Adhyaya 196: Description of the City of Dharmarāja (Yama)

Verse 1

अथ धर्मराजपुरवर्णनम् ॥ वैशम्पायन उवाच ॥ तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ऋषीणां भावितात्मनाम् ॥ उवाच वाक्यं वाक्यज्ञः सर्वं निरवशेषतः ॥

Now, the description of the city of Dharmarāja (Yama). Vaiśampāyana said: Having heard the words of those sages whose selves were disciplined, the one skilled in speech spoke everything in full, leaving nothing out.

Verse 2

नाचिकेत उवाच ॥ श्रूयतां द्विजशार्दूलाः कथ्यमानं मया द्विजाः ॥ योजनानां सहस्रं तु विस्ताराद्द्विगुणायतम् ॥

Nāciketa said: “Listen, O tigers among the twice-born; I shall describe it to you, O dvijas. Its breadth is a thousand yojanas, and its length is twice that.”

Verse 3

द्विगुणं परिवेषेण तद्वै प्रेतपतेः पुरम् ॥ भवनैरावृतं दिव्यैर्याम्बूनदमयैः शुभैः ॥

Encircled by an enclosure of double measure, that indeed is the city of the Lord of the Departed; it is surrounded by auspicious, divine mansions made of jāmbūnada-gold.

Verse 4

हर्म्यप्रासादसंबाधमहाट्टालसमन्वितम् ॥ सौवर्णेनैव महता प्राकारॆणाभिवेष्टितम् ॥

Dense with mansions and palatial buildings, furnished with great watchtowers, it is encompassed by a massive golden rampart.

Verse 5

कैलासशिखराकारैर्भवनैरुपशोभितम् ॥ तत्र वै विमला नद्यस्तोयपूर्णाः सुशोभनाः ॥

Adorned with mansions shaped like the peaks of Kailāsa, there are splendid, pure rivers there, filled with water.

Verse 6

दीर्घिकाश्च तथा कान्ता नलिन्यश्च सरांसि च ॥ तडागाश्चैव कूपाश्च वृक्षषण्डाः सुशोभनाः

There were long ponds, lovely lotus-groves and lakes; likewise reservoirs, wells, and beautifully adorned clusters of trees.

Verse 7

नरनारीसमाकीर्णा गजवाजिसमाकुलाः ॥ नानादेशसमुत्थानैर्नानाजातिभिरेव च

It was crowded with men and women, filled with elephants and horses, and populated by people arising from many regions and of many communities.

Verse 8

सर्वजीवैस्तथाकीर्णं तस्य राज्ञः पुरोत्तमम् ॥ क्वचिद्युद्धं क्वचिद्द्वन्द्वं तेन बद्धो यमालये

That excellent city of the king was thus filled with all kinds of beings. Somewhere there was battle, somewhere a duel; by that he was bound in Yama’s abode.

Verse 9

क्वचिद्गायन् हसांश्चैव क्वचिद्दुःखेन दुःखितः ॥ क्वचित्क्रीडन् यथाकर्म क्वचिद्भुञ्जन् क्वचित्स्वपन्

Somewhere he sang and laughed; somewhere he was afflicted with sorrow through suffering. Somewhere he played according to his deeds; somewhere he ate, somewhere he slept.

Verse 10

स्वकर्मभिः प्रदृश्यन्ते स्थूलाः सूक्ष्माश्च जन्तवः ॥ मया दृष्टा द्विजश्रेष्ठास्तस्य राज्ञः पुरोत्तमे

Beings—gross and subtle—are seen in accordance with their own deeds. O best of the twice-born, I saw them in that excellent city of the king.

Verse 11

अङ्गानि चैव सीदन्ति मनो विह्वलतीव मे ॥ दिव्यभावाः स्पृशन्त्येते चिन्तयानस्य तत्फलम्

Truly my limbs grow weak, and my mind becomes as though bewildered. These divine states touch me as I contemplate the fruit of that.

Verse 12

तथापि कथयिष्यामि यथादृष्टं तथाश्रुतम् ॥ पुष्पोदका नाम तत्र नदीनाṃ प्रवरा नदी

Even so, I shall relate what was seen and what was heard, just as it was. There, a foremost river among rivers is named Puṣpodakā.

Verse 13

दृश्यते न च दृश्येत नानावृक्षसमाकुला ॥ सुवर्णकृतसोपाना दिव्यकाञ्चनवालुका

It appears—and yet it would seem not to appear, so wondrous is it—crowded with various trees; with steps made of gold, and with divine golden sand.

