नरकलोकमार्गयमदूतस्वरूपवर्णनम् / Description of the Path to Naraka and the Nature of Yama’s Messengers

Verse 1

सनत्कुमार उवाच । अथ पापैर्नरा यांति यमलोकं चतुर्विधैः । संत्रासजननं घोरं विवशास्सर्वदेहिनः

Sanatkumāra said: Now, because of sins, men go to Yama’s realm in four ways—terrifying and dreadful, producing fear—while all embodied beings are driven there helplessly.

Verse 2

गर्भस्थैर्जायमानैश्च बालैस्तरुणमध्यमैः । स्त्रीपुन्नपुंसकैर्जीवैर्ज्ञातव्यं सर्वजंतुषु

In all living beings, the jīva (individual soul) is to be understood as present in every condition—while in the womb, at birth, in childhood, youth, and middle age—and as inhabiting bodies that appear as female, male, or neuter.

Verse 3

शुभाशुभफलं चात्र देहिनां संविचार्यते । चित्रगुप्तादिभिस्सर्वैर्वसिष्ठप्रमुखैस्तथा

Here, the auspicious and inauspicious fruits of embodied beings are duly examined—by all the assessors beginning with Chitragupta, and likewise by sages headed by Vasiṣṭha.

Verse 4

न केचित्प्राणिनस्संति ये न यांति यमक्षयम् । अवश्यं हि कृतं कर्म भोक्तव्यं तद्विचार्य्यताम्

There are no living beings who do not go to the abode of Yama. Indeed, whatever karma has been performed must inevitably be experienced as its result; let this be rightly reflected upon.

Verse 5

तत्र ये शुभकर्माणस्सौम्यचित्ता दयान्विताः । ते नरा यांति सौम्येन पूर्वं यमनिकेतनम्

There, those people who perform auspicious deeds—gentle in mind and endowed with compassion—go peacefully first to Yama’s abode.

Verse 6

ये पुनः पापकर्म्माणः पापा दानविवर्जिताः । ते घोरेण पथा यांति दक्षिणेन यमालयम्

But those who commit sinful deeds—sinful people devoid of charity—travel by a dreadful path and go southward to the abode of Yama.

Verse 7

इति श्रीशिवमहापुराणे पञ्चम्यामुमासंहितायां नरकलोकमार्गयमदूतस्वरूपवर्णनं नाम सप्तमोऽध्यायः

Thus, in the Śrī Śiva Mahāpurāṇa, in the Fifth Book—the Umā-saṃhitā—ends the Seventh Chapter, entitled “Description of the path to the hell-world and the forms of Yama’s messengers (Yamadūtas).”

Verse 8

समीपस्थमिवाभाति नराणां पुण्यकर्मणाम् । पापिनामतिदूरस्थं पथा रौद्रेण गच्छताम्

For people established in meritorious deeds, the (supreme goal) appears as though it were close at hand; but for sinners who proceed by a fierce and cruel path, it seems exceedingly far away.

Verse 9

तीक्ष्णकंटकयुक्तेन शर्कराविचितेन च । क्षुरधारानिभैस्तीक्ष्णैः पाषाणै रचितेन च

It was furnished with sharp thorns, strewn with gravel, and built of keen stones, cutting like the edge of a razor.

Verse 10

क्वचित्पंकेन महता उरुतोकैश्च पातकैः । लोहसूचीनिभैर्दर्भैस्सम्पन्नेन पथा क्वचित्

At times the path is choked with deep mire; at times it is beset by great and violent torrents; at times it is strewn with grievous perils and darbha-grass sharp as iron needles—such is the way of worldly passage, met with again and again.

Verse 11

तटप्रायातिविषमैः पर्वतैर्वृक्षसंकुलैः । प्रतप्तांगारयुक्तेन यांति मार्गेण दुःखिताः

Afflicted with suffering, they proceed along a path that runs close to steep riverbanks, through uneven mountains thick with trees, and over ground strewn with burning embers.

