The Remaining Hells

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.8.23.1)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । ये नराः सर्वदा साक्ष्ये अनृतं भाषयन्ति च । दाने विनिमयेऽर्थस्य देवर्षे पापबुद्धयः

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca | ye narāḥ sarvadā sākṣye anṛtaṁ bhāṣayanti ca | dāne vinimaye'rthasya devarṣe pāpabuddhayaḥ

Shri Narayana said: Those men who, evil-minded, O divine sage, always speak falsehood in giving testimony, in making gifts, or in exchanging wealth,

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.8.23.2)

ते प्रेत्यामुत्र नरके अवीच्याख्येऽतिदारुणे । योजनानां शतोच्छ्रायाद्गिरिमूर्ध्नः पतन्ति हि

te pretyāmutra narake avīcyākhye'tidāruṇe | yojanānāṁ śatocchrāyādgirimūrdhnaḥ patanti hi

— they, after death, fall in that most dreadful hell called Avichi, cast down from the summit of a mountain a hundred yojanas high,

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.8.23.3)

अनाकाशेऽधःशिरसस्तदवीचीतिनामके । यत्र स्थलं दृश्यते च जलवद्वीचिसंयुतम्

anākāśe'dhaḥśirasastadavīcītināmake | yatra sthalaṁ dṛśyate ca jalavadvīcisaṁyutam

— head foremost, into that airless place named Avichi (literally "waveless"), where the very ground appears like water, rippling with waves,

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.8.23.4)

अवीचिमत्ततस्तत्र तिलशश्छिन्नविग्रहः । म्रियते नैव देवर्षे पुनरेवाऽवरोप्यते

avīcimattatastatra tilaśaśchinnavigrahaḥ | mriyate naiva devarṣe punarevā'varopyate

— hence its name, Avichi; there his body is shattered into pieces fine as sesame seeds, yet, O divine sage, he never actually dies, but is cast down there again and again.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.8.23.5)

यो वा द्विजो वा राजन्यो वैश्यो वा ब्रह्मसम्भव । सोमपीथस्तत्कलत्रं सुरां वा पिबतीव हि

yo vā dvijo vā rājanyo vaiśyo vā brahmasambhava | somapīthastatkalatraṁ surāṁ vā pibatīva hi

Whether a brahmin, kshatriya, or vaishya, O brahma-born one, entitled to drink Soma, or that person's wife, drinks liquor,

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.8.23.6)

प्रमादतस्तु तेषां वै निरये परिपातनम् । कुर्वन्ति यमदूतास्ते पानं कार्ष्णायसो मुने

pramādatastu teṣāṁ vai niraye paripātanam | kurvanti yamadūtāste pānaṁ kārṣṇāyaso mune

— then, through such negligence, Yama's messengers cast them down into hell, O sage, where they are made to drink molten iron,

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.8.23.7)

वह्निना द्रवमाणस्य नितरां ब्रह्मसम्भव । सम्भावनेन स्वस्यैव योऽधमोऽपि नराधमः

vahninā dravamāṇasya nitarāṁ brahmasambhava | sambhāvanena svasyaiva yo'dhamo'pi narādhamaḥ

— molten intensely by fire, O brahma-born. He who, though himself base, out of sheer self-conceit,

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.8.23.8)

विद्याजन्मतपोवर्णाश्रमाचारवतो नरान् । वरीयसोऽपि न बहु मन्यते पुरुषाधमः

vidyājanmatapovarṇāśramācāravato narān | varīyaso'pi na bahu manyate puruṣādhamaḥ

— does not properly esteem men more excellent than himself in learning, birth, austerity, caste, life-stage, and conduct — that basest of men,

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.8.23.9)

स नीयते यमभटैः क्षारकर्दमनामके । निरयेऽर्वाक्शिरा घोरा दुरन्तयातनाश्नुते

sa nīyate yamabhaṭaiḥ kṣārakardamanāmake | niraye'rvākśirā ghorā durantayātanāśnute

— is led by Yama's soldiers, head foremost, into the hell named Ksharakardama (caustic mud), where he undergoes terrible, unending torment.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.8.23.10)

ये वै नरा यजन्त्यन्यं नरमेधेन मोहिताः । स्त्रियोऽपि वा नरपशुं खादन्त्यत्र महामुने

ye vai narā yajantyanyaṁ naramedhena mohitāḥ | striyo'pi vā narapaśuṁ khādantyatra mahāmune

Those men who, deluded, perform sacrifice upon another human being through human sacrifice, or women too who, here, devour a human being as though he were sacrificial cattle, O great sage,

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.8.23.11)

पशवो निहितास्ते तु यमसद्यनि सङ्गताः । सौनिका इव ते सर्वे विदार्य शितधारया

paśavo nihitāste tu yamasadyani saṅgatāḥ | saunikā iva te sarve vidārya śitadhārayā

