आत्मन्य् अस्थिघटापुष्टम् अन्यस्य व्योम केवलम् । आधारे भूतले सार्कम् आकाशजनवासनम्
In itself, it sees the framework of bones filled out; in another, only space; on the supporting earth, with the sun, and the dwelling of sky-born beings.
भवन्ति यद्विधाः प्रेतास् तेषां भेदम् इमं शृणु । सामान्यपापिनो मध्यपापिनस् स्थूलपापिनः
Now hear the distinctions among pretas, as they are of various kinds: ordinary sinners, moderate sinners, and gross sinners.
सामान्यधर्मा मध्यस्थधर्मा चोत्तमधर्मवान् । एतेषां कस्यचिद् भेदो द्वौ त्रयो ऽप्य् अथ कस्यचित्
There are those of ordinary virtue, those of middling virtue, and those of excellent virtue; for some, there is a distinction among these, while for others, two or even all three may be present.
कश्चिन् महापातकवान् वत्सरान् मृतिमूर्छनाम् । विमूढो ऽनुभवत्य् अन्तः पाषाणहृदयोपमाम्
Someone burdened with great sins, for years after death, experiences a stupor like death, inwardly deluded, with a heart as hard as stone.
ततः कालेन सम्बुद्धो वासनाजठरोदितम् । अनुभूय चिरं कालं वासनादुःखम् अक्षतम्
Then, after some time, awakened by the stirrings of latent impressions, he endures for a long period the unbroken suffering born of those impressions.
भुक्त्वा योनिशतान्य् उच्चैर् दुःखाद् दुःखान्तरं गतः । कदाचिद् इमम् आयाति संसारस्वप्नविभ्रमम्
Having passed through hundreds of wombs, moving from one suffering to another, he sometimes enters this bewildering dream of worldly existence.
अथ वा मृतिमोहान्ते जडां दुःखशताकुलां । क्षणाद् वृक्षादिताम् एव हृत्स्थाम् अनुभवन्ति ते
Or else, at the end of the delusion of death, they instantly experience, as if rooted in the heart, a dullness overwhelmed by hundreds of sufferings, even taking birth as a tree or the like.
स्ववासनानुरूपाणि दुःखानि नरके पुनः । अनुभूयाथ योनीषु जायन्ते भूतले चिरात्
Again, they undergo sufferings in hell corresponding to their own latent tendencies, and after that, are born in various wombs on earth after a long time.
अथ मध्यमपापो यो मृतिमोहाद् अनन्तरम् । स शिलाजठरं जाड्यं कञ्चित् कालं प्रपश्यति
But one of middling sin, immediately after the delusion of death, perceives for a time a dullness like the belly of a stone.
ततः प्रबुध्य कालेन केनचिद् वा तथैव वा । तिर्यगादिक्रमैर् भुक्त्वा योनीस् संसारम् एष्यति
Then, awakening after some time, either by some cause or just so, he partakes of various births among animals and others, and will enter worldly existence.
मृत एवानुभवति कश्चित् सामान्यपातकी । स्ववासनानुसारेण देहं सम्पन्नम् अक्षतम्
After death, an ordinary wrongdoer experiences, according to his own tendencies, a body that appears whole and intact.
सङ्कल्प इव सङ्कल्प इव वेत्ति स तादृशम् । तस्मिन्न् एव क्षणे तस्य स्मृतिर् इत्थम् उदेत्य् अपि
Just as in a dream, he perceives things as he imagines them; in that very moment, such memories arise for him in this way.
ये तूत्तममहापुण्यमृतिमोहाद् अनन्तरम् । स्वर्गं विद्याधरपुरं स्मृत्यास्व् अनुभवन्ति ते
But those who possess great merit, immediately after death and confusion, experience with awareness the realms of heaven or the cities of the vidyādharas.
ततो ऽन्यकर्मसदृशं भुक्त्वान्यत्र निजं फलम् । जायन्ते मानुषे लोके सश्रीके सज्जनास्पदे
After enjoying the results of other actions elsewhere, corresponding to their deeds, they are born again in the human world, in auspicious and virtuous places.
ये ऽथ मध्यमधर्माणो मृतिमोहाद् अनन्तरम् । त इहोत्तारं कुर्वन्तस् स्थितं पश्यन्ति देहकम्
Those of middling virtue, immediately after death and confusion, see their own body lying there as if they are rising above it.