Verse 12

क्वचिद्विषमगर्तैश्च क्वचिल्लोष्टैस्सुदुष्करैः । सुतप्तवालुकाभिश्च तथा तीक्ष्णैश्च शंकुभिः

In some places there were uneven pits; in other places, heaps of hard clods difficult to cross—elsewhere scorching hot sand, and also sharp stakes, making the path harsh and obstructive.

Verse 13

अनेक शाखाविततैर्व्याप्तं वंशवनैः क्वचित् । कष्टेन तमसा मार्गे नानालम्बेन कुत्रचित्

In some places the path was overrun by bamboo-groves spread out with many branches; in some places it was made arduous by deep darkness; and in some places it was hard to traverse, requiring support from various handholds.

Verse 14

अयश्शृंगाटकैस्तीक्ष्णैः क्वचिद्दावाग्निना पुनः । क्वचित्तप्तशिलाभिश्च क्वचिद्व्याप्तं हिमेन च

In some places it was strewn with sharp iron spikes; elsewhere it was again engulfed by a raging forest-fire. In some parts it was filled with heated rocks, and in other parts it was pervaded by intense cold and snow.

Verse 15

क्वचिद्वालुकया व्याप्तमाकंठांतः प्रवेशया । क्वचिद्दुष्टाम्बुना व्याप्तं क्वचिच्च करिषाग्निना

In some places one is engulfed by sand and forced to sink in up to the neck; in other places one is overwhelmed by foul water; and elsewhere one is tormented by the fire of burning dung.

Verse 16

क्वचित्सिंहैर्वृकैर्व्याघ्रैर्मशकैश्च सुदारुणैः । क्वचिन्महाजलौकाभिः क्वचिच्चाजगरैस्तथा

In some places there were lions, wolves, and tigers, and also exceedingly fierce mosquitoes; in other places there were great leeches, and elsewhere, massive serpents as well.

Verse 17

मक्षिकाभिश्च रौद्राभिः क्वचित्सर्पैर्विषोल्बणैः । मत्तमातंगयूथैश्च बलोन्मत्तैः प्रमाथिभिः

In some places there were fierce swarms of flies; elsewhere, serpents swollen with deadly poison; and also herds of rutting elephants—maddened by their strength—causing terror and devastation.

Verse 18

पंथानमुल्लिखद्भिश्च सूकरैस्तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रिभिः । तीक्ष्णशृंगैश्च महिषैस्सर्वभूतैश्च श्वापदैः

The path was torn and churned up by boars with sharp tusks, by buffaloes with pointed horns, and it was beset on all sides by every kind of wild and ferocious beast.

Verse 19

डाकिनीभिश्च रौद्राभिर्विकरालैश्च राक्षसैः । व्याधिभिश्च महाघोरैः पीड्यमाना व्रजंति हि

Indeed, they wander about in torment—harassed by fierce ḍākinīs, by dreadful and terrifying rākṣasas, and also by exceedingly frightful diseases.

Verse 20

महाधूलिविमिश्रेण महाचण्डेन वायुना । महापाषाणवर्षेण हन्यमाना निराश्रयाः

Struck down by a mighty, violent wind thick with great clouds of dust, and battered by a heavy rain of stones, they became helpless—bereft of any refuge.

Verse 21

क्वचिद्विद्युत्प्रपातेन दह्यमाना व्रजन्ति च । महता बाणवर्षेण विध्यमानाश्च सर्वतः

Some, scorched by the sudden fall of lightning, stagger onward; and everywhere they are struck down by a mighty shower of arrows.

Verse 22

पतद्भिर्वज्रपातैश्च उल्कापातैश्च दारुणैः । प्रदीप्तांगारवर्षेण दह्यमानाश्च संति हि

They are indeed being scorched—by crashing thunderbolt-strikes, by dreadful falls of meteors, and by a rain of blazing coals.

Verse 23

महता पांसुवर्षेण पूर्यमाणा रुदंति च । महामेघरवैर्घोरैस्त्रस्यंते च मुहुर्मुहुः

Overwhelmed as they are by a heavy rain of dust, they weep; and again and again they tremble in fear at the terrifying roars of the great clouds.

