Adhyaya 205: Description of the Proclamation of Auspicious and Inauspicious Karmic Results

Verse 1

अथ शुभाशुभफलानुकीर्तनवर्णनम् ॥ ऋषिपुत्र उवाच ॥ इदमन्यत्पुरा विप्राः श्रूयतां तस्य भाषितम् ॥ यमस्य चित्रगुप्तस्य यच्च तत्र मया श्रुतम् ॥

Then follows the account describing the recitation of auspicious and inauspicious consequences. The son of a Ṛṣi said: “O brāhmaṇas, listen to another ancient matter—what was spoken by him, and what I heard there concerning Yama and Citragupta.”

Verse 2

अयं तु भवतां यातु यातु स्वर्गं महीक्षिताम् ॥ अयं वृक्षस्त्वयं तिर्यगयं मोक्षं व्रजेन्नरः ॥

“Let this one go—according to his assigned course; let him go to heaven among the rulers of the earth. This one becomes a tree; this one goes as an animal; this man proceeds to liberation (mokṣa).”

Verse 3

अयं नागो भवेत्शीघ्रमयं तु परमां गतिम् ॥ स्वपूर्वकान्पश्यतेऽयमात्मनस्तु पितामहान् ॥

“This one quickly becomes a nāga (serpent-being); but this one attains the highest destination. This one beholds his own predecessors—indeed, the grandfathers of his lineage.”

Verse 4

क्लिश्यतो रुदतश्चैव वदतश्च पुनःपुनः ॥ स्वेन दोषेण सर्वे वा अक्षयं नरकंगताः ॥

“Suffering, weeping, and speaking again and again—by their own fault, all of them have gone to an enduring hell.”

Verse 5

दारत्यागी त्वधर्मिष्ठः पुत्रपौत्रविवर्जितः ॥ क्षिप्तं वै रौरवे ह्येनं क्षपयन्तु महौजसः ॥

A wife-abandoner—most unrighteous—bereft of sons and grandsons: cast into Raurava, let the mighty ones make him undergo the exhausting penalty there.

Verse 6

मुच्यतां त इमे सर्वे ह्यतीतानागतास्तथा ॥ मुच्यन्तामाशु मुच्यन्तां त एते पापवर्जिताः ॥

Let all these be released—those of the past and those yet to come as well. Let them be released swiftly; let these, free from sin, be released.

Verse 7

आगमे च विपत्तौ च सर्वधर्मानुपालकाः ॥ ते तु कल्पान्बहून्स्वर्ग उषित्वा ह्यनसूयकाः ॥

Those who uphold all duties in prosperity and in adversity—free from malice—dwell in heaven for many kalpas.

Verse 8

बहुसुन्दरनार्यङ्के ह्याद्ये परमधार्मिकम् ॥ कलौ मानुषतां यातु धर्मस्येह निदर्शनम् ॥

In the first instance, upon the lap of a very beautiful woman, he is supremely righteous. In the Kali age, let this become a human exemplar—here, an illustration of dharma.

Verse 9

त्रिविष्टपे परिक्लेशो वासो ह्यस्याक्षयो भवेत् ॥ अयमायोधने शत्रुं हत्वा तु निधनंगतः ॥

In Triviṣṭapa (heaven) there is hardship, yet his dwelling would be enduring. This man, having slain an enemy in battle, has indeed met his death.

Verse 10

तत्र वैमानिको भूत्वा कल्पमेकं निवत्स्यति ॥ तथैवायं महाभागो धर्मात्मा धर्मवत्सलः ॥

There, having become a celestial being who moves in a divine vimāna, he will dwell for one kalpa. In the same way, this fortunate man—righteous in nature and devoted to dharma—is to be honored.

Verse 11

बहुदानरतो नित्यं सर्वभूतानुकम्पकः ॥ एनं गन्धैश्च माल्यैश्च शीघ्रमेव प्रपूजय ॥

Ever devoted to abundant giving and compassionate toward all beings—worship him promptly with fragrances and garlands.

Verse 12

अस्मै पूजा भवेद्देया मयादिष्टा महात्मने ॥ वीज्यतां चामरैरेष रथमस्मै प्रदीयताम् ॥

For this great-souled man, worship is to be offered as I have enjoined. Let him be fanned with cāmara yak-tail whisks, and let a chariot be given to him.

Verse 13

प्रेतवासं समुत्सृज्य हीतो यातु त्रिविष्टपम् ॥ इन्द्रस्यार्द्धं भवेच्चैव देवदेवस्य धीमतः ॥

Casting off the condition of a preta, let him—being honored—go to Triviṣṭapa (heaven). He will also obtain a share equal to half of Indra’s splendor and sovereignty, under the wise Lord of the gods.

Verse 14

शङ्खतूर्यनिनादेन तत्र वै विजयेन च ॥ तत्र वै पूजयित्वा च प्रायशो लभतां सुखम् ॥

There, amid the resounding of conches and trumpets, and with victory as well; and having worshiped there, one generally attains happiness.

Verse 15

अयं गच्छतु भद्रं चापीन्द्रदेशं दुरासदम् ॥ अनेन वै कीर्तिमता लोकः सर्वो ह्यलङ्कृतः ॥

Let this man depart—may it be auspicious—to Indra’s realm, hard to attain. By him, renowned in glory, the whole world is indeed adorned and ennobled.

