The Journey Continued: Through Vaitarani to the City of Dharmaraja

Verse 1 (garuda.2.16.1)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । एवं विलपतस्तस्य प्रेतस्यैवं खगेश्वर । क्रन्दमानस्य नितरां पीडितस्य च किङ्करैः

śrībhagavānuvāca | evaṁ vilapatastasya pretasyaivaṁ khageśvara | krandamānasya nitarāṁ pīḍitasya ca kiṁkaraiḥ

The Blessed Lord said: O lord of birds, that departed one, lamenting in this way, weeping most bitterly, and tormented by the servants of Yama,

Verse 2 (garuda.2.16.2)

सप्तदश दिनान्येको वायुमार्गे विकृष्यते । अष्टादशे त्वहोरात्रे पूर्वं याम्यपुरं व्रजेत्

saptadaśa dinānyeko vāyumārge vikṛṣyate | aṣṭādaśe tvahorātre pūrvaṁ yāmyapuraṁ vrajet

is dragged alone along the airy path for seventeen days. On the eighteenth day and night he first reaches the city of Yama.

Verse 3 (garuda.2.16.3)

तस्मिन्पुरवरे रम्ये प्रेतानां च गणो महान् । पुष्पभद्रा नदी तत्रन्यग्रोधः प्रियदर्शनः

tasminpuravare ramye pretānāṁ ca gaṇo mahān | puṣpabhadrā nadī tatranyagrodhaḥ priyadarśanaḥ

In that beautiful, foremost city there is a vast throng of pretas; there flows the river Pushpabhadra, and stands the lovely nyagrodha tree.

Verse 4 (garuda.2.16.4)

पुरे स तत्र विश्रामं प्राप्यते यमकिङ्करैः । जायापुत्रादिकं सौख्यं स्मरेत्तत्र सुदुः खितः

pure sa tatra viśrāmaṁ prāpyate yamakiṁkaraiḥ | jāyāputrādikaṁ saukhyaṁ smarettatra suduḥ khitaḥ

In that city he is granted rest by Yama's servants. There, in the greatest misery, he remembers the happiness of wife, son, and the rest,

Verse 5 (garuda.2.16.5)

रुदते करुणैर्वाक्यै स्तृषार्तः श्रमपीडितः । स्वधनं स्वकलत्राणि गृहं पुत्राः सुखानि च

rudate karuṇairvākyai stṛṣārtaḥ śramapīḍitaḥ | svadhanaṁ svakalatrāṇi gṛhaṁ putrāḥ sukhāni ca

weeping with piteous words, tormented by thirst, distressed with exhaustion. His own wealth, his wives, his house, his sons and his comforts,

Verse 6 (garuda.2.16.6)

भृत्यमित्राणि चान्यच्च सर्वं शोचति वै तदा । क्षुधार्तस्य पुरे तस्मिन्किङ्करैस्तस्य चोच्यते

bhṛtyamitrāṇi cānyacca sarvaṁ śocati vai tadā | kṣudhārtasya pure tasminkiṁkaraistasya cocyate

his servants, friends, and everything else — he grieves for all of it. In that city, to him, tormented by hunger, Yama's servants say —

Verse 7 (garuda.2.16.7)

किङ्करा ऊचुः । क्व धनं क्व सुता जाया क्व गृहं क्व त्वमीदृशः । स्वकर्मोपार्जितं भुङ्क्ष्व चिरं गच्छ महापथे

kiṁkarā ūcuḥ | kva dhanaṁ kva sutā jāyā kva gṛhaṁ kva tvamīdṛśaḥ | svakarmopārjitaṁ bhuṁkṣva ciraṁ gaccha mahāpathe

The servants of Yama said: 'Where now is your wealth, where your son and wife, where your house, and where are you, such as you now are? Enjoy what you yourself have earned, and journey long upon the great path.

