Adhyaya 96

Verse 1

सुबाहुरुवाच । कीदृशैः कर्मभिः प्रेत्य गच्छंति नरकं नराः । स्वर्गं तु कीदृशैः प्रेत्य तन्मे त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि

Subāhu said: “By what kinds of actions do people, after death, go to hell? And by what kinds of actions do they, after death, go to heaven? Please tell me that.”

Verse 2

जैमिनिरुवाच । ब्राह्मण्यं पुण्यमुत्सृज्य ये द्विजा लोभमोहिताः । कुकर्माण्युपजीवंति ते वै निरयगामिनः

Jaimini said: Those twice-born who, deluded by greed, abandon the meritorious duties of brahminhood and make their living through evil deeds—such men indeed go to hell.

Verse 3

नास्तिका भिन्नमर्यादाः कंदर्पविषयोन्मुखाः । दांभिकाश्च कृतघ्नाश्च ते वै निरयगामिनः

The atheistic—who transgress proper boundaries, who are driven toward lust and sense-objects, who are hypocritical and ungrateful—indeed go to hell.

Verse 4

ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रतिश्रुत्य न प्रयच्छंति ये धनम् । ब्रह्मस्वानां च हर्तारो नरा निरयगामिनः

Those men who, having promised wealth to brāhmaṇas, do not give it—and those who steal the property belonging to brāhmaṇas—are destined for hell.

Verse 5

पुरुषाः पिशुनाश्चैव मानिनोऽनृतवादिनः । असंबद्धप्रलापाश्च ते वै निरयगामिनः

Men who are slanderous, arrogant, and habitual speakers of falsehood—who also indulge in incoherent, senseless talk—indeed go to hell.

Verse 6

ये परस्वापहर्तारः परदूषणसूचकाः । परस्त्रीगामिनो ये च ते वै निरयगामिनः

Those who steal another’s property, who expose and broadcast others’ faults, and those who go to another man’s wife—such people indeed go to hell.

Verse 7

प्राणिनां प्राणहिंसायां ये नरा निरताः सदा । परनिंदारता ये वै ते वै निरयगामिनः

Those men who are always engaged in harming the lives of living beings, and those who are devoted to slandering others—indeed, they go to hell.

Verse 8

सुकूपानां तडागानां प्रपानां च परंतप । सरसां चैव भेत्तारो नरा निरयगामिनः

O scorcher of foes, those men who destroy good wells, ponds, drinking-water stations, and lakes are destined to go to hell.

Verse 9

विपर्यस्यंति ये दाराञ्छिशून्भृत्यातिथींस्तथा । उत्सन्नपितृदेवेज्या नरा निरयगामिनः

Those men who mistreat their wives, children, servants, and guests—and who have abandoned the worship of the ancestors and the gods—go to hell.

Verse 10

प्रव्रज्यादूषका राजन्ये चैवाश्रमदूषकाः । सखीनां दूषकाश्चैव ते वै निरयगामिनः

O king, those who malign renunciants, those who defile the royal order, those who corrupt the āśramas, and those who slander virtuous companions—indeed all such people go to hell.

Verse 11

आद्यं पुरुषमीशानं सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम् । न चिंतयंति ये विष्णुं ते वै निरयगामिनः

Those who do not contemplate Viṣṇu—the primordial Person, the Lord, the great sovereign of all worlds—indeed proceed to hell.

Verse 12

प्रयाजानां मखानां च कन्यानां सुहृदां तथा । साधूनां च गुरूणां च दूषका निरयगामिनः

Those who malign the subsidiary sacrificial rites and the sacrifices themselves, as well as maidens, friends, saints, and teachers—such defamers go to hell.

Verse 13

काष्ठैर्वा शंकुभिर्वापि शून्यैरश्मभिरेव वा । ये मार्गानुपरुंधंति ते वै निरयगामिनः

Whether with pieces of wood, with stakes, or even with stones and other obstructions—those who block the roads indeed go to hell.

Verse 14

सर्वभूतेष्वविश्वस्ताः कामेनार्तास्तथैव च । सर्वभूतेषु जिह्माश्च ते वै निरयगामिनः

Those who are mistrustful toward all beings, who are likewise tormented by lust, and who act deceitfully toward all creatures—such people indeed go to hell.

Verse 15

आगतान्भोजनार्थं तु ब्राह्मणान्वृत्तिकर्शितान् । प्रतिषेधं च कुर्वंति ते वै निरयगामिनः

Those who turn away Brahmins—impoverished and worn down by livelihood—when they come seeking food, are indeed destined for hell.

Verse 16

क्षेत्रवृत्तिगृहच्छेदं प्रीतिच्छेदं च ये नराः । आशाच्छेदं प्रकुर्वंति ते वै निरयगामिनः

Those who deprive others of their land, livelihood, or home, and who also sever bonds of affection and shatter hope—such men indeed go to hell.

Verse 17

शस्त्राणां चैव कर्त्तारः शल्यानां धनुषां तथा । विक्रेतारश्च राजेंद्र नरा निरयगामिनः

O king of kings, those who manufacture weapons—spears and bows—and those who sell them are bound for hell.