Verse 14

प्रसन्नेन च तोयेन शीतलेन सुगन्धिना ॥ पुष्प्यत्फलवनाकीर्णा नाना पक्षिसमाकुला

With clear water—cool and fragrant—its banks were filled with forests bearing flowers and fruits, and thronged with many kinds of birds.

Verse 15

भ्राजते सरितां श्रेष्ठा सर्वपापप्रणाशिनी ॥ तस्यास्तीरे मया दृष्टाः पादपाश्च सहस्रशः

It shines forth—the best among rivers, the destroyer of all sins. Upon its bank I saw trees in their thousands.

Verse 16

अमराः क्रीडमानाश्च जलक्रीडां पुनःपुनः ॥ विशालजघना यस्यां गन्धर्वाः सामगा इव

There the immortals sport again and again in water-play; and in that river are broad-hipped women, while the Gandharvas sing as though they were chanters of the Sāman hymns.

Verse 17

भुजङ्गावनताङ्ग्यश्च किन्नर्यश्च सुगायनाः ॥ दिव्यभूषणसम्भोगैः क्रीडन्त्यत्र समागताः

Here, women whose limbs bend gracefully like serpents, and Kinnara-women who sing sweetly, having assembled, sport while enjoying divine ornaments.

Verse 18

एवं नारीसहस्राणि तत्र दिव्यानि नित्यशः ॥ क्रीडन्ति सलिले तत्र प्रासादेषु शुभेषु च

Thus, thousands of divine women there, continually, sport in the water and also in auspicious palatial dwellings.

Verse 19

प्रमदाश्च जले तत्र कामरूपाः सुमेखलाः ॥ रमयन्त्यो नरास्तत्र यथाकामं यथासुखम्

And there, in the water, are delightful women—able to assume forms at will, adorned with fine girdles—who entertain the men there according to desire and according to comfort.

Verse 20

तां नदीं क्षोभयन्त्यस्ताः क्रीडन्ति सहिताः प्रियैः ॥ गायन्ति सलिले काश्चिन्मधुरं मधुविह्वलाः

Stirring up that river, they play together with their beloved companions; and some, intoxicated with sweetness, sing melodiously in the water.

Verse 21

जलतूर्यनिनादेन भूषणानां स्वनेन च ॥ भाति सा निम्नगा दिव्या दिव्यरत्नैरलंकृता

With the resonance of water-instruments and the tinkling of ornaments, that divine river shines, adorned with celestial jewels.

Verse 22

वैवस्वती नाम महानदी सा शुभा नदीनां प्रवरा अतिरम्या ॥ प्रयाति मध्ये नगरस्य नित्यं मातेव पुत्रं परिपालयन्ती

That great river is named Vaivasvatī—auspicious, foremost among rivers, exceedingly delightful. She ever flows through the heart of the city, protecting it like a mother her child.

Verse 23

तोयानुरूपा च मनोहरा च दिव्येन तोयेन सदैव पूर्णा ॥ यस्यास्तु हंसाः पुलिनेषु मत्ताः कुन्देन्दुवर्णाः प्रचरन्ति नित्यम्

Harmonious with her waters and enchanting, she is ever filled with divine water. Upon her banks swans—drunk with joy—white as jasmine and the moon, continually wander.

Verse 24

रथाङ्गसाह्वैः प्रवरैश्च पद्मैः प्रतप्तजाम्बूनद कर्णिकाभिः ॥ या दृश्यते चैव मनोज्ञरूपा सुवर्णसोपानयुता सुकान्ता

She is beheld as beautiful in form—adorned with excellent lotuses called rathāṅga, their pericarps of glowing Jāmbūnada-gold; and she is charming, furnished with golden steps.

Verse 25

यस्यास्तु तोयं विमलं सुगन्धि स्वादु प्रसन्नं त्वमृतोपमं च ॥ वृक्षास्तु यस्या वनखण्डजाताः सदा शुभैः पुष्पफलैरुपेताः

Her water is clear, fragrant, sweet, and tranquil—truly comparable to amṛta, nectar. And the trees born in her forest-groves are ever endowed with auspicious flowers and fruits.

Verse 26

नार्यः सुरूपा मदविह्वलाश्च क्रीडन्ति ता यत्र मनोज्ञरूपाः ॥ यस्यां जनः क्रीडनताडनाद्यैर्विवर्णतां याति न वै कदाचित् ॥

There, beautiful women—gently exhilarated—play about, charming in form. In that place, people never at any time become pale or lose their complexion, even amid play, striking, and other sportive acts.