ये ऽथ सामान्यधर्माणो मृतिमोहाद् अनन्तरम् । ते व्योमवायुवलिताः प्रयान्त्य् ओषधिपल्लवान्
Those of ordinary virtue, immediately after death and confusion, are carried by the wind through the sky and enter into plants and sprouts.
तत्र चारुफलं भूत्वा प्रविश्य हृदयं नृणाम् । ततस् ताम् अधितिष्ठन्ति गर्भे जातिक्रमोदिते
There, becoming a beautiful fruit, they enter the hearts of people, and from there, they take up residence in a womb as the process of birth unfolds.
स्ववासनानुसारेण प्रेता एतां व्यवस्थितिं । मूर्छान्ते ऽनुभवन्त्य् अन्तः क्रमेणैवाक्रमेण च
According to their own tendencies, these departed ones experience this succession at the end of unconsciousness, either gradually or all at once.
आदौ मृता वयम् इति बुध्यन्ते तदनुक्रमात् । बन्धुपिण्डादिदानेन प्रोत्पन्ना इति वेदिनः
At first, we realize: 'We are dead.' Then, in succession, those who know say: 'We have arisen again through the offering of rice balls and other gifts by relatives.'
ततो यमभटा एते कालपाशान्वितास् तथा । नीयमानो व्रजाम्य् एभिः क्षणाद् यमपुरं त्व् इति
Then, these attendants of Yama, bearing the noose of time, thus declare: 'I am being led away by them and, in a moment, I go to the city of Yama.'
उद्यानानि विमानानि शोभनानि पुनः पुनः । स्वकर्मभिर् उपात्तानि पुण्यानीत्य् एव पुण्यवान्
Again and again, gardens, splendid palaces, and auspicious things are obtained by one's own actions; thus, the virtuous person thinks, 'These are due to merit.'
इमानि कण्टकश्वभ्रशस्त्रपत्त्रवनानि च । स्वकर्मदुष्कृतोत्थानि संप्राप्तानीति पापवान्
These thorny pits, sword-leaved forests, and other such places are reached as a result of one's own evil deeds; thus, the sinful person thinks, 'These are due to sin.'
इयं मे सौम्यसंपाता धरणिश् शीतशाद्वला । स्निग्धच्छायासवापीका पुरस्संस्थेति मध्यमः
This gentle expanse of earth, cool with green grass, shaded with pleasant trees and ponds, situated before the city, is for the middling person.
अयं प्राप्तो यमपुरम् अयम् एष स भूतपः । अयं कर्मविचारो मे कृत इत्य् अनुभूतिमान्
This is arrival at the city of Yama; this is the lord of beings; this is the examination of my deeds accomplished—thus, one experiences.
इति प्रत्येकम् अभ्येति पृथुस् संसारषण्डकः । यथासंस्थितनिश्शेषपदार्थाचारभासुरः
Thus, individually, the vast forest of transmigration approaches, shining with the activity of all objects as they are established.
आकाश एव निश्शून्ये शून्यात्मैवं विभोधवान् । देशकालक्रियादैर्घ्यभासुरो ऽपि न किञ्चन
In the sky itself, in emptiness, one who is awakened realizes the self as void; though shining with the appearance of space, time, action, and length, there is truly nothing.
इतो ऽयम् अहम् आदिष्टस् स्वकर्मफलभोजने । गच्छाम्य् आशु शुभं स्वर्गम् इतो नरकम् एव वा
From here, I am directed to experience the fruits of my own actions; I quickly proceed either to auspicious heaven or else to hell from here.
अयं स्वर्गो मया भुक्तो भुक्तो ऽयं नरको ऽथवा । इमास् ता योनयो त्यक्ता जाये ऽहं संसृतौ पुनः
This heaven has been enjoyed by me, or this hell has been experienced; having abandoned these wombs, I am born again in the cycle of existence.
अयं शालिर् अहं जातः क्रमात् फलम् इह स्थितम् । इत्य् उदर्कप्रबोधेन बुद्ध्यमानो भविष्यति
This rice—here I am born, and gradually the fruit is established here; thus, by awakening to the consequences, one becomes aware.
संसुप्तवासनस् त्व् एवं बीजतां यात्य् असौ नरे । तद्बीजं योनिगलितं गर्भो भवति मातरि
Thus, the dormant impressions attain the state of seeds in a person; when that seed falls into a womb, it becomes an embryo in the mother.