In the Savitri-Legend: The Number of Hell-Pits Described

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.9.32.1)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । मायाबीजं महामन्त्रं प्रदत्त्वा विधिपूर्वकम् । कर्माशुभविपाकं च तामुवाच रवेः सुतः

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca | māyābījaṁ mahāmantraṁ pradattvā vidhipūrvakam | karmāśubhavipākaṁ ca tāmuvāca raveḥ sutaḥ

Sri Narayana said: Having duly imparted to her the great mantra, the seed of Maya, the Sun's son (Yama) then told her of the ripening of evil karma.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.9.32.2)

धर्मराज उवाच । शुभकर्मविपाकान्न नरकं याति मानवः । कर्माशुभविपाकं च कथयामि निशामय

dharmarāja uvāca | śubhakarmavipākānna narakaṁ yāti mānavaḥ | karmāśubhavipākaṁ ca kathayāmi niśāmaya

Dharmaraja said: Through the ripening of good karma, a man does not go to hell. Now hear as I tell of the ripening of evil karma.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.9.32.3)

नानापुराणभेदेन नामभेदेन भामिनि । नानाप्रकारं स्वर्गं च याति जीवः स्वकर्मभिः

nānāpurāṇabhedena nāmabhedena bhāmini | nānāprakāraṁ svargaṁ ca yāti jīvaḥ svakarmabhiḥ

O radiant one, according to the various Puranas and under various names, the soul, by its own karma, goes to heavens of many kinds.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.9.32.4)

शुभकर्मविपाकान्न नरकं याति कर्मभिः । कुकर्मणा च नरकं याति नानाविधं नरः

śubhakarmavipākānna narakaṁ yāti karmabhiḥ | kukarmaṇā ca narakaṁ yāti nānāvidhaṁ naraḥ

Through the fruit of good deeds, one does not go to hell. But by evil deeds, a man goes to hell of various kinds.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.9.32.5)

नरकाणां च कुण्डानि सन्ति नानाविधानि च । नानाशास्त्रप्रमाणेन कर्मभेदेन यानि च

narakāṇāṁ ca kuṇḍāni santi nānāvidhāni ca | nānāśāstrapramāṇena karmabhedena yāni ca

The pits of the hells are of many kinds, established according to the authority of various scriptures and distinguished by the particular karma that leads to them.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.9.32.6)

विस्तृतानि च गर्तानि क्लेशदानि च दुःखिनाम् । भयङ्कराणि घोराणि हे वत्से कुत्सितानि च

vistṛtāni ca gartāni kleśadāni ca duḥkhinām | bhayaṅkarāṇi ghorāṇi he vatse kutsitāni ca

These are vast pits, O child, bringing affliction to the wretched — terrifying, dreadful, and utterly loathsome.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.9.32.7)

षडशीति च कुण्डानि एवमन्यानि सन्ति च । निबोध तेषां नामानि प्रसिद्धानि श्रुतौ सति

ṣaḍaśīti ca kuṇḍāni evamanyāni santi ca | nibodha teṣāṁ nāmāni prasiddhāni śrutau sati

There are eighty-six such pits, and others besides. Learn now their names, O virtuous one, as they are well known in the Shruti.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.9.32.8)

वह्निकुण्डं तप्तकुण्डं क्षारकुण्डं भयानकम् । विट्कुण्डं मूत्रकुण्डं च श्लेष्मकुण्डं च दुःसहम्

vahnikuṇḍaṁ taptakuṇḍaṁ kṣārakuṇḍaṁ bhayānakam | viṭkuṇḍaṁ mūtrakuṇḍaṁ ca śleṣmakuṇḍaṁ ca duḥsaham

the Fire-Pit, the Boiling-Pit, the fearsome Alkali-Pit; the Excrement-Pit, the Urine-Pit, and the unbearable Phlegm-Pit;

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.9.32.9)

गरकुण्डं दूषिकुण्डं वसाकुण्डं तथैव च । शुक्रकुण्डमसुक्कुण्डमश्रुकुण्डं च कुत्सितम्

garakuṇḍaṁ dūṣikuṇḍaṁ vasākuṇḍaṁ tathaiva ca | śukrakuṇḍamasukkuṇḍamaśrukuṇḍaṁ ca kutsitam

the Poison-Pit, the Eye-Discharge-Pit, and likewise the Fat-Pit; the Semen-Pit, the Blood-Pit, and the loathsome Tear-Pit;

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.9.32.10)

कुण्डं गात्रमलानां च कर्णविट्कुण्डमेव च । मज्जाकुण्डं मांसकुण्डं नक्रकुण्डं च दुस्तरम्

kuṇḍaṁ gātramalānāṁ ca karṇaviṭkuṇḍameva ca | majjākuṇḍaṁ māṁsakuṇḍaṁ nakrakuṇḍaṁ ca dustaram

the Pit of Bodily Filth, and likewise the Ear-Wax-Pit; the Marrow-Pit, the Flesh-Pit, and the impassable Crocodile-Pit;

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.9.32.11)

