The Heavens of the Righteous

Verse 1 (13.240.1)

भगवन्सर्वभूतेश पुरमर्दन शङ्कर । श्रुतं पापकृतां दुःखं यमलोके वरप्रद ॥

bhagavansarvabhūteśa puramardana śaṅkara | śrutaṃ pāpakṛtāṃ duḥkhaṃ yamaloke varaprada

O Lord of all beings, destroyer of Pura, Shankara, giver of boons, I have heard of the suffering of evildoers in the world of Yama.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3642-3643.

Verse 2 (13.240.2)

श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं देव नृणां सुकृतकर्मणाम् । कथं ते भुञ्जते भोगान्स्वर्गलोके महेश्वर ॥

śrotumicchāmyahaṃ deva nṛṇāṃ sukṛtakarmaṇām | kathaṃ te bhuñjate bhogānsvargaloke maheśvara

Now I wish to hear, O god, about men who have done good deeds: how, O Maheshvara, do they enjoy their pleasures in the world of heaven?

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3644-3645.

Verse 3 (13.240.3)

कथिताः कीदृशा लोका नृणां सुकृतकारिणाम् । एतन्मे वद देवेश श्रोतुं कौतूहलं हि मे ॥

kathitāḥ kīdṛśā lokā nṛṇāṃ sukṛtakāriṇām | etanme vada deveśa śrotuṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me

What kind of worlds are spoken of for men who do good? Tell me this, O lord of the gods, for I am curious to hear it.

Note on the text: Corrected देवश → देवेश (misprint in Wikisource; the vowel े is dropped; the CE reads deveśa). Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3646-3647.

Verse 4 (13.240.4)

शृणु कल्याणि तत्सर्वं यत्त्वमिच्छसि शोभने । विविधाः पुण्यलोकास्ते कर्मकर्मण्यतां गताः ॥

śṛṇu kalyāṇi tatsarvaṃ yattvamicchasi śobhane | vividhāḥ puṇyalokāste karmakarmaṇyatāṃ gatāḥ

Listen, O auspicious one, to all that you wish to know, O lovely lady. The worlds of merit are of many kinds, reached through fitness for action.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3648-3649.

Verse 5 (13.240.5)

मेरुं हि कनकात्मानं परितः सर्वतोदिशम् । भद्राश्वः केतुमालश्च उत्तराः कुरवस्तथा ॥

meruṃ hi kanakātmānaṃ paritaḥ sarvatodiśam | bhadrāśvaḥ ketumālaśca uttarāḥ kuravastathā

Around Meru, whose very nature is gold, in every direction, lie Bhadrashva, Ketumala, and the northern Kurus;

Note on the text: Corrected भद्राश्चः → भद्राश्वः (misprint in Wikisource; चः for श्वः; the CE reads bhadrāśvaḥ). Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3650-3651.

Verse 6 (13.240.6)

जम्बूवनादयः स्वर्गा इत्येते कर्मवर्जिताः । तेषु भूत्वा स्वयंभूताः प्रदृश्यते यतस्ततः ॥

jambūvanādayaḥ svargā ityete karmavarjitāḥ | teṣu bhūtvā svayaṃbhūtāḥ pradṛśyate yatastataḥ

Jambuvana and the rest are heavens, free from the bondage of action. In them, things come into being of their own accord and are seen on every side.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3652-3653. The second line differs in wording from the CE (teṣu bhogāḥ svayaṃbhūtāḥ pradṛśyante); the page's भूत्वा स्वयंभूताः प्रदृश्यते is kept, as it parses.

Verse 7 (13.240.7)

योजनानां सहस्रं च एकैकं मानमात्रया । नित्यं पुष्पफलोपेतास्तत्र वृक्षाः समन्ततः ॥

yojanānāṃ sahasraṃ ca ekaikaṃ mānamātrayā | nityaṃ puṣpaphalopetāstatra vṛkṣāḥ samantataḥ

Each of them measures a thousand yojanas across. There, trees on every side are always laden with flowers and fruit.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3654-3655.

Verse 8 (13.240.8)

आसक्तवस्त्राभरणाः सर्वे कनकसन्निभाः । द्विरेफाश्चाण्डजास्तत्र प्रवालमणिसन्निभाः । विचित्राश्च मनोज्ञाश्च कूजितैः शोभयन्ति तान् ॥

āsaktavastrābharaṇāḥ sarve kanakasannibhāḥ | dvirephāścāṇḍajāstatra pravālamaṇisannibhāḥ | vicitrāśca manojñāśca kūjitaiḥ śobhayanti tān

All of them, hung with garments and ornaments, are golden in hue. There the bees and the egg-born birds, bright as coral and jewels, varied and charming, adorn them with their warbling.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3656-3658. Three-line verse, as on the page (13-240-8a-c).