Verse 8 (garuda.2.16.8)

जानासि शंबलवशं बलमध्वगानां नो शंबलः प्रयतते परलोकपान्थ । गन्तव्यमस्ति तव निश्चितमेव तेन मार्गेण यत्र भवतः क्रयविक्रयौ न

jānāsi śaṁbalavaśaṁ balamadhvagānāṁ no śaṁbalaḥ prayatate paralokapāntha | gantavyamasti tava niścitameva tena mārgeṇa yatra bhavataḥ krayavikrayau na

Do you not know that the strength of travelers depends on provisions alone? O traveler to the next world, one without provisions can only strive in vain. You must certainly go by that very road where there is neither buying nor selling.'

Verse 9 (garuda.2.16.9)

यमदूतोदितं वाक्यं पक्षिन्नैवं त्वया श्रुतम् । एवमुक्तस्ततः सर्वैर्हन्यमानः स मुद्गरैः

yamadūtoditaṁ vākyaṁ pakṣinnaivaṁ tvayā śrutam | evamuktastataḥ sarvairhanyamānaḥ sa mudgaraiḥ

O bird, have you not heard before such words spoken by Yama's servants? Thus addressed, he is then struck by all of them with maces.

Verse 10 (garuda.2.16.10)

अत्र दत्तं सुतैः पात्रे (त्रैः) स्नेहाद्वा कृपयाथ वा । मासिकं पिण्डमश्राति ततः सौरिपुरं व्रजेत्

atra dattaṁ sutaiḥ pātre (traiḥ) snehādvā kṛpayātha vā | māsikaṁ piṇḍamaśrāti tataḥ sauripuraṁ vrajet

Here he eats the monthly pinda given by his sons to worthy recipients, out of affection or compassion, and then proceeds toward Sauripura.

Verse 11 (garuda.2.16.11)

तत्र नाम्ना तु राजा वै जङ्गमः कालरूपधृक् । तं दृष्ट्वा भयभीतस्तु विश्रामे कुरुते मतिम्

tatra nāmnā tu rājā vai jaṁgamaḥ kālarūpadhṛk | taṁ dṛṣṭvā bhayabhītastu viśrāme kurute matim

There a king named Jangama holds sway, one who assumes the form of Time itself. Seeing him, terrified, he thinks only of rest.

Verse 12 (garuda.2.16.12)

उदकं चान्नसंयुक्तं भुङ्क्ते तस्मिन्पुरे गतः । त्रैपक्षिके तु यद्दत्तं तत्पुरं स व्यतिक्रमेत्

udakaṁ cānnasaṁyuktaṁ bhuṁkte tasminpure gataḥ | traipakṣike tu yaddattaṁ tatpuraṁ sa vyatikramet

Partaking of water together with food, he enters that city. With what is given at the mark of three fortnights, he passes beyond that city.

Verse 13 (garuda.2.16.13)

नगेन्द्रनगरे रम्ये प्रेतो याति दिवानिशम् । गच्छन्वनानि रौद्राणि दृष्ट्वा क्रन्दति तत्र सः

nagendranagare ramye preto yāti divāniśam | gacchanvanāni raudrāṇi dṛṣṭvā krandati tatra saḥ

In the lovely Nagendranagara, the departed one journeys day and night, and, beholding terrible forests, laments there,

Verse 14 (garuda.2.16.14)

भीषणैः क्लिश्यमानस्तु रुदते च पुनः पुनः । मासद्वयावसाने तु तत्पुरं सोऽतिगच्छति

bhīṣaṇaiḥ kliśyamānastu rudate ca punaḥ punaḥ | māsadvayāvasāne tu tatpuraṁ so'tigacchati

tormented by fearsome creatures, weeping again and again. At the end of two months he passes beyond that city,

Verse 15 (garuda.2.16.15)

भुक्त्वा चान्नं जलं पीत्वा यद्दत्तं वान्धवैरिह । क्लिश्यमानस्ततः पाशैर्नोयते यमकिङ्करैः

bhuktvā cānnaṁ jalaṁ pītvā yaddattaṁ vāndhavairiha | kliśyamānastataḥ pāśairnoyate yamakiṁkaraiḥ

having eaten the food and drunk the water given here by his kinsmen, tormented by the nooses of Yama's servants he is led further on.

