Varaha Purana

अतुलां च श्रियं लोके कीर्त्तिं च सुमहत्फलम्

And how does one obtain incomparable fortune, fame, and the greatest reward in the world?

केन गच्छन्ति नरकं पापिष्ठं लोकगर्हणम्

By what means do people go to the most sinful, condemned hell?

यम उवाच बन्धांश्च सुबहूंस्तत्र प्राप्नुवन्ति तपोधन

Yama said: There, many bonds are encountered, O ascetic rich in austerity.

विस्तरेण तु तत्सर्वं ब्रवीमि मुनिसत्तम

I will explain all this in detail, O foremost among sages.

नाग्निचिन्नरकं याति न पुत्री न च भूमिदः

One who offers fire, one who has a daughter, and one who gives land do not go to hell.

पतिव्रता न गच्छन्ति सत्यवाक्याश्च ये नराः 207.

Faithful wives and those who speak truth do not go there.

अहिंसका न गच्छन्ति ब्रह्मचर्यव्यवस्थिताः

Nonviolent ones and those established in celibacy do not go there.

स्वदारनिरता दान्ताः परदारविवर्जकाः

Those devoted to their own wives, self-controlled, and who avoid others' wives,

न गच्छन्ति तु तं देशं पापिष्ठं तमसावृतम्

Do not go to that sinful place shrouded in darkness.

ज्ञानवन्तो द्विजा ये च ये च विद्यां पराङ्गताः

Those who possess knowledge, twice-born, and those accomplished in supreme learning,

न गच्छन्त्यत्र दातारः सर्वभूतहिते रताः

Those who are generous and devoted to the welfare of all beings do not go there.

तिलान् गां च हिरण्यं च पृथिवीं चापि शाश्वतीम्

Sesame seeds, cows, gold, and the eternal earth—

यथोक्तं यजमानाश्च सत्रयाजिन एव च

As previously described, those who perform sacrifices and those who undertake long sacrificial rites—

गुरुचित्तानुपालाश्च कृतिनो मौनयन्त्रिताः

Those who follow the will of their teacher, who are accomplished, and who are restrained by silence—

मां न पश्यन्ति ते चैव स्वात्मभावेन भाविताः

They do not see me, being absorbed in their own true self—

ब्राह्मणा अमरत्वं च प्राप्नुवन्ति न संशयः 207.

Brahmins attain immortality; there is no doubt about this.

न गच्छन्ति हि तद्धोरं यत्र ते पापकर्मिणः

They do not go to that dreadful place where the evil-doers go.

नारद उवाच किं वा कर्म महत्कृत्वा स्वर्गलोके महीयते

Nārada said: What great action, when performed, leads to honor in heaven?

रूपं वा धनधान्यं वा ह्यायुश्च कुलमेव वा

Is it beauty, wealth, grain, long life, or noble lineage?

यम उवाच शुभाशुभानां गतयो द्रष्टुं वा प्रष्टुमेव वा

Yama said: To see or to ask about the destinies of good and evil—

किंचिन्मात्रं प्रवक्ष्यामि येन यत्प्राप्यते नरैः

I will briefly tell you by which means people attain each result.

रहस्यमिदमाख्यानं श्रूयतां मुनिसत्तम

Hear this secret teaching, O best of sages.

तपसा प्राप्यते स्वर्गस्तपसा प्राप्यते यशः

Heaven is attained by austerity; fame is attained by austerity.

ज्ञानविज्ञानमारोग्यं रूपसौभाग्यसम्पदः

Knowledge, wisdom, health, beauty, good fortune, and wealth—

एवं प्राप्नोति पुण्येन मौनेनाज्ञां महामुने

Thus, one attains these by virtue; and by silence, O great sage, one attains wisdom.

अहिंसया परं रूपं दीक्षया कुलजन्म च 207.

By non-violence, supreme beauty; by initiation, noble birth.

पयोभक्ष्या दिवं यान्ति जायते द्रविणाढ्यता

Those who subsist on milk go to heaven; wealth is attained by birth.

गवाद्याः कालदीक्षाभिर्ये तु वा तृणशायिनः

Those who, through vows of time and discipline, or who sleep on grass—

क्रतुयष्टा दिवं याति चोपहारं च सुव्रत

The sacrificer attains heaven, O virtuous one, as does one who offers gifts.