Verse 9 (13.240.9)

कुशेशयवनच्छन्ना नलिन्यश्च मनोरमाः । तत्र वान्त्यनिला नित्यं दिव्यगन्धसुखावहाः ॥

kuśeśayavanacchannā nalinyaśca manoramāḥ | tatra vāntyanilā nityaṃ divyagandhasukhāvahāḥ

Lovely lotus-pools, covered with forests of lotuses, lie there; and breezes bearing a divine fragrance and bringing pleasure blow there always.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3659-3660. The second line differs slightly from the CE (divyagandhāḥ sukhāvahāḥ).

Verse 10 (13.240.10)

सर्वे चाम्लानमाल्याश्च विरजोम्बरसंवृताः । एवं बहुविधा देवि दिव्यभोगाः सुखावहाः ॥

sarve cāmlānamālyāśca virajombarasaṃvṛtāḥ | evaṃ bahuvidhā devi divyabhogāḥ sukhāvahāḥ

All wear unfading garlands and are clothed in spotless garments. Thus, O goddess, there are many kinds of divine enjoyments that bring happiness.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3661-3662. The second line differs from the CE (divi bhogāḥ).

Verse 11 (13.240.11)

स्त्रियश्च पुरुषाश्चैव सर्वे सुकृतकारिणः । रमन्ते तत्र चान्योन्यं कामरागसमन्विताः ॥

striyaśca puruṣāścaiva sarve sukṛtakāriṇaḥ | ramante tatra cānyonyaṃ kāmarāgasamanvitāḥ

Women and men, all of them doers of good deeds, delight there in one another, filled with desire and passion.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3663-3664.

Verse 12 (13.240.12)

मनोहरा महाभागाः सर्वे ललितकुण्डलाः । एवं तत्र स्थिता मर्त्याः प्रमदाः प्रियदर्शनाः ॥

manoharā mahābhāgāḥ sarve lalitakuṇḍalāḥ | evaṃ tatra sthitā martyāḥ pramadāḥ priyadarśanāḥ

All are charming and highly fortunate, with graceful earrings; such are the mortals who dwell there, and the women are pleasing to look upon.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3666-3667. The CE has a further line between (3665, divyabhūṣaṇasaṃyuktā …) that Wikisource lacks; the second line differs in wording.

Verse 13 (13.240.13)

नानाभावसमायुक्ता यौवनस्थाः सदैव तु । युवत्यः कल्पितास्तत्र कामजा ललितास्तथा ॥

nānābhāvasamāyuktā yauvanasthāḥ sadaiva tu | yuvatyaḥ kalpitāstatra kāmajā lalitāstathā

Endowed with many moods, always in the bloom of youth, the young women are fashioned there, born of desire and graceful.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3668-3669. The second line differs from the CE (kamanīyāḥ kāmayutāḥ kāmajñā).

Verse 14 (13.240.14)

मनोनुकूला मधुरा भोगिनामुपकल्पिताः । प्रमदाश्चोद्भवन्त्येव स्वर्गलोके यथा तथा ॥

manonukūlā madhurā bhogināmupakalpitāḥ | pramadāścodbhavantyeva svargaloke yathā tathā

Agreeable to the mind and sweet, they are provided for those who enjoy; women arise there just as they do in the world of heaven.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3670-3671.

Verse 15 (13.240.15)

एवंविधाः स्त्रियश्चात्र पुरुषाश्च परस्परम् । रमन्ते चेन्द्रियैः स्वस्थैः शरीरैर्भोगसंस्कृतैः ॥

evaṃvidhāḥ striyaścātra puruṣāśca parasparam | ramante cendriyaiḥ svasthaiḥ śarīrairbhogasaṃskṛtaiḥ

Women and men of this kind delight in one another here, with healthy senses and with bodies made for enjoyment.

Note on the text: Corrected स्वस्थै शरीरैर् → स्वस्थैः शरीरैर् (misprint in Wikisource; the visarga is dropped before श; the CE reads svasthaiḥ). Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3672-3673.

