते

In a dry well and in smoke, he hangs upside down.