लोमकुण्डं केशकुण्डमस्थिकुण्डं च दुस्तरम् । ताम्रकुण्डं लोहकुण्डं प्रतप्तं क्लेशदं महत्

lomakuṇḍaṁ keśakuṇḍamasthikuṇḍaṁ ca dustaram | tāmrakuṇḍaṁ lohakuṇḍaṁ prataptaṁ kleśadaṁ mahat

the Body-Hair-Pit, the Head-Hair-Pit, and the impassable Bone-Pit; the Copper-Pit, and the great, red-hot, tormenting Iron-Pit;

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.9.32.12)

चर्मकुण्डं तप्तसुराकुण्डं च परिकीर्तितम् । तीक्ष्णकण्टककुण्डं च विषोदं विषकुण्डकम्

carmakuṇḍaṁ taptasurākuṇḍaṁ ca parikīrtitam | tīkṣṇakaṇṭakakuṇḍaṁ ca viṣodaṁ viṣakuṇḍakam

the Hide-Pit, and the boiling-liquor Pit; the Sharp-Thorn-Pit, and the Venom-Pit of poisoned water;

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.9.32.13)

प्रतप्तकुण्डं तैलस्य कुन्तकुण्डं च दुर्वहम् । कृमिकुण्डं पूयकुण्डं सर्पकुण्डं दुरन्तकम्

prataptakuṇḍaṁ tailasya kuntakuṇḍaṁ ca durvaham | kṛmikuṇḍaṁ pūyakuṇḍaṁ sarpakuṇḍaṁ durantakam

the boiling Oil-Pit, and the unendurable Spear-Pit; the Worm-Pit, the Pus-Pit, and the inescapable Serpent-Pit;

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.9.32.14)

मशकुण्डं दंशकुण्डं भीमं गरलकुण्डकम् । कुण्डं च वज्रदंष्ट्राणां वृश्चिकानां च सुव्रते

maśakuṇḍaṁ daṁśakuṇḍaṁ bhīmaṁ garalakuṇḍakam | kuṇḍaṁ ca vajradaṁṣṭrāṇāṁ vṛścikānāṁ ca suvrate

O faithful one, the Mosquito-Pit, the Stinging-Insect-Pit, the terrible Venom-Pit; and the pit of fang-bearing creatures and of scorpions;

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.9.32.15)

शरकुण्डं शूलकुण्डं खड्गकुण्डं च भीषणम् । गोलकुण्डं नक्रकुण्डं काककुण्डं शुचास्पदम्

śarakuṇḍaṁ śūlakuṇḍaṁ khaḍgakuṇḍaṁ ca bhīṣaṇam | golakuṇḍaṁ nakrakuṇḍaṁ kākakuṇḍaṁ śucāspadam

the Arrow-Pit, the Spike-Pit, and the terrifying Sword-Pit; the Iron-Ball-Pit, the Crocodile-Pit, and the Crow-Pit, an abode of grief;

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.9.32.16)

मन्थानकुण्डं बीजकुण्डं वज्रकुण्डं च दुःसहम् । तप्तपाषाणकुण्डं च तीक्ष्णपाषाणकुण्डकम्

manthānakuṇḍaṁ bījakuṇḍaṁ vajrakuṇḍaṁ ca duḥsaham | taptapāṣāṇakuṇḍaṁ ca tīkṣṇapāṣāṇakuṇḍakam

the Churning-Pit, the Seed-Pit, and the unbearable Thunderbolt-Pit; the burning-stones Pit, and the sharp-stones Pit;

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.9.32.17)

लालाकुण्डं मसीकुण्डं चूर्णकुण्डं तथैव च । चक्रकुण्डं वक्रकुण्डं कूर्मकुण्डं महोल्बणम्

lālākuṇḍaṁ masīkuṇḍaṁ cūrṇakuṇḍaṁ tathaiva ca | cakrakuṇḍaṁ vakrakuṇḍaṁ kūrmakuṇḍaṁ maholbaṇam

the Saliva-Pit, the Soot-Pit, and likewise the Powder-Pit; the Wheel-Pit, the Crooked-Pit, and the terribly severe Tortoise-Pit;

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.9.32.18)

ज्वालाकुण्डं भस्मकुण्डं दग्धकुण्डं शुचिस्मिते । तप्तसूचीमसिपत्रं क्षुरधारं सूचीमुखम्

jvālākuṇḍaṁ bhasmakuṇḍaṁ dagdhakuṇḍaṁ śucismite | taptasūcīmasipatraṁ kṣuradhāraṁ sūcīmukham

O gently-smiling one, the Flame-Pit, the Ash-Pit, and the Burnt-Pit; the Hot-Needle place, the Sword-Leaf forest, the Razor's-Edge, and the Needle-Mouth;

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.9.32.19)