Verse 16 (garuda.2.16.16)

तृतीये मासि सम्प्राप्ते गन्धर्वनगरं शुभम् । तृतीयं मासिकं भुक्त्वा तत्र गच्छत्यसौ पुरः

tṛtīye māsi samprāpte gandharvanagaraṁ śubham | tṛtīyaṁ māsikaṁ bhuktvā tatra gacchatyasau puraḥ

When the third month comes, he reaches the auspicious Gandharvanagara. Having eaten the third monthly pinda, he moves on from there.

Verse 17 (garuda.2.16.17)

शैलागमं चतुर्थे स मासे प्राप्नोति वै पुरम् । पाषाणास्तत्र वर्षन्ति प्रेतस्योपरि संस्थिताः

śailāgamaṁ caturthe sa māse prāpnoti vai puram | pāṣāṇāstatra varṣanti pretasyopari saṁsthitāḥ

In the fourth month he reaches the city of Shailagama; there, positioned above him, stones rain down upon the departed one.

Verse 18 (garuda.2.16.18)

चतुर्थमासिके श्राद्धं भुक्ते तत्र सुखी भवेत्

caturthamāsike śrāddhaṁ bhukte tatra sukhī bhavet

Having partaken of the fourth monthly shraddha, he becomes content there.

Verse 19 (garuda.2.16.19)

ततो याति पुरं प्रेतः क्रूरं मासे तु पञ्चमे । इह दत्तं सुतैर्भुङ्क्ते प्रेतो वै तत्पुरे स्थितः । षष्ठे मासि ततः प्रेतो याति क्रौञ्चाबिधं पुरम्

tato yāti puraṁ pretaḥ krūraṁ māse tu pañcame | iha dattaṁ sutairbhuṁkte preto vai tatpure sthitaḥ | ṣaṣṭhe māsi tataḥ preto yāti krauñcābidhaṁ puram

Then in the fifth month the departed one goes toward Kruraura. There, dwelling in that city, the departed eats what has been given by his sons. In the sixth month, the departed then goes to the city named Krauncha,

Verse 20 (garuda.2.16.20)

तत्र दत्तेन पिण्डेन श्राद्धेनाप्यायितः पुरे । मुहूर्तार्धं तु विश्रम्य कम्पमानः सुदुः खितः

tatra dattena piṇḍena śrāddhenāpyāyitaḥ pure | muhūrtārdhaṁ tu viśramya kampamānaḥ suduḥ khitaḥ

and, satisfied there with the pinda and shraddha given, having rested half a ghati, trembling, in the greatest distress,

Verse 21 (garuda.2.16.21)

तत्पुरं स व्यतिक्रम्य तर्जितो यमकिङ्करैः । प्रयाति चित्रनगरं विचित्रो यत्र पार्थिवः

tatpuraṁ sa vyatikramya tarjito yamakiṁkaraiḥ | prayāti citranagaraṁ vicitro yatra pārthivaḥ

having passed beyond that city, rebuked by Yama's servants, he proceeds toward Vichitranagara, where reigns a king named Vichitra,

Verse 22 (garuda.2.16.22)

यमस्यैवानुजः सौरिर्यत्र राज्यं प्रशास्ति हि । मासैस्तु पञ्चभिः सार्धैरूपषाण्मासिकं भवेत्

yamasyaivānujaḥ sauriryatra rājyaṁ praśāsti hi | māsaistu pañcabhiḥ sārdhairūpaṣāṇmāsikaṁ bhavet

who is Yama's own younger brother, and who governs there. At five and a half months, this becomes the near-six-monthly occasion.

Verse 23 (garuda.2.16.23)

ऊनषाण्मासिकं तत्र भुङ्क्ते याम्यसमाहतः । मार्गे पुनः पुनस्तस्य बुभुक्षा पीडयत्यलम्

ūnaṣāṇmāsikaṁ tatra bhuṁkte yāmyasamāhataḥ | mārge punaḥ punastasya bubhukṣā pīḍayatyalam

Having there partaken of the near-six-monthly offering, struck by Yama's servants, along the road he is tormented again and again by intense hunger.