Verse 18

अनाथं विक्लवं दीनं रोगार्त्तं वृद्धमेव च । नानुकंपंति ये मूढास्ते वै निरयगामिनः

Those fools who show no compassion to the helpless, the distressed, the poor, the sick and afflicted, and the aged—indeed go to hell.

Verse 19

नियमान्पूर्वमादाय ये पश्चादजितेंद्रियाः । अतिक्रामंति चांचल्यात्ते वै निरयगामिनः

Those who first undertake sacred restraints, but later—unable to conquer their senses—transgress them out of fickleness, indeed go to hell.

Verse 20

इत्येते कथिता राजन्नरा निरयगामिनः । स्वर्गलोकस्य गंतारो ये जनास्तान्निबोध मे

Thus, O King, I have described the people who go to hell. Now hear from me about those who attain the heavenly world.

Verse 21

सत्येन तपसा क्षांत्या दानेनाध्ययनेन च । ये धर्ममनुवर्तंते ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

By truth, austerity, forbearance, charity, and sacred study—those who steadily follow dharma, those people go to heaven.

Verse 22

ये च होमपरा ध्यानदेवतार्चनतत्पराः । आददाना महात्मानस्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

And those devoted to homa, intent on meditation and the worship of the Deity, and generous in giving—those great-souled people attain heaven.

Verse 23

शुचयश्च शुचौ देशे वासुदेवपरायणाः । पठंति विष्णुं गायंति ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Those who are pure, dwelling in a pure place, devoted to Vāsudeva, who recite and sing of Viṣṇu—such people attain heaven.

Verse 24

मातापित्रोश्च शुश्रूषां ये कुर्वंति सदादृताः । वर्जयंति दिवास्वप्नं ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Those who, with constant reverence, serve their mother and father, and who abstain from sleeping during the day—such people attain heaven.

Verse 25

सर्वहिंसानिवृत्ताश्च साधुसंगाश्च ये नराः । सर्वस्यापि हिते युक्तास्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Those people who refrain from all violence, keep the company of the virtuous, and are devoted to the welfare of all—such people attain heaven.

Verse 26

सर्वलोभनिवृत्ताश्च सर्वसाहाश्च ये नराः । सर्वस्याश्रयभूताश्च ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Those men who have renounced all greed, who are steadfast and forbearing in every ordeal, and who become a refuge for all—such men attain heaven.

Verse 27

शुश्रूषाभिस्तपोभिश्च गुरूणां मानदा नराः । प्रतिग्रहनिवृत्ता ये ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Those men who honor their teachers through attentive service and austerities, and who refrain from accepting gifts, are destined to go to heaven.

Verse 28

सहस्रपरिवेष्टारस्तथैव च सहस्रदाः । त्रातारश्च सहस्राणां ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Those men who escort and attend to thousands, who likewise give thousands in charity, and who protect thousands—such people go to heaven.

Verse 29

भयात्पापात्तपाच्छोकाद्दारिद्र्यव्याधिकर्शितान् । विमुंचंति च ये जंतूंस्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Those people who set living beings free—beings afflicted by fear, sin, suffering, grief, poverty, and disease—are destined to go to heaven.

Verse 30

आत्मस्वरूपवंतश्च यौवनस्थाश्च भारत । ये वै जितेंद्रिया धीरास्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

O Bhārata, those who abide in their true nature and remain steady even amid youth—who are self-controlled and steadfast—such men indeed attain heaven.

Verse 31

सुवर्णस्य च दातारो गवां भूमेश्च भारत । अन्नानां वाससां चैव ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

O Bhārata, those who bestow gifts of gold, cows, and land—and likewise food and clothing—are the ones who attain heaven.

Verse 32

ये याचिताः प्रहृष्यंति प्रियं दत्वा वदंति च । त्यक्तदानफलेच्छाश्च ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Those who, when asked, give with gladness, offer what is dear, and speak kindly—having abandoned all desire for the fruits of giving—such people go to heaven.

Verse 33

निवेशनानां धान्यानां नराणां च परंतप । स्वयमुत्पाद्य दातारः पुरुषाः स्वर्गगामिनः

O scorcher of foes, those men who themselves produce and then give—homes, grain, and even help to others—are destined for heaven.

Verse 34

द्विषतामपि ये दोषान्न वदंति कदाचन । कीर्तयंति गुणान्ये च ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Even regarding those who hate them, people who never speak of their faults and instead proclaim their virtues—such men attain heaven.

Verse 35

ये परेषां श्रियं दृष्ट्वा न वितप्यंति मत्सरात् । प्रहृष्टाश्चाभिनंदंति ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Those who, upon seeing the prosperity of others, do not burn with envy, but rejoice and offer their congratulations—such people attain heaven.

Verse 36

प्रवृत्तौ च निवृत्तौ च श्रुतिशास्त्रोक्तमेव च । आचरंति महात्मानस्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

In both the path of worldly engagement (pravṛtti) and the path of renunciation (nivṛtti), the great-souled act exactly as taught in the Vedas and the śāstras; such people go to heaven.