— become themselves like sacrificial animals, gathered together in Yama's own slaughterhouse; and all those servants, like butchers, cutting them with sharp blades,

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.8.23.12)

असृक्पिबन्ति नृत्यन्ति गायन्ति बहुधा मुने । यथेह मांसभोक्तारः पुरुषादा दुरासदाः

asṛkpibanti nṛtyanti gāyanti bahudhā mune | yatheha māṁsabhoktāraḥ puruṣādā durāsadāḥ

— drink their blood, dance, and sing in many ways, O sage, just as, here on earth, terrible cannibal flesh-eaters once did.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.8.23.13)

अनागसोऽपि येऽरण्ये ग्रामे वा ब्रह्मपुत्रक । वैश्रम्भकैरुपसृतान्विश्रम्भय्यजिजीविषून्

anāgaso'pi ye'raṇye grāme vā brahmaputraka | vaiśrambhakairupasṛtānviśrambhayyajijīviṣūn

O son of Brahma, those who, in forest or village, approach innocent, trusting creatures with reassuring words, lulling them into a false sense of safety, though those creatures wished to live,

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.8.23.14)

शूलसूत्रादिषु प्रोतान्क्रीडनोत्कारकानिव । पातयन्ति च ते प्रेत्य शूलपाते पतन्ति ह

śūlasūtrādiṣu protānkrīḍanotkārakāniva | pātayanti ca te pretya śūlapāte patanti ha

— and impale them on stakes and snares as though it were mere sport — such men, after death, fall into the hell called Shulapata (the impaling stake).

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.8.23.15)

शूलादिषु प्रोतदेहाः क्षुत्तृड्भ्यां चातिपीडिताः । तिग्मतुण्डैः कङ्कबकैरितश्चेतश्च ताडिताः

śūlādiṣu protadehāḥ kṣuttṛḍbhyāṁ cātipīḍitāḥ | tigmatuṇḍaiḥ kaṅkabakairitaścetaśca tāḍitāḥ

Their bodies impaled on stakes and the like, tormented severely by hunger and thirst, struck here and there by sharp-beaked herons and cranes,

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.8.23.16)

पीडिता आत्मशमलं बहुधा संस्मरन्ति हि । ये भूतानुद्वेजयन्ति नरा उल्बणवृत्तयः

pīḍitā ātmaśamalaṁ bahudhā saṁsmaranti hi | ye bhūtānudvejayanti narā ulbaṇavṛttayaḥ

— thus tormented, they remember their own sin over and over. Those men of savage, violent nature who cause fear and distress to other beings,

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.8.23.17)

यथा सर्पादिकास्तेऽपि नरके निपतन्ति हि । दन्दशूकाभिधाने च यत्रोत्तिष्ठन्ति सर्वतः

yathā sarpādikāste'pi narake nipatanti hi | dandaśūkābhidhāne ca yatrottiṣṭhanti sarvataḥ

— just as serpents and the like do to others — they too fall into the hell called Dandashuka (Biting Creatures), where such creatures rise up on every side against them,

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.8.23.18)

पञ्चाननः सप्तमुखा ग्रसन्ति नरकागतान् । यथा बिलेशया विप्र क्रूरबुद्धिसमन्विताः

pañcānanaḥ saptamukhā grasanti narakāgatān | yathā bileśayā vipra krūrabuddhisamanvitāḥ

— five-headed, seven-mouthed serpents, O brahmin, cruel-minded, swallow those who have come to that hell, just as cave-dwelling serpents do on earth.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.8.23.19)

येऽवटेषु कुसूलादिगुहादिषु निरुन्धते । तानमुत्रोद्यतकराः कीनाशपरिसेवकाः

ye'vaṭeṣu kusūlādiguhādiṣu nirundhate | tānamutrodyatakarāḥ kīnāśaparisevakāḥ

Those who confine living beings in pits, granaries, caves, and the like — them, there in the next world, the servants of Kinasha (Yama), hands raised,

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.8.23.20)

तेष्वेवोपविशित्वा च सगरेण च वह्निना । धूमेन च निरुन्धन्ति पापकर्मरतान्नरान्

teṣvevopaviśitvā ca sagareṇa ca vahninā | dhūmena ca nirundhanti pāpakarmaratānnarān

— seat in those very pits and caves, and confine those men devoted to sinful deeds there with poison, fire, and smoke.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.8.23.21)

योऽतिथीन्समयप्राप्तान्दिधक्षुरिव चक्षुषा । पापेनेहालोकयेच्च स्वयं गृहपतिर्द्विजः

yo'tithīnsamayaprāptāndidhakṣuriva cakṣuṣā | pāpenehālokayecca svayaṁ gṛhapatirdvijaḥ