Verse 16

गुणैश्च शतसङ्ख्याकैः शक्र एनं प्रतीक्षते ॥ तावत्स्थास्यति धर्मात्मा यावच्छक्रस्त्रिविष्टपे ॥

Endowed with virtues numbered by the hundreds, Śakra (Indra) awaits him. The righteous-souled one will remain there as long as Śakra remains in Triviṣṭapa.

Verse 17

तावत्स मोदते स्वर्गे यावद्धर्मोऽनुमीयते ॥ ततश्च्युतश्च कालेन मानुष्ये सुखमश्नुते ॥

He rejoices in heaven so long as his merit (dharma) is being measured and expended. Then, in due course of time, fallen from that state, he enjoys happiness in the human world.

Verse 18

रत्नवेणुप्रदश्चैव सर्वधर्मैरलङ्कृतः ॥ अश्विनोर्नय लोकं तु सर्वसौख्यसमन्वितम् ॥

And as a giver of jeweled flutes (or bamboo instruments), adorned with every form of merit, lead him to the world of the Aśvins—endowed with every happiness.

Verse 19

सर्वशक्त्या समेतॆन द्विजेभ्य उपपादिताः ॥ शुचीनां ब्राह्मणानाम् बह्वन्नदानं विशेषतः ॥

Offerings should be made to the twice-born (dvijas) with one’s full strength and capacity; in particular, the gift of abundant food to pure, disciplined brāhmaṇas is especially praised.

Verse 20

तेन कल्पं वसिष्यन्ति रुद्रकल्पा मनोरमाः ॥ तत्र कल्पं वसेद्गत्वा रुद्रलोकं न संशयः ॥

By that meritorious act they shall dwell for a kalpa in delightful realms akin to Rudra; having gone there and resided for a kalpa, one attains Rudra’s world—of this there is no doubt.

Verse 21

तेन दत्तं द्विजातिभ्यो मधुखण्डपुरःसरम् ॥ रसैश्च विविधैर्युक्तं सर्वगन्धमनोहरम् ॥

By him a gift was given to the twice-born: honey, sugar-candy, and the like—endowed with various flavors and delightful with every fragrance.

Verse 22

तरुणी क्षीरसम्पन्ना गौः सुवर्णयुता शुभा ॥ सवत्सा हेमवासाश्च दत्ताऽनेन महात्मना ॥

A young cow, rich in milk, auspicious and accompanied with gold—together with her calf and with golden garments—was given by this great-souled man.

Verse 23

अस्य लेख्यं मया दृष्टं तिस्रः कोट्यस्त्रिविष्टपे ॥ स्वर्गात्परिच्युतश्चापि ऋषीणां जायते कुले ॥

I have seen the record concerning him: three crores of merit in Triviṣṭapa (heaven). And even if he falls away from heaven, he is born in the lineage of seers (ṛṣis).

Verse 24

सुवर्णस्य प्रदाता च त्रिदशेभ्यो निवेद्यताम् ॥ त्रिदशानभ्यनुज्ञाप्य यातु देवमुमापतिम् ॥

And the giver of gold should be reported to the Thirty (gods). Having obtained the gods’ consent, let him go to the divine Lord, Umāpati.

Verse 25

तत्रैष वै महातेजा यथेष्टं काममाप्नुयात् ॥ तत्रैवायमपि प्रेतगणभक्तो महातपाः ॥

There, that radiant one indeed attains desires as he wishes. There too is the great ascetic, devoted to the host of departed spirits.

Verse 26

प्रयातु पितृभिः सार्द्धं तर्पिता येन पूर्वजाः ॥ दानव्रता दिवं यान्तु नानालोकनमस्कृताः ॥

Let him depart together with the ancestors, whose forebears were satisfied by him through offerings. Let those vowed to giving go to heaven, honored by the salutations of many worlds.

Verse 27

अयं भद्रो महाकामं सर्वभूतहिते रतः ॥ सर्वकामैरयं पूज्यः सर्वकामप्रदो नरः ॥

This good man, intent upon the welfare of all beings, is fit for great desires. With all desired offerings he is to be honored; this man is a bestower of all desires.

Verse 28

विविधैः कामभोगैस्तु सेव्यमानो नरोत्तमः ॥ अक्षयं चाजरं स्थानं पूज्यमानो महर्षिभिः ॥

Served with diverse enjoyments of desire, that best of men—being honored by great seers—attains an imperishable and ageless station.

Verse 29

ब्राह्मणार्थे गवार्थे वा राष्ट्रार्थे निधनङ्गतः ॥ शक्रस्य ह्यमरावत्यां निवेदयत मा चिरम् ॥

If one meets death for the sake of Brahmins, or for the sake of cattle, or for the sake of the kingdom, then indeed report him to Śakra in Amarāvatī without delay.

Verse 30

अयं यातु महाभागो देवदेवं सनातनम् ॥ अतिसृष्टः पुरा येन यथोक्ताः सुखदोहनाḥ ॥

Let this fortunate man proceed to the eternal God of gods—He who in ancient times, as declared, set forth the well-proclaimed ordinances that bestow happiness.

Verse 31

क्षितिप्रदो द्विजातिभ्यो ह्ययं यातु त्रिविष्टपम् ॥ तत्रैव तिष्ठताद्वीरो ब्रह्मलोके सहानुगः ॥

Since he has bestowed land upon the twice-born, let him go to Triviṣṭapa (heaven). Let that hero remain there itself, in Brahmaloka, together with his attendants and followers.