गोकामुख नक्रमुखं गजदंशं च गोमुखम् । कुम्भीपाकं कालसूत्रं मत्स्योदं कृमितन्तुकम्

gokāmukha nakramukhaṁ gajadaṁśaṁ ca gomukham | kumbhīpākaṁ kālasūtraṁ matsyodaṁ kṛmitantukam

the Cow's-Mouth, the Crocodile's-Mouth, the Elephant's-Bite, and the Ox-Mouth; Kumbhipaka, Kalasutra, the Fish-Water, and the Worm-Thread pit;

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.9.32.20)

पांसुभोज्यं पाशवेष्टं शूलप्रोतं प्रकम्पनम् । उल्कामुखमन्धकूपं वेधनं ताडनं तथा

pāṁsubhojyaṁ pāśaveṣṭaṁ śūlaprotaṁ prakampanam | ulkāmukhamandhakūpaṁ vedhanaṁ tāḍanaṁ tathā

being fed on dust, bound with nooses, impaled upon spikes, and made to tremble violently; the Firebrand-Mouth, the Blind Well, piercing, and beating;

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.9.32.21)

जालरन्ध्रं देहचूर्णं दलनं शोषणं कषम् । शूर्पं ज्वालामुखं चैव धूमान्धं नागवेष्टनम्

jālarandhraṁ dehacūrṇaṁ dalanaṁ śoṣaṇaṁ kaṣam | śūrpaṁ jvālāmukhaṁ caiva dhūmāndhaṁ nāgaveṣṭanam

the Net-Hole, the pulverizing of the body, splitting, withering, and scraping; the Winnowing-Fan, the Flame-Mouth, blinding smoke, and being coiled about by serpents.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.9.32.22)

कुण्डान्येतानि सावित्रि पापिनां क्लेशदानि च । नियुतैः किङ्करगणै रक्षितानि च सन्ततम्

kuṇḍānyetāni sāvitri pāpināṁ kleśadāni ca | niyutaiḥ kiṅkaragaṇai rakṣitāni ca santatam

These, O Savitri, are the pits that bring affliction upon sinners; they are ceaselessly guarded by hundreds of thousands of attendants,

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.9.32.23)

दण्डहस्तैः पाशहस्तैर्मदमत्तैर्भयङ्करैः । शक्तिहस्तैर्गदाहस्तैरसिहस्तैः सुदारुणैः

daṇḍahastaiḥ pāśahastairmadamattairbhayaṅkaraiḥ | śaktihastairgadāhastairasihastaiḥ sudāruṇaiḥ

— bearing rods and nooses, frenzied and terrifying; bearing spears, maces, and swords, utterly fearsome,

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.9.32.24)

तमोयुक्तैर्दयाहीनैर्निवार्यैश्च न सर्वतः । तेजस्विभिश्च निःशङ्कैराताम्रपिङ्गलोचनैः

tamoyuktairdayāhīnairnivāryaiśca na sarvataḥ | tejasvibhiśca niḥśaṅkairātāmrapiṅgalocanaiḥ

— steeped in darkness, without mercy, impossible to restrain from any quarter; powerful, fearless, with reddish-tawny eyes,

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.9.32.25)

योगयुक्तैः सिद्धियुक्तैर्नानारूपधरैर्भटैः । आसन्नमृत्युभिर्दृष्टैः पापिभिः सर्वजीविभिः

yogayuktaiḥ siddhiyuktairnānārūpadharairbhaṭaiḥ | āsannamṛtyubhirdṛṣṭaiḥ pāpibhiḥ sarvajīvibhiḥ

— endowed with yogic power and siddhis, warriors bearing many forms; seen by those nearing death, and dreaded by all sinful beings.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.9.32.26)

स्वकर्मनिरतैः सर्वैः शाक्तैः सौरैश्च गाणपैः । अदृश्यैः पुण्यकृद्भिश्च सिद्धैर्योगिभिरेव च

svakarmanirataiḥ sarvaiḥ śāktaiḥ sauraiśca gāṇapaiḥ | adṛśyaiḥ puṇyakṛdbhiśca siddhairyogibhireva ca

These guardians are all devoted to their own duty — whether Shakta, Saura, or Ganapatya by former persuasion; invisible, meritorious, siddhas and yogis as well —

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.9.32.27)

स्वधर्मनिरतैर्वापि विततैर्वा स्वतन्त्रकैः । बलवद्भिश्च निःशङ्कैः स्वप्नदृष्टैश्च वैष्णवैः

svadharmaniratairvāpi vitatairvā svatantrakaiḥ | balavadbhiśca niḥśaṅkaiḥ svapnadṛṣṭaiśca vaiṣṇavaiḥ

— devoted to their own dharma, or expansive and independent; powerful and fearless, appearing to sinners only in dreams, and numbering even Vaishnavas among them.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.9.32.28)

एतत्ते कथितं साध्वि कुण्डसङ्ख्यानिरूपणम् । येषां निवासो यत्कुण्डे निबोध कथयामि ते

etatte kathitaṁ sādhvi kuṇḍasaṅkhyānirūpaṇam | yeṣāṁ nivāso yatkuṇḍe nibodha kathayāmi te

This, O virtuous woman, is the accounting of the number of the pits that has been told to you. Now learn who dwells in which pit — I shall tell you.