Verse 37

ये नराणां वचो वक्तुं न जानंति च विप्रियम् । प्रियवाक्यैकविज्ञातास्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Those who do not know how to speak words that wound others, and are known only for speaking pleasing words—such people go to heaven.

Verse 38

ये नामभागान्कुर्वंति क्षुत्तृष्णा श्रमपीडिताः । हंतकारस्य कर्तारस्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Those who, though afflicted by hunger, thirst, and weariness, still perform their allotted share of the sacred Name; they become agents of the saving cry, the ‘haṃtakāra’, and they go to heaven.

Verse 39

वापीकूपतडागानां प्रपानां चैव वेश्मनाम् । आरामाणां च कर्तारस्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Those who build wells, stepwells, ponds, drinking-water stations, shelters, and pleasure-groves—such people are destined to go to heaven.

Verse 40

असत्येष्वपि ये सत्या ऋजवो नार्जवेष्वपि । रिपुष्वपिहिता ये च ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Even among the false, those who remain truthful; even among the crooked, those who remain straightforward; and those who restrain enmity even toward enemies—such people attain heaven.

Verse 41

यस्मिन्कस्मिन्कुले जाता बहुपुत्राः शतायुषः । सानुक्रोशाः सदाचारास्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

In whatever family they are born, those people—blessed with many sons and a full hundred years of life—who are compassionate and of good conduct, go to heaven.

Verse 42

कुर्वंत्यवंध्यं दिवसं धर्मेणैकेन सर्वदा । व्रतं गृह्णंति ये नित्यं ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Those who always make their day fruitful by even a single act of dharma, and who regularly undertake a vow, are people who go to heaven.

Verse 43

आक्रोशंतं स्तुवंतं च तुल्यं पश्यंति ये नराः । शांतात्मानो जितात्मानस्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Those people who look upon one who abuses and one who praises as the same—peaceful in mind and self-controlled—such people go to heaven.

Verse 44

ये चापि भयसंत्रस्तान्ब्राह्मणांश्च तथा स्त्रियः । सार्थान्वा परिरक्षंति ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Those people too who protect frightened brāhmaṇas, as well as women, or even caravans (of travelers/merchants), such men go to heaven.

Verse 45

गंगायां पुष्करे तीर्थे गयायां च विशेषतः । पितृपिंडप्रदातारस्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Those men who offer ancestral piṇḍas at the Gaṅgā, at the sacred tīrtha of Puṣkara, and especially at Gayā, attain heaven.

Verse 46

न वशे चेंद्रियाणां च ये नराः संयमस्थिताः । त्यक्तलोभभयक्रोधास्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Those who are not under the sway of the senses, who abide in self-restraint, and who have abandoned greed, fear, and anger—such people attain heaven.

Verse 47

यूका मत्कुणदंशादीन्ये जंतूंस्तुदतस्तनुम् । पुत्रवत्परिरक्षंति ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Those men who, like their own children, protect living creatures—such as lice, bedbugs, mosquitoes, and the like—even when they bite and sting the body, attain heaven.

Verse 48

अज्ञानाच्च यथोक्तेन विधिना संचयंति च । सर्वद्वंद्वसहा लोके ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Even if out of ignorance they accumulate according to the prescribed method, those men—enduring all pairs of opposites in the world—go to heaven.

Verse 49

ये पूताः परदारांश्च कर्मणा मनसा गिरा । रमयंति न सत्वस्थास्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Those people who are pure and self-controlled—who do not entertain or seek to please another man’s wife by deed, by thought, or by speech—such persons go to heaven.

Verse 50

निंदितानि न कुर्वंति कुर्वंति विहितानि च । आत्मशक्तिं विजानंति ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः

Those men do not commit condemned acts, and they perform the acts that are enjoined. Knowing their own inner power, such men proceed to heaven.

Verse 51

एवं ते कथितं सर्वं मया तत्त्वेन पार्थिव । दुर्गतिः सद्गतिश्चैव प्राप्यते कर्मभिर्यथा

Thus, O king, I have told you all in accordance with truth—how, through one’s deeds, a bad destination and also a good destination are attained.

Verse 52

नरः परेषां प्रतिकूलमाचरन्प्रयाति घोरं नरकं सुदारुणम् । सदानुकूलस्य नरस्य जीविनः सुखावहा मुक्तिरदूरसंस्थिता

A man who acts in ways hostile to others goes to a dreadful, most terrible hell. But for the man who lives ever favorably toward others, liberation—bringing happiness—stands not far away.

Verse 96

इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे भूमिखंडे वेनोपाख्याने गुरुतीर्थमाहात्म्ये च्यवनचरित्रे षण्णवतितमोऽध्यायः

Thus ends the ninety-sixth chapter in the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa of the revered Padma Purāṇa—within the narrative of Vena, in the section on the greatness of Guru-tīrtha, and in the account of Cyavana.