Verse 16 (13.240.16)

कामहर्षगुणाभ्यस्ता नान्ये क्रोधादयः प्रिये । क्षुत्पिपासा न चास्त्यत्र गात्रक्लेशाश्च शोभने ॥

kāmaharṣaguṇābhyastā nānye krodhādayaḥ priye | kṣutpipāsā na cāstyatra gātrakleśāśca śobhane

They are given to the qualities of desire and joy; anger and the like are not found among them, beloved. Hunger and thirst do not exist here, nor any pain in the body, O lovely one.

Note on the text: Corrected चास्त्यत्रि → चास्त्यत्र (misprint in Wikisource; stray ि; the CE reads atra). Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3674-3675. The first line differs in wording from the CE (kāmaharṣau guṇāv āstāṃ).

Verse 17 (13.240.17)

सर्वतो रमणीयं च सर्वत्र कुसुमान्वितम् । यावत्पुण्यफलं तावद्दृश्यन्ते बहुसङ्गताः । निरन्तरं भोगयुता रमन्ते स्वर्गवासिनः ॥

sarvato ramaṇīyaṃ ca sarvatra kusumānvitam | yāvatpuṇyaphalaṃ tāvaddṛśyante bahusaṅgatāḥ | nirantaraṃ bhogayutā ramante svargavāsinaḥ

Delightful on every side and adorned everywhere with flowers, they are seen, joined with many companions, as long as the fruit of their merit lasts; the dwellers in heaven delight, ever given to enjoyment, without a break.

Note on the text: Corrected कुसुमान्विम् → कुसुमान्वितम् (misprint in Wikisource; the syllable ित is dropped; the CE reads kusumānvitam). Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3676-3678. Three-line verse, as on the page (13-240-17a-c).

Verse 18 (13.240.18)

तत्र भोगान्यथायोगं भुक्त्वा पुण्यक्षयात्पुनः । नश्यन्ति जायमानास्ते शरीरैः सहसा प्रिये ॥

tatra bhogānyathāyogaṃ bhuktvā puṇyakṣayātpunaḥ | naśyanti jāyamānāste śarīraiḥ sahasā priye

Having enjoyed pleasures there as is fitting, when their merit is spent they perish, beloved, and are suddenly born again in bodies.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3679-3680.

Verse 19 (13.240.19)

स्वर्गलोकात्परिभ्रष्टाः जायन्ते मानुषे पुनः । पूर्वपुण्यावशेषेण विशिष्टाः सम्भवन्ति ते ॥

svargalokātparibhraṣṭāḥ jāyante mānuṣe punaḥ | pūrvapuṇyāvaśeṣeṇa viśiṣṭāḥ sambhavanti te

Fallen from the world of heaven, they are born again among humans; by the remainder of their earlier merit they come to be distinguished people.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3681-3682.

Verse 20 (13.240.20)

एषा स्वर्गगतिः प्रोक्ता पृच्छन्त्यास्तव भामिनि । अत ऊर्ध्वं पदान्यष्टौ सुकर्माणि शृणु प्रिये । भोगयुक्तानि पुण्यानि उच्छ्रितानि परस्परम् ॥

eṣā svargagatiḥ proktā pṛcchantyāstava bhāmini | ata ūrdhvaṃ padānyaṣṭau sukarmāṇi śṛṇu priye | bhogayuktāni puṇyāni ucchritāni parasparam

This is the course of heaven, told to you as you asked, O lady. Beyond it, listen, beloved, to the eight stations of good deeds, full of enjoyment and merit, each rising above the one before.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3683-3685. Three-line verse, as on the page (13-240-20a-c).

Verse 21 (13.240.21)

विद्याधराः किम्पुरुषा यक्षगन्धर्वकिन्नराः । अप्सरोदानवा देवा यथाक्रममुदाहृताः ॥

vidyādharāḥ kimpuruṣā yakṣagandharvakinnarāḥ | apsarodānavā devā yathākramamudāhṛtāḥ

Vidyadharas, Kimpurushas, Yakshas, Gandharvas and Kinnaras, Apsarases, Danavas and Devas: these are named in their order.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3686-3687. The second line differs slightly in wording from the CE (apsaro dānavā devā).

Verse 22 (13.240.22)

तेषु स्थानेषु जायन्ते प्राणिनः पुण्यकर्मणः । तेषामपि च ये लोकाः स्वर्गलोकोपमाः स्मृताः ॥

teṣu sthāneṣu jāyante prāṇinaḥ puṇyakarmaṇaḥ | teṣāmapi ca ye lokāḥ svargalokopamāḥ smṛtāḥ

Beings of meritorious deeds are born in these stations; and whatever worlds belong to them are remembered as resembling the world of heaven.

