The Story of Prithvi and the Attainment of Hell

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.9.10.1)

नारद उवाच । भूमिदानकृतं पुण्यं पापं तद्धरणेन च । परभूहरणात्पापं परकूपे खनने तथा

nārada uvāca | bhūmidānakṛtaṁ puṇyaṁ pāpaṁ taddharaṇena ca | parabhūharaṇātpāpaṁ parakūpe khanane tathā

Narada said: The merit gained from the gift of land, and the sin of reclaiming it; the sin of seizing another's land, and likewise of digging a well too near another's —

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.9.10.2)

अम्बुवाच्यां भूखनने वीर्यस्य त्याग एव च । दीपादिस्थापनात्पापं श्रोतुमिच्छामि यत्नतः

ambuvācyāṁ bhūkhanane vīryasya tyāga eva ca | dīpādisthāpanātpāpaṁ śrotumicchāmi yatnataḥ

the sin of digging the earth during Ambuvachi, of spilling one's seed upon it, and of placing a lamp and the like upon it — all these I earnestly wish to hear.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.9.10.3)

अन्यद्वा पृथिवीजन्यं पापं यत्पृच्छते परम् । यदस्ति तत्प्रतीकारं वद वेदविदांवर

anyadvā pṛthivījanyaṁ pāpaṁ yatpṛcchate param | yadasti tatpratīkāraṁ vada vedavidāṁvara

Or whatever other sins there may be connected with the earth, about which people inquire — O best of the knowers of the Veda, tell me also their remedy.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.9.10.4)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । वितस्तिमात्रभूमिं च यो ददाति च भारते । सन्ध्यापूताय विप्राय स याति शिवमन्दिरम्

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca | vitastimātrabhūmiṁ ca yo dadāti ca bhārate | sandhyāpūtāya viprāya sa yāti śivamandiram

Sri Narayana said: Whoever in Bharata gives even a single span of land to a brahmin purified by the twilight rite goes to Shiva's own abode.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.9.10.5)

भूमिं च सर्वसस्याढ्यां ब्राह्मणाय ददाति च । भूमिरेणुप्रमाणाब्दमन्ते विष्णुपदे स्थितिः

bhūmiṁ ca sarvasasyāḍhyāṁ brāhmaṇāya dadāti ca | bhūmireṇupramāṇābdamante viṣṇupade sthitiḥ

Whoever gives a brahmin land rich with every kind of crop attains a place in Vishnu's own realm for as many years as there are particles of dust in that land.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.9.10.6)

ग्रामं भूमिं च धान्यं च ब्राह्मणाय ददाति यः । सर्वपापाद्विनिर्मुक्तौ चोभौ देवीपुरःस्थितौ

grāmaṁ bhūmiṁ ca dhānyaṁ ca brāhmaṇāya dadāti yaḥ | sarvapāpādvinirmuktau cobhau devīpuraḥsthitau

Whoever gives a brahmin a village, land, and grain — both the giver and the receiver are freed from every sin and stand before the Goddess herself.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.9.10.7)

भूमिदानं च तत्काले यः साधुश्चानुमोदते । स च प्रयाति वैकुण्ठे मित्रगोत्रसमन्वितः

bhūmidānaṁ ca tatkāle yaḥ sādhuścānumodate | sa ca prayāti vaikuṇṭhe mitragotrasamanvitaḥ

The virtuous man who, at that time, approves and rejoices in that gift of land, goes to Vaikuntha together with his friends and kinsmen.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.9.10.8)

स्वदत्तां परदत्तां वा ब्रह्मवृत्तिं हरेत्तु यः । स तिष्ठति कालसूत्रे यावच्चन्द्रदिवाकरौ

svadattāṁ paradattāṁ vā brahmavṛttiṁ harettu yaḥ | sa tiṣṭhati kālasūtre yāvaccandradivākarau

Whoever seizes a brahmin's endowment, whether given by himself or by another, dwells in the hell called Kalasutra for as long as the sun and moon endure.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.9.10.9)

तत्युत्रपौत्रप्रभृतिर्भूमिहीनः श्रिया हतः । पुत्रहीनो दरिद्रश्च घोरं याति च रौरवम्

tatyutrapautraprabhṛtirbhūmihīnaḥ śriyā hataḥ | putrahīno daridraśca ghoraṁ yāti ca rauravam

His sons, grandsons, and their descendants become dispossessed of land, ruined in fortune, without sons, and impoverished, while he himself goes to the terrible hell of Raurava.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.9.10.10)

गवां मार्गं विनिष्कृष्य यश्च सस्यं ददाति च । दिव्यं वर्षशतं चैव कुम्भीपाके च तिष्ठति

gavāṁ mārgaṁ viniṣkṛṣya yaśca sasyaṁ dadāti ca | divyaṁ varṣaśataṁ caiva kumbhīpāke ca tiṣṭhati

Whoever removes the pathway used by cattle and plants crops there dwells for a hundred divine years in the hell of Kumbhipaka.

