स्वर्गः शुभफलप्राप्तिर्निरयः पापसंभवः
Heaven is the attainment of good results; hell arises from sin.
नारद उवाच शुभस्येह भवेदवृद्धिरशुभस्य क्षयोऽपि वा
Nārada said: In this world, can there be a decrease of merit or perhaps a destruction of demerit?
मनसा कर्मणा वापि तपसा चरितेन वा
By mind, by action, or by austerity, or by conduct,
यम उवाच कीर्त्तयिष्यामि ते सम्यक्पापदोषक्षयं सदा
Yama said: I shall properly declare to you the destruction of sin and fault, always.
प्रणम्य शिरसा सम्यक्पापपुण्यकराय च
Having bowed with my head to Him who is the cause of both sin and merit,
येन सृष्टमिदं सर्वं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्
by whom all this, the three worlds with the moving and unmoving, was created,
यः समः सर्वभूतेषु जितात्मा शान्तमानसः
who is equal toward all beings, self-controlled, with a peaceful mind,
तत्त्वार्थं वेत्ति यः सम्यक्पुरुषं प्रकृतिं तथा 210.
who truly knows the reality of the principle, the person, and also nature,
गुणागुणपरिज्ञाता ह्यक्षयस्य क्षयस्य च
who knows both the qualities and the absence of qualities, of the imperishable and the perishable,
स्वदेहे परदेहे च सुखदुःखेन नित्यशः
in his own body and in another's, always through pleasure and pain,
अहिंस्रः सर्वभूतेषु तृष्णाक्रोधविवर्जितः
non-violent toward all beings, free from desire and anger,
प्राणायामैश्च निर्गृह्य त्वधः सन्धारणानि च
having restrained the life-forces through breath-control and also the lower restraints,
निराशः सर्वतस्तिष्ठेदिष्टार्थेषु न लोलुपः
He should remain free from desire everywhere, not greedy for the objects he wishes for.
श्रद्दधानो जितक्रोधः परद्रव्यविवर्जकः
He should be faithful, have conquered anger, and avoid the wealth of others.
गुरुशुश्रूषया युक्तस्त्वहिंसानिरतश्च यः
He who is devoted to serving his teacher and is constantly engaged in non-violence.
प्रशस्तानि च यः कुर्यादप्रशस्तानि वर्जयेत्
He should perform what is praised and avoid what is not praised.
योऽभिगच्छति तीर्थानि विशुद्धेनान्तरात्मना
He who approaches sacred places with a purified inner self.
उत्थाय ब्राह्मणं गच्छेन्नरो भक्त्या समन्वितः 210.
Rising up, a man should go to a Brahmin, filled with devotion.
नारद उवाच उपपन्नं च युक्तं च तत्त्वया समुदाहृतम्
Narada said: What you have declared is appropriate and fitting.
विविधैः कारणोपायैः सम्यक्तत्त्वार्थदर्शितैः
With various reasons and methods, you have rightly shown the meaning of the truth.
ततोऽप्यल्पतरश्चेत्स्यादुपायो योगवित्तम
O knower of yoga, if there is an even easier method than this—
दुष्करं पूर्वमुक्तं हि योगधर्मस्य साधनम्
For the means of yoga-dharma previously spoken is indeed difficult.
अल्पोपायकरं चैव सुखोपायं च सर्वशः
And there is a method that is easy to perform and pleasant in every way.
आत्मायत्ताश्च ये नित्यं न च विस्तारविस्तरः
Those which always depend on oneself and are not excessively elaborate.
कर्मणामशुभानां च विविधोत्पत्तिजन्मनाम्
And of the various actions that are unwholesome and arise in many ways.
यम उवाच तदहं भावयिष्यामि नमस्कृत्य स्वयम्भुवम्
Yama said: Therefore, I shall contemplate this, having bowed to the Self-born.
लोकानां श्रेयसोऽर्थं तु पापानां तु विनाशनम्
For the welfare of the worlds and the destruction of the wicked.
कैवल्यमभिसम्पन्ने श्रद्दधानो भवेन्नरः 210.
When liberation is attained, a man should be faithful.
प्राप्नुयादीप्सितान्कामान्पापैर्मुक्तो यथासुखम्
Freed from sins, he attains his desired wishes and enjoys as he pleases.
यस्तु कारयते रूपं शिशुमारं प्रजापतिम्
But he who causes the image of Śiśumāra, the lord of creatures, to be made—