That twice-born householder who himself looks with sinful eyes, as though wishing to burn them up, upon guests arriving at the proper time,

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.8.23.22)

तस्यापि पापदृष्टेर्हि निरये यमकिङ्कराः । अक्षिणी वज्रतुण्डा ये कङ्काः काकवटादयः

tasyāpi pāpadṛṣṭerhi niraye yamakiṅkarāḥ | akṣiṇī vajratuṇḍā ye kaṅkāḥ kākavaṭādayaḥ

— that man's sinful eyes too, in hell, are attacked by Yama's servants — herons, crows, and vultures with beaks hard as thunderbolts —

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.8.23.23)

गृध्राः क्रूरतराश्चापि प्रसह्योत्पाटयन्ति हि । य आढ्याभिमतिर्याति अहङ्कृत्यातिगर्वितः

gṛdhrāḥ krūratarāścāpi prasahyotpāṭayanti hi | ya āḍhyābhimatiryāti ahaṅkṛtyātigarvitaḥ

— and vultures, even more cruel, forcibly gouge out. He who goes about proud of his wealth, swollen with arrogant self-conceit,

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.8.23.24)

तिर्यक्प्रेक्षण एवात्राभिविशङ्की नराधमः । चिन्तयार्थस्य सर्वत्रायतिव्ययस्वरूपया

tiryakprekṣaṇa evātrābhiviśaṅkī narādhamaḥ | cintayārthasya sarvatrāyativyayasvarūpayā

— glancing at others sidelong, that basest of men, forever apprehensive, consumed everywhere by anxiety over the future increase and expenditure of his wealth,

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.8.23.25)

शुष्यद्धृदयवक्त्रश्च निर्वृतिं नैव गच्छति । ग्रहवद्रक्षते चार्थं स प्रेतो यमकिङ्करैः

śuṣyaddhṛdayavaktraśca nirvṛtiṁ naiva gacchati | grahavadrakṣate cārthaṁ sa preto yamakiṅkaraiḥ

— his heart and face withering with worry, he never finds peace; he guards his wealth like a possessing demon — that man, once dead, is, by Yama's servants,

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.8.23.26)

सूचीमुखे च नरके पात्यते निजकर्मणा । वित्तग्रहं च पुरुषं वायका इव याम्यकाः

sūcīmukhe ca narake pātyate nijakarmaṇā | vittagrahaṁ ca puruṣaṁ vāyakā iva yāmyakāḥ

— cast down, by his own deeds, into the hell called Suchimukha (Needle-Mouth); and that man, obsessed with wealth, Yama's servants, like weavers,

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.8.23.27)

किङ्कराः सर्वतोऽङ्गेषु सूत्रैः परिवयन्ति हि । एते बहुविधा विप्र नरकाः पापकर्मणाम्

kiṅkarāḥ sarvato'ṅgeṣu sūtraiḥ parivayanti hi | ete bahuvidhā vipra narakāḥ pāpakarmaṇām

— weave threads all around his limbs, entangling him completely. These, O brahmin, are the many kinds of hells for those of sinful deeds,

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.8.23.28)

नराणां शतशः सन्ति यातनास्थानभूमयः । सहस्रशोऽपि देवर्षे उक्तानुक्तांस्तथापि हि

narāṇāṁ śataśaḥ santi yātanāsthānabhūmayaḥ | sahasraśo'pi devarṣe uktānuktāṁstathāpi hi

— for men there are hundreds of such lands of torment; even thousands, O divine sage, both those told and those left untold,

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.8.23.29)

विशन्ति नरकानेतान्यातनाबहुलान्मुने । तथा धर्मपराश्चापि लोकान्यान्ति सुखोद्गतान्

viśanti narakānetānyātanābahulānmune | tathā dharmaparāścāpi lokānyānti sukhodgatān

— into these hells, replete with manifold torments, beings enter, O sage. And likewise, those devoted to Dharma proceed to worlds abounding in happiness.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.8.23.30)

स्वधर्मो बहुधा गीतो यथा तव महामुने । देवीपूजनरूपो हि देव्याराधनलक्षणः

svadharmo bahudhā gīto yathā tava mahāmune | devīpūjanarūpo hi devyārādhanalakṣaṇaḥ

One's own proper dharma has been described to you in many ways, O great sage — yet there remains that dharma which takes the form of worshipping the Devi, marked by adoration of the Goddess,

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.8.23.31)

येनानुष्ठितमात्रेण नरो न नरकं व्रजेत् । सा देवी भवपाथोधेरुद्धर्त्री पूजिता नृणाम्

yenānuṣṭhitamātreṇa naro na narakaṁ vrajet | sā devī bhavapāthodheruddhartrī pūjitā nṛṇām

— merely by performing which, a man does not go to hell. That Devi, when worshipped by men, is the very one who lifts them up out of the ocean of worldly existence.