Note on the text: Corrected प्राणिनाः → प्राणिनः (misprint in Wikisource; the stem has an extra ā; the CE reads prāṇinaḥ). Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3688-3689.

Verse 23 (13.240.23)

स्वर्गवत्तत्र ते भोगान्भुञ्जते च रमन्ति च । रूपसत्वबलोपेताः सर्वे दीर्घायुषस्तथा ॥

svargavattatra te bhogānbhuñjate ca ramanti ca | rūpasatvabalopetāḥ sarve dīrghāyuṣastathā

There they enjoy pleasures and delight as in heaven, all of them endowed with beauty, strength of being and might, and long life.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3690-3691.

Verse 24 (13.240.24)

तेषां सर्वक्रियारम्भो मानुषेष्विव दृश्यते । अतिमानुषमैश्वर्यमत्र मायाबलात्कृतम् ॥

teṣāṃ sarvakriyārambho mānuṣeṣviva dṛśyate | atimānuṣamaiśvaryamatra māyābalātkṛtam

All their undertakings of action are seen as among humans, but a superhuman lordship is made there by the power of illusion.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3692-3693. The second line differs from the CE (āścaryam astramāyābalāt).

Verse 25 (13.240.25)

जराप्रसूतिमरणं तेषु स्थानेषु दृश्यते । गुणा दोषाश्च सन्त्यत्र आकाशगमनं तथा ॥

jarāprasūtimaraṇaṃ teṣu sthāneṣu dṛśyate | guṇā doṣāśca santyatra ākāśagamanaṃ tathā

Old age, birth and death are seen in those stations; faults and virtues exist there, and so does travel through the sky.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3694-3695.

Verse 26 (13.240.26)

अन्तर्धानं बलं सत्त्वमायुश्च चिरजीवितम् । तपोविशेषाज्जायन्ते यथा कर्मणि भामिनि ॥

antardhānaṃ balaṃ sattvamāyuśca cirajīvitam | tapoviśeṣājjāyante yathā karmaṇi bhāmini

Disappearing from sight, strength, vigour, and long life arise from special austerity, according to the deed, O lady.

Note on the text: Corrected तपोविशेषज्जायन्ते → तपोविशेषाज्जायन्ते (misprint in Wikisource; the ablative ending is cut short; the CE reads tapoviśeṣāj jāyante). Corrected कर्म्णि → कर्मणि (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct). Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3696-3697. The first line differs from the CE (sarvam āyuś ca), and the second ends differently (teṣāṃ karmāṇi).

Verse 27 (13.240.27)

देवलोके प्रवृत्तिस्तु तेषामेव विधीयते । न तथा देवलोको हि तद्विशिष्टाः सुराः स्मृताः ॥

devaloke pravṛttistu teṣāmeva vidhīyate | na tathā devaloko hi tadviśiṣṭāḥ surāḥ smṛtāḥ

The practice of the world of the gods is ordained for them alone; yet their world is not like the world of the gods, for the gods are remembered as more distinguished than they.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki mark ।।i (stray wiki mark). Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3698-3699.

Verse 28 (13.240.28)

तत्र भोगमनिर्देश्यममृतत्वं च विद्यते । विमानगमनं नित्यमप्सरोगणसेवितम् ॥

tatra bhogamanirdeśyamamṛtatvaṃ ca vidyate | vimānagamanaṃ nityamapsarogaṇasevitam

There, enjoyment beyond description and immortality are found; they travel always in celestial chariots, served by hosts of apsarases.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3700-3701.

Verse 29 (13.240.29)

एवमन्यच्च तत्कर्म देवताभ्यो विशिष्यते । प्रत्यक्षं तव तत्सर्वं देवलोके प्रवर्तनम् ॥

evamanyacca tatkarma devatābhyo viśiṣyate | pratyakṣaṃ tava tatsarvaṃ devaloke pravartanam

In this way too, their other conduct differs from that of the gods. All this working of the world of the gods is plain before you.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3702-3703.

Verse 30 (13.240.30)

तस्मान्न वर्णये देवि विदितं च त्वया शुभे । तत्सर्वं सुकृतैरेव प्राप्यते चोत्तमं पदम् ॥

tasmānna varṇaye devi viditaṃ ca tvayā śubhe | tatsarvaṃ sukṛtaireva prāpyate cottamaṃ padam

Therefore, O goddess, I do not describe it, for you already know it, O auspicious one. All of it, and the highest state, is won by good deeds alone.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3704-3705. The second line differs slightly in wording from the CE.