Vayu Purana

यः कुक्कुटानि बध्नाति मार्जारान्सूकरांश्च तान्। पक्षिणश्च मृगाञ्छागान्सोऽप्येनं नरकं व्रजेत् ।। ३९.

He who binds chickens, cats, pigs, birds, deer, or goats—he too goes to that hell.

आजीविको माहिषकस्तथा चक्रध्वजी च यः। रङ्गोपजीविको विप्रः शाकुनिग्राम याजकः ।। ३९.

The fortune-teller, the buffalo-keeper, the flag-bearer in processions, the Brahmin who lives off the stage, and the priest of a village of bird-catchers—

अगारदाही गरदः कुण्डाशी सोमविक्रयी। सुरापो मांसभक्षश्च तथा च पशुघातकः ।। ३९.

The house-burner, the poisoner, the one who eats from a pit, the seller of Soma, the drinker of liquor, the eater of meat, and the killer of animals—

विश(श्व)स्ता महिषादीनां मृग हन्ता तथैव च। पर्वकारश्च सूची च यश्च स्यान्मित्रघातकः। रुधिरान्धे पतन्त्येते एवमाहुर्मनीषिणः ।। ३९.

The executioner, the killer of buffaloes and other animals, the hunter of wild beasts, the maker of drums, the needle-maker, and whoever kills a friend—these, say the wise, fall into the Rudhirāndha hell.

उपविष्टमेकपङ्क्त्यां विषमं भोजयन्ति ये। पतन्ति नरके घोरे विङ्‌भुजे नात्र संशयः ।। ३९.

Those who seat people in a single line but serve food unequally—they fall into the terrible Viṅbhuja hell; there is no doubt about it.

मृषावादी नरो यश्च तथा प्राक्रोशकोऽशुभः। पतेत्तु नरके घोरो मूत्राकीर्णे स पापकृत् ।। ३९.

The man who speaks falsely, or who abuses others with harsh words, falls into the dreadful hell filled with urine, as a doer of evil.

मधुग्राहाबिहन्तारो यन्ति वैतरणीं नराः। उन्मत्ताश्चित्तभग्नाश्च शौचाचारविवर्ज्जिताः ।। ३९.

Men who destroy beehives, the insane, those whose minds are broken, and those who neglect purity and proper conduct—they go to the river Vaitaraṇī.

क्रोधना दुःखदाश्चैव कुहकाः कृष्टगामिनः। असि पत्रवने छेदी तथा ह्यौरभ्रिकाश्च ये। कर्त्तनैश्च निकृष्यन्ते मृगव्याधाः सुदारुणैः ।। ३९.

The angry, those who cause suffering, deceivers, those who go on forbidden paths, those who are cut in the forest of swords, and the robbers—hunters are tormented by cruel cuttings.

आश्रमप्रत्यवसिता अग्निज्वाले पतन्ति वै। भौज्यन्ते श्याम शबलैरयस्तुण्डैश्च वायसैः ।। ३९.

Those who have abandoned their hermitage duties fall into the flames of fire; they are devoured by crows with iron beaks, dark and spotted.

इज्यायां व्रतमालोपात्सन्दंशे नरके पतेत्। स्कन्दन्ते यदि वा स्वप्ने व्रतिनो ब्रह्मचारिणः ।। ३९.

Because of breaking a vow during a sacrifice, one falls into the hell called Sandaṃśa; and if ascetics or celibates stumble, even in a dream, they too fall there.

पुत्रैरध्यापिता ये च पुत्रैराज्ञापिताश्च ये। तेसर्वे नरकं यान्ति नियतन्तु श्वभोजने ।। ३९.

Those who are taught by their sons, or who are commanded by their sons—all of them certainly go to hell, where they are eaten by dogs.

वर्णाश्रमविरूद्धानि क्रोधहर्षसमन्विताः। कर्माणि ये तु कुर्वन्ति सर्वे निरयगामिनः ।। ३९.

Those who perform actions contrary to their caste and stage of life, driven by anger or delight—all of them go to hell.

उपरिष्टात्सितो घोर उष्णात्मा रौरवो महान्। सुदारुणस्तु शीतात्मा तस्याधस्तात्तपः स्मृतः ।। ३९.

Above is the dreadful, cold, great hell called Raurava, whose nature is heat; below it is the extremely terrible, cold hell called Tapaḥ.

एवमादि क्रमेणैव वर्ण्यमानान्निबोधत। भूमेरधस्तात्सप्तैव नरकाः परिकीर्तिताः ।। ३९.

Thus, in order, listen as they are described: beneath the earth, seven hells are declared.

अधर्मसूनवस्ते स्युरन्धतामिस्रकादयः। रौरवः प्रथमस्तेषां महा रौरव एव च ।। ३९.