Verse 24

निशितायुधवर्षेण भिद्यमानाश्च सर्वतः । महाक्षाराम्बुधाराभिस्सिच्यमाना व्रजंति च

Sundered on every side by a shower of keen weapons, and drenched by torrents of intensely caustic water, they still pressed onward.

Verse 25

महीशीतेन मरुता रूक्षेण परुषेण च । समंताद्बाध्यमानाश्च शुष्यंते संकुचन्ति च

Struck on every side by the wind that is cold from the earth—dry and harsh—beings wither and dry up, and they shrink and contract.

Verse 26

इत्थं मार्गेण रौद्रेण पाथेयरहितेन च । निरालम्बेन दुर्गेण निर्जलेन समंततः

Thus, by a fierce and dreadful path—without provisions, without any support, through an impassable terrain, and with no water anywhere on all sides—they proceeded onward.

Verse 27

विषमेणैव महता निर्जनापाश्रयेण च । तमोरूपेण कष्टेन सर्वदुष्टाश्रयेण च

It is indeed a dreadful and perilous place—vast and desolate like a lonely refuge, filled with painful darkness, and serving as a shelter for every kind of wicked being.

Verse 28

नीयंते देहिनस्सर्वे ये मूढाः पापकर्मिणः । यमदूतैर्महाघोरैस्तदाज्ञाकारिभिर्बलात्

All embodied beings who are deluded and engaged in sinful deeds are forcibly carried away by the most dreadful messengers of Yama, who act under his command.

Verse 29

एकाकिनः पराधीना मित्रबन्धुविवर्जिताः । शोचंतस्स्वानि कर्म्माणि रुदंतश्च मुहुर्मुहुः

They remain utterly alone, dependent on others, and bereft of friends and kinsmen—lamenting their own deeds and weeping again and again.

Verse 30

प्रेता भूत्वा विवस्त्राश्च शुष्ककंठौष्ठतालुकाः । असौम्या भयभीताश्च दह्यमानाः क्षुधान्विताः

Becoming wandering pretas, they remain unclothed, their throat, lips, and palate dried up. Devoid of auspiciousness and seized by fear, they feel as though they are being burned, and they are tormented by hunger.

Verse 31

बद्धाश्शृंखलया केचिदुत्ता नपादका नराः । कृष्यंते कृष्यमाणाश्च यमदूतैर्बलोत्कटैः

Some men, bound fast in chains, are dragged along—laid flat, their feet turned upward—while the mighty, forceful messengers of Yama pull them away without mercy.

Verse 32

उरसाधोमुखाश्चान्ये घृष्यमाणास्सुदुःखिताः । केशपाशनि बंधेन संस्कृष्यंते च रज्जुना

Others, with their chests forced downward and their faces bent low, were being dragged along—rubbed and scraped—suffering intense pain; bound by a noose of hair and pulled by a rope.

Verse 33

ललाटे चांकुशेनान्ये भिन्ना दुष्यंति देहिनः । उत्तानाः कंटकपथा क्वचिदंगारवर्त्मना

Some embodied beings are struck and split on the forehead by a goad, and they suffer. Some are flung down on thorny paths; and some, in places, are made to tread a road of burning embers.

Verse 35

ग्रीवापाशेन कृष्यंते प्रयांत्यन्ये सुदुःखिताः । जिह्वांकुशप्रवेशेन रज्ज्वाकृष्यन्त एव ते

Some, in extreme misery, are dragged along by a noose around the neck. Others too are pulled forward by a rope, as a goad is thrust into the tongue—thus are they driven on.

Verse 36

नासाभेदेन रज्ज्वा च त्वाकृश्यन्ते तथापरे । भिन्नाः कपोलयो रज्ज्वाकृष्यंतेऽन्ये तथौष्ठयोः

Some are dragged along by a rope passed through a pierced nose; others are pulled by the skin. Some have their cheeks split and are hauled by a rope; likewise others are dragged by their lips.