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.9.10.11)

गोष्ठं तडागं निष्कृष्य मार्गे सस्यं ददाति यः । स तिष्ठत्यसिपत्रे च यावदिन्द्राश्चतुर्दश

goṣṭhaṁ taḍāgaṁ niṣkṛṣya mārge sasyaṁ dadāti yaḥ | sa tiṣṭhatyasipatre ca yāvadindrāścaturdaśa

Whoever displaces a cattle-shed or a pond and plants crops upon the pathway dwells in the hell of Asipatra for the duration of fourteen Indras.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.9.10.12)

पञ्चपिण्डाननुद्धृत्य परकूपे च स्नाति यः । प्राप्नोति नरकं चैव स्नानं निष्फलमेव च

pañcapiṇḍānanuddhṛtya parakūpe ca snāti yaḥ | prāpnoti narakaṁ caiva snānaṁ niṣphalameva ca

Whoever bathes in another's well without first offering the five ancestral rice-balls obtains hell, and his bathing itself becomes fruitless.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.9.10.13)

कामी भूमौ च रहसि वीर्यत्यागं करोति यः । भूमिरेणुप्रमाणं च वर्षं तिष्ठति रौरवे

kāmī bhūmau ca rahasi vīryatyāgaṁ karoti yaḥ | bhūmireṇupramāṇaṁ ca varṣaṁ tiṣṭhati raurave

Whoever, driven by desire, spills his seed in secret upon the earth dwells in the hell of Raurava for as many years as there are particles of dust in that earth.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.9.10.14)

अम्बुवाच्यां भूकरणं यः करोति च मानवः । स याति कृमिदंशं च स्थितिस्तत्र चतुर्युगम्

ambuvācyāṁ bhūkaraṇaṁ yaḥ karoti ca mānavaḥ | sa yāti kṛmidaṁśaṁ ca sthitistatra caturyugam

Whatever man tills the earth during Ambuvachi goes to the hell called Krimidamsha and dwells there for four full ages.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.9.10.15)

परकीये लुप्तकूपे कूपं मूढः करोति यः । पुष्करिण्यां च लुप्तायां पुष्करिणीं ददाति यः

parakīye luptakūpe kūpaṁ mūḍhaḥ karoti yaḥ | puṣkariṇyāṁ ca luptāyāṁ puṣkariṇīṁ dadāti yaḥ

Whatever fool builds a new well upon the site of another's ruined well, or a new pond upon the site of another's ruined pond —

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.9.10.16)

सर्वं फलं परस्यैव तप्तकुण्डं व्रजेच्च सः । तत्र तिष्ठति सन्तप्तो यावदिन्द्राश्चतुर्दश

sarvaṁ phalaṁ parasyaiva taptakuṇḍaṁ vrajecca saḥ | tatra tiṣṭhati santapto yāvadindrāścaturdaśa

all its merit goes only to the other man; while he himself goes to the hell of Taptakunda, where he remains scorched for the span of fourteen Indras.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.9.10.17)

परकीये तडागे च पङ्कमुद्धृत्य चोन्मृजेत् । रेणुप्रमाणवर्षं च ब्रह्मलोके वसेन्नरः

parakīye taḍāge ca paṅkamuddhṛtya conmṛjet | reṇupramāṇavarṣaṁ ca brahmaloke vasennaraḥ

Whoever removes the silt from another's pond and cleans it dwells in Brahmaloka for as many years as there are particles of dust in that pond.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.9.10.18)

पिण्डं पित्रे भूमिभर्तुर्न प्रदाय च मानवः । श्राद्धं करोति यो मूढो नरकं याति निश्चितम्

piṇḍaṁ pitre bhūmibharturna pradāya ca mānavaḥ | śrāddhaṁ karoti yo mūḍho narakaṁ yāti niścitam

Whatever fool performs the ancestral rites without first offering the rice-ball to the ancestors of the landowner certainly goes to hell.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.9.10.19)

भूमौ दीपं योऽर्पयति स चान्धः सप्तजन्मसु । भूमौ शङ्खं च संस्थाप्य कुष्ठं जन्मान्तरे लभेत्

bhūmau dīpaṁ yo'rpayati sa cāndhaḥ saptajanmasu | bhūmau śaṅkhaṁ ca saṁsthāpya kuṣṭhaṁ janmāntare labhet

Whoever places a lamp directly upon the ground becomes blind for seven births; placing a conch shell upon the ground brings leprosy in the next birth.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.9.10.20)

मुक्तां माणिक्यहीरौ च सुवर्णं च मणिं तथा । पञ्च संस्थापयेद्भूमौ स चान्धः सप्तजन्मसु

muktāṁ māṇikyahīrau ca suvarṇaṁ ca maṇiṁ tathā | pañca saṁsthāpayedbhūmau sa cāndhaḥ saptajanmasu

Pearl, ruby, diamond, gold, and jewel — whoever places these five directly upon the ground becomes blind for seven births.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.9.10.21)