The sons of Adharma are those called Andhatāmisra and others; among them, Raurava is the first, and Mahāraurava as well.

अस्याधः पुनरप्यन्यः शीतस्तप इति स्मृतः। तृतीयः कालसूत्रः स्यान्महाहविविधिः स्मृतः ।। ३९.

Below this, another is known as 'cold heat'; the third is called Kālasūtra, and is remembered as the great battlefield.

अप्रतिष्ठ श्चतुर्थः स्यादवीची पञ्चमः स्मृतः। लोहपृष्ठस्तमस्तेषामविधेयस्तु सप्तमः ।। ३९.

The fourth is Apratiṣṭha; Avīcī is remembered as the fifth. Lohapṛṣṭha is the sixth among them, and the seventh is called Avidheya.

घोरत्वाद्रौरवः प्रोक्तः साम्भको दहनः स्मृतः। सुदारुणस्तु शीतात्मा तस्याधस्तात्तपोऽधमः ।। ३९.

Because of its terrifying nature, it is called Raurava; Sāmbhaka is remembered as the burning one. Sudāruṇa is extremely cold, and below that is the lowest heat.

सर्पो निकृन्तनः प्रोक्तः कालसूत्रेति दारुणः। अप्रतिष्ठे स्थितिर्नास्ति भ्रमस्तस्मिन्सुदारुणः ।। ३९.

A serpent called Nikṛntana is spoken of as Kālasūtra, fierce in nature. In Apratiṣṭha, there is no stability; wandering there is exceedingly harsh.

अवीचिर्दारुणः प्रोक्तो यन्त्रसंपीडनाच्च सः। तस्मात्सुदारुणो लोहः कर्म्मणां क्षयणाच्च सः ।। ३९.

Avīcī is said to be dreadful due to the torment of mechanical devices. Therefore, Lohapṛṣṭha is extremely severe because of the destruction of actions.

तथाभूतो शरीरत्वादविधिभ्यस्तु स स्मृतः। पीडबन्धवधासङ्गादप्रतीकारलक्षणः ।। ३९.

Thus, because of the bodily state, it is remembered as arising from improper acts; marked by pain, bondage, killing, and association, and characterized by helplessness.

ऊर्द्ध्वं सैलमितास्ते तु निरालोकाश्च ते स्मृताः। दुःखोत्कर्षस्तु सर्वेषु ह्यधर्मस्य निमित्ततः ।। ३९.

Above, they are measured by mountains and are remembered as being without light. The intensity of suffering in all these is due to the cause of unrighteousness.

ऊर्द्ध्वं लोकैः समावेतौ निरालोकौ च तावुभौ। कूटाङ्गारप्रमाणैश्च शरीरी मूत्रनायकः ।। ३९.

Above, both are joined with worlds and are without light. The embodied one is measured by heaps of coals and is led by urine.

उपभोगसमर्थैस्तु सद्यो जायन्ति कर्मभिः। दुःख प्रकर्षश्चोग्रत्वं तेषु सर्वेषु वै स्मृतः ।। ३९.

With those capable of enjoyment, actions immediately produce results. The intensity and fierceness of suffering is remembered in all these.

यातनाश्चाप्यसंख्येया नारकाणां तथा स्मृताः। दुःखोत्कर्षस्तु सर्वेषु ह्यधर्मस्य निमित्ततः ।। ३९.

Countless torments are also remembered for the inhabitants of hell. The intensity of suffering in all is due to the cause of unrighteousness.

तिर्यग्योनौ प्रसूयन्ते कर्मशेषे गते ततः। देवाश्च नारकाश्चैव ह्यूर्द्ध्वं चाधश्च संस्थिताः ।। ३९.

When the residue of karma is exhausted, they are born in animal wombs. The gods and the inhabitants of hell are situated above and below.

धर्माधर्मनिमित्तेन सद्यो जायन्ति मूर्त्तयः। उपभोगार्थमुत्पत्तिरौपपत्तिककर्मतः ।। ३९.

By the cause of righteousness and unrighteousness, forms are immediately produced. Birth occurs for the sake of enjoyment, according to the karma of previous births.

पश्यन्ति नारकान्देवा ह्यधोवक्रान् ह्यधोगतान्। नारकाश्च तथा देवान् सर्वान्पश्यन्त्यधो मुखान् ।। ३९.

The gods see the hell-dwellers who move downward and those who have fallen below; likewise, the hell-dwellers see all the gods, facing downward.

अनग्रमूलता यस्माद्धारणाश्च स्वभावतः। तस्मादूर्द्ध्वमधोभावो लोकालोके न विद्यते ।। ३९.

Because there is no root or base and support is by nature, therefore, above and below, there is no distinction of worlds or non-worlds.