Verse 37

छिन्नाग्रपादहस्ताश्च च्छिन्नकर्णोष्ठनासिकाः । संछिन्नशिश्नवृषणाः छिन्नभिन्नांगसंधयः

With the tips of their feet and hands cut off, their ears, lips, and noses severed, their genitals and testicles mutilated, and the joints of their limbs hacked and broken.

Verse 38

आभिद्यमानाः कुंतैश्च भिद्यमानाश्च सायकैः । इतश्चेतश्च धावंतः क्रंदमाना निराश्रयाः

Pierced by spears and struck through by arrows, they ran in all directions—crying out, and left without any refuge.

Verse 39

मुद्गरैर्लोहदण्डैश्च हन्यमाना मुहुर्मुहुः । कंटकैर्विविधैर्घोरैर्ज्वलनार्कसमप्रभैः

Again and again they are beaten with mallets and iron rods, and tormented by many kinds of dreadful spikes, blazing with a radiance like the flaming sun—thus they suffer the binding power of pāśa when the soul turns away from Śiva, the liberating Lord (Pati).

Verse 40

भिन्दिपालैर्विभियंते स्रवतः पूयशोणितम् । शकृता कृमिदिग्धाश्च नीयंते विवशा नराः

Terrified by spears, men are dragged along helplessly—oozing pus and blood, smeared with filth, and gnawed by worms.

Verse 41

याचमानाश्च सलिलमन्नं वापि बुभुक्षिताः । छायां प्रार्थयमानाश्च शीतार्ताश्चानलं पुनः

Some begged for water; the hungry begged for food. Others pleaded for shade, and those afflicted by cold again asked for fire.

Verse 42

दानहीनाः प्रयांत्येवं प्रार्थयंतस्सुखं नराः । गृहीतदान पाथेयास्सुखं यांति यमालयम्

Thus, men bereft of charity depart this world begging for comfort; but those who have received and bestowed gifts as the provision for their journey proceed with ease to Yama’s abode.

Verse 43

एवं न्यायेन कष्टेन प्राप्ताः प्रेतपुरं यदा । प्रज्ञापितास्ततो दूतैर्निवेश्यंते यमाग्रतः

Thus, when—by the strict course of justice and through painful hardship—they reach the City of the Departed (Pretapura), Yama’s messengers identify them, report them, and make them stand before Yama for judgment.

Verse 44

तत्र ये शुभकर्म्माणस्तांस्तु सम्मानयेद्यमः । स्वागतासनदानेन पाद्यार्घ्येण प्रियेण च

There, Yama honors those who have performed auspicious deeds—welcoming them with reverent hospitality: granting a proper seat, water for washing the feet, the respectful offering of arghya, and other pleasing attentions.

Verse 45

धन्या यूयं महात्मानो निगमोदितकारिणः । यैश्च दिव्यसुखार्थाय भवद्भिस्सुकृतं कृतम्

Blessed indeed are you, O great-souled ones, for you act in accordance with what the Vedas proclaim; and for the sake of divine happiness you have performed meritorious deeds.

Verse 46

दिव्यं विमानमारुह्य दिव्यस्त्रीभोगभूषितम् । स्वर्गं गच्छध्वममलं सर्वकामसमन्वितम्

“Ascending the celestial vimāna, adorned with the delights and splendors of divine maidens, go to the stainless heaven—endowed with the fulfillment of every desire.”

Verse 47

तत्र भुक्त्वा महाभोगानंते पुण्यस्य संक्षयात् । यत्किंचिदल्पमशुभं पुनस्तदिह भोक्ष्यथ

“There, after enjoying great delights, when one’s store of merit is exhausted, whatever little inauspicious karma remains must again be experienced here, in the mortal world.”