Verse 27

या देवतानामपि पूजनीया तापनिधीनां च तथा मुनीनाम् ॥ या दृश्यते तोयभरेण कान्ताकृतिः कवीनामिव निर्मलार्था ॥

She/that radiant presence is worthy of worship even by the gods, and likewise by the treasuries of austerity and by sages. She/that is seen full of water, lovely in form—like the poets’ speech, clear in meaning.

Verse 28

वादित्रगीतस्वनतालयुक्ता गायन्ति नार्यः सहिताः सदा हि ॥ कन्याकुलानां मृदुभाषितानि मनोहराणां च वनेषु तेषु ॥

Accompanied by the sounds and rhythms of instruments and song, the women—together—sing continually. And in those groves are the gentle, captivating utterances of groups of young women.

Verse 29

कुर्वन्ति संहर्षमिव स्वनेन मनोज्ञरूपा दिवि देवतानाम् ॥ मृदङ्गनादश्च सुतन्त्रियुक्तगीतध्वनिश्चैव सुवंशयुक्तः ॥

With their sound they seem to arouse exhilaration, charming in form, as if for the gods in heaven. There are also the resonant beat of the mṛdaṅga, the sound of song accompanied by stringed instruments, and the tone joined with the suvaṃśa (bamboo flute).

Verse 30

प्रासादकुञ्जेषु विहार्यमाणा न तृप्तिमेवं बहु ताः प्रयान्ति ॥ गन्धः सुगन्धोऽगुरुचन्दनानां वातः शुभो वाति सुशीतमन्दः ॥

Sporting in the palace-groves, they do not attain satiety, even after much enjoyment. A fragrant scent of aguru and sandalwood pervades the air, and an auspicious breeze blows—cool, gentle, and mild.

Verse 31

क्वचित् सुगन्धः प्रचचार भूयः प्रासादरोधं प्रविरूढमार्गः ॥ क्वचिज्जनाः क्रीडनकावसक्ताः क्वचिच्च नारीनरगीतशब्दाः ॥

In some places fragrance spreads again and again, finding pathways overgrown along the palace-walls. In some places people are engrossed in play; and in some places are heard the sounds of songs sung by women and men.

Verse 32

तथाऽपरे क्रीडनकाः सकान्ताः सुवर्णवेदीकृतसानुशोभाः ॥ विमानभूताः प्रचरन्ति तोये प्रमत्तनारीनरसं्कुलाश्च ॥

Likewise, others—sportive and accompanied by their beloveds—adorned with terraces fashioned as golden platforms, move about upon the water as if they had become aerial mansions; and they are crowded with exhilarated women and men.

Verse 33

शक्यो विभागो न हि रम्यताया ह्यसौ दिनैर्वा बहुभिः प्रवक्तुम् ॥ नैषा कथा कर्मसमाधियुक्ता शक्त्या प्रवक्तुं दिवसैरनल्पैः ॥

Indeed, the full extent of that loveliness cannot be described—even with many days. This account, joined to disciplined action and concentrated attention, is not possible to narrate adequately even with considerable time and effort.

Verse 34

क्वचिन्नृत्यन् क्वचित्तिष्ठन् क्वचिद्बन्धनसंस्थितः ॥ एवं शतसहस्राणि तस्य राज्ञः पुरोत्तमे ॥

Somewhere dancing, somewhere standing, somewhere remaining in bondage or restraint—thus, by the hundreds of thousands, such scenes occur in that king’s excellent city.

Verse 35

तत्रापरे वृक्षषण्डा नित्यपुष्पफलान्विताः ॥ ते च कामप्रदा नित्यं तथा द्विजसमायुताः ॥

Moreover, there are clusters of trees furnished with flowers and fruits at all times. They continually grant desired things, and they are likewise frequented by dvijas—the twice-born, the learned.

Verse 36

जलं च दत्तं बहुभिर्नरैश्च तस्याः स्वरूपप्रतिमा च निष्ठा ॥ प्रासादपङ्क्तिर्ज्वलनप्रकाशा तस्यास्तु तीरे बहुभक्तिरम्याः ॥

And water has been offered by many people; and her form, too, has been firmly established as an image. Upon her bank stands a row of palatial shrines, radiant like flame-light, lovely with abundant devotion.