शिवलिङ्गं शिवामर्चां यश्चार्पयति भूतले । शतमन्वन्तरं यावत्कृमिभक्षः स तिष्ठति

śivaliṅgaṁ śivāmarcāṁ yaścārpayati bhūtale | śatamanvantaraṁ yāvatkṛmibhakṣaḥ sa tiṣṭhati

Whoever sets a Shiva-linga or an image of Parvati directly upon the bare ground becomes, for a hundred Manvantaras, the food of worms.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.9.10.22)

शङ्खं यन्त्रं शिलातोयं पुष्पं च तुलसीदलम् । यश्चार्पयति भूमौ च स तिष्ठेन्नरके ध्रुवम्

śaṅkhaṁ yantraṁ śilātoyaṁ puṣpaṁ ca tulasīdalam | yaścārpayati bhūmau ca sa tiṣṭhennarake dhruvam

Conch, ritual diagram, the water of the sacred stone, flowers, and a Tulasi leaf — whoever sets these directly upon the ground certainly dwells in hell.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.9.10.23)

जपमालां पुष्पमालां कर्पूरं रोचनं तथा । यो मूढश्चार्पयेद्भूमौ स याति नरकं ध्रुवम्

japamālāṁ puṣpamālāṁ karpūraṁ rocanaṁ tathā | yo mūḍhaścārpayedbhūmau sa yāti narakaṁ dhruvam

A rosary, a flower garland, camphor, and bezoar — whatever fool sets these directly upon the ground certainly goes to hell.

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.9.10.24)

भूमौ चन्दनकाष्ठं च रुद्राक्षं कुशमूलकम् । संस्थाप्य भूमौ नरके वसेन्मन्वन्तरावधि

bhūmau candanakāṣṭhaṁ ca rudrākṣaṁ kuśamūlakam | saṁsthāpya bhūmau narake vasenmanvantarāvadhi

By placing sandalwood, rudraksha beads, or the root of kusha grass directly upon the ground, a man dwells in hell for the duration of one Manvantara.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.9.10.25)

पुस्तकं यज्ञसूत्रं च भूमौ संस्थापयेन्नरः । न भवेद्विप्रयोनौ च तस्य जन्मान्तरे जनिः

pustakaṁ yajñasūtraṁ ca bhūmau saṁsthāpayennaraḥ | na bhavedviprayonau ca tasya janmāntare janiḥ

Whatever man places a sacred book or the sacred thread directly upon the ground shall not, in his next birth, be born into a brahmin family.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.9.10.26)

ब्रह्महत्यासमं पापमिह वै लभते ध्रुवम् । ग्रन्धियुक्तं यज्ञसूत्रं पूज्यं च सर्ववर्णकैः

brahmahatyāsamaṁ pāpamiha vai labhate dhruvam | grandhiyuktaṁ yajñasūtraṁ pūjyaṁ ca sarvavarṇakaiḥ

He certainly incurs here a sin equal to the killing of a brahmin; the sacred thread, tied with its knot, is worthy of reverence by all social orders.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.9.10.27)

यज्ञं कृत्वा तु यो भूमिं क्षीरेण न हि सिञ्चति । स याति तप्तभूमिं च सन्तप्तः सप्तजन्मसु

yajñaṁ kṛtvā tu yo bhūmiṁ kṣīreṇa na hi siñcati | sa yāti taptabhūmiṁ ca santaptaḥ saptajanmasu

Whoever performs a sacrifice but fails to sprinkle the ground with milk goes to the hell of scorching earth, and remains scorched for seven births.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.9.10.28)

भूकम्पे ग्रहणे यो हि करोति खननं भुवः । जन्मान्तरे महापापो ह्यङ्गहीनो भवेद् ध्रुवम्

bhūkampe grahaṇe yo hi karoti khananaṁ bhuvaḥ | janmāntare mahāpāpo hyaṅgahīno bhaved dhruvam

Whoever digs the earth during an earthquake or during an eclipse, that great sinner shall certainly, in his next birth, be born maimed.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.9.10.29)

भवनं यत्र सर्वेषां भूमिस्तेन प्रकीर्तिता । काश्यपी कश्यपस्येयमचला स्थिररूपतः

bhavanaṁ yatra sarveṣāṁ bhūmistena prakīrtitā | kāśyapī kaśyapasyeyamacalā sthirarūpataḥ

Because it is the dwelling place of all, it is called "bhumi," the earth; it is called "Kashyapi" because it belongs to Kashyapa, and "Achala," the unmoving, because of its steadfast form.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.9.10.30)

विश्वम्भरा धारणाच्चानन्तानन्तस्वरूपतः । पृथिवी पृथुकन्यात्वाद्विस्तृतत्वान्महामुने

viśvambharā dhāraṇāccānantānantasvarūpataḥ | pṛthivī pṛthukanyātvādvistṛtatvānmahāmune

It is called "Vishvambhara" because it sustains all beings, and "Ananta" because its form is endless without limit; and, O great sage, it is called "Prithvi" both because it is, as it were, the daughter of King Prithu, and because of its own vast extent.