Verse 48

धर्म्मात्मानो नरा ये च मित्रभूत्वा इवात्मनः । सौम्यं सुखं प्रपश्यंति धर्मराजत्वमेव च

Men who are righteous by nature, and who become—as it were—friends to their own inner self, behold gentle, auspicious happiness; and they attain even the state of being a lord of dharma, a ruler established in righteousness.

Verse 49

ये पुनः क्रूरकर्म्माणस्ते पश्यंति भयानकम् । दंष्ट्राकरालवदनं भृकुटीकुटिलेक्षणम्

But those engaged in cruel deeds behold a terrifying vision—an awful face with protruding fangs, and eyes made crooked by a knotted, furrowed brow.

Verse 50

ऊर्ध्वकेशं महाश्मश्रुमूर्ध्वप्रस्फुरिताधरम् । अष्टादशभुजं क्रुद्धं नीलांजनचयोपमम्

His hair stood erect upward; he bore a great beard, and his lips quivered upward in fierce agitation. With eighteen arms, wrathful in aspect, he resembled a dense mass of blue añjana (collyrium).

Verse 51

सर्वायुधोद्धतकरं सर्वदण्डेन तर्जयन् । महामहिषमारूढं दीप्ताग्निसमलोचनम्

He lifted aloft every weapon in his hands and threatened with every kind of punishment; mounted upon a mighty buffalo, his eyes blazed like flaming fire.

Verse 52

रक्तमाल्यांबरधरं महामेरुमिवोच्छ्रितम् । प्रलयाम्बुदनिर्घोषं पिबन्निव महोदधिम्

He was clad in red garlands and red garments, towering like the great Mount Meru; thundering like the clouds at the time of cosmic dissolution, as though drinking up the vast ocean itself.

Verse 53

ग्रसंतमिव शैलेन्द्रमुद्गिरंतमिवानलम् । मृत्युश्चैव समीपस्थः कालानलसमप्रभुः

He appeared as though swallowing a mighty mountain, and as though spewing forth blazing fire. Death itself stood close by—radiant and formidable like the fire of Time (kālānala).

Verse 54

कालश्चांजनसंकाशः कृतांतश्च भयानकः । मारीचोग्रमहामारी कालरात्रिश्च दारुणा

There was Kāla, dark as collyrium; and Kṛtānta (Death), terrifying. There were also Mārīca, the fierce Mahāmārī (great pestilence), and the dreadful Kālarātrī—grim powers embodying time, dissolution, and calamity.

Verse 55

विविधा व्याधयः कुष्ठा नानारूपा भयावहाः । शक्तिशूलांकुशधराः पाशचक्रासिपाणयः

Various diseases—leprosies of many kinds, taking diverse and terrifying forms—appeared bearing weapons: holding spears, tridents, and goads, and carrying nooses, discs, and swords in their hands.

Verse 56

वजतुंडधरा रुद्रा क्षुरतूणधनुर्द्धराः । नानायुधधरास्सर्वे महावीरा भयंकराः

Those Rudras—bearing thunderbolt-like tusks, carrying razor-edged weapons, quivers, and bows—were all armed with many kinds of weapons, great heroes, and awe-inspiring in their might.

Verse 57

असंख्याता महावीराः कालाञ्जनसमप्रभाः । सर्वायुधोद्यतकरा यमदूता भयानकाः

Innumerable great warriors—dark and lustrous like collyrium-blackness—stood with hands raised, brandishing every kind of weapon. They were the fearsome messengers of Yama.

Verse 58

अनेन परिचारेण वृतं तं घोरदर्शनम् । यमं पश्यंति पापिष्ठाश्चित्रगुप्तं च भीषणम्

Surrounded by this retinue, the most sinful behold Yama—terrible to look upon—and also the fearsome Chitragupta.

Verse 59

निर्भर्त्सयति चात्यंतं यमस्तान्पापकर्म्मणः । चित्रगुप्तश्च भगवान्धर्म्मवाक्यैः प्रबोधयेत्

Yama severely rebukes those who have committed sinful deeds; and the venerable Chitragupta, with words grounded in dharma, instructs and awakens them to the law of righteousness.