Verse 24 (garuda.2.16.24)

सन्तिष्ठते मृते कोऽपि मदीयः सुतबान्धवः । सौख्यं यो मे जनयति पततः शोकसागरे

santiṣṭhate mṛte ko'pi madīyaḥ sutabāndhavaḥ | saukhyaṁ yo me janayati patataḥ śokasāgare

'Is there any son or kinsman of mine now, who might grant me some comfort, as I fall into this ocean of grief?'

Verse 25 (garuda.2.16.25)

एवं मार्गे विलपति वार्यमाणश्च किङ्करैः । आयान्ति संमुखास्तत्र कैवर्तास्तु सहस्रशः

evaṁ mārge vilapati vāryamāṇaśca kiṁkaraiḥ | āyānti saṁmukhāstatra kaivartāstu sahasraśaḥ

Thus lamenting on the road, restrained by Yama's servants, there thousands of boatmen come forward to meet him,

Verse 26 (garuda.2.16.26)

वयं ते तर्तुकामाय महावैतरणीं नदीम् । शतयोजनविस्तीर्णां पूयशोणितसंकुलाम्

vayaṁ te tartukāmāya mahāvaitaraṇīṁ nadīm | śatayojanavistīrṇāṁ pūyaśoṇitasaṁkulām

'we, wishing to help you cross this great river Vaitarani, a hundred yojanas wide, thronged with pus and blood,

Verse 27 (garuda.2.16.27)

नानाझषसमाकीर्णां नानापक्षिगणैर्वृताम् । वयं त्वां तारयिष्यामः सुखेनेति वदन्ति ते

nānājhaṣasamākīrṇāṁ nānāpakṣigaṇairvṛtām | vayaṁ tvāṁ tārayiṣyāmaḥ sukheneti vadanti te

thronged with manifold fish, encircled by manifold flocks of birds, shall carry you across with ease' — thus they say.

Verse 28 (garuda.2.16.28)

अन्तरं देहि भो पान्थ बहुला चेद्रुचिस्तव । तेन तत्र प्रदत्ता गौस्तया नावा प्रसर्पति । मनुजानां हितं दानमन्ते वैतरणी स्मृता

antaraṁ dehi bho pāntha bahulā cedrucistava | tena tatra pradattā gaustayā nāvā prasarpati | manujānāṁ hitaṁ dānamante vaitaraṇī smṛtā

'O traveler, if you wish, give us the fare.' If a cow has been given on his behalf, he proceeds easily by that boat. For men, the beneficial gift at the end is held to be the Vaitarani-cow,

Verse 29 (garuda.2.16.29)

परापापं दहेत्सर्वं विष्णुलोकं च सा नयेत् । न दत्ता चेत्खगश्रेष्ठ तां समेत्य समज्जति

parāpāpaṁ dahetsarvaṁ viṣṇulokaṁ ca sā nayet | na dattā cetkhagaśreṣṭha tāṁ sametya samajjati

which burns away every sin, and carries him even to the world of Vishnu. O best of birds, if it has not been given, he arrives at that river and sinks within it.

Verse 30 (garuda.2.16.30)

स्वस्थावस्थे शरीरेऽत्र वैतरण्या व्रतं चरेत् । देया च विदुषे धेनुस्तां नदीं तर्तुमिच्छता

svasthāvasthe śarīre'tra vaitaraṇyā vrataṁ caret | deyā ca viduṣe dhenustāṁ nadīṁ tartumicchatā

Therefore, while the body is still healthy, the vow of the Vaitarani should be undertaken; and one who wishes to cross that river should certainly give a cow to a learned brahmin.

Verse 31 (garuda.2.16.31)

अवदन्मज्जमानस्तु निन्दत्यात्मानमात्मना । पाथेयार्थं मया किञ्चिन्न प्रदत्तं द्विजायच

avadanmajjamānastu nindatyātmānamātmanā | pātheyārthaṁ mayā kiñcinna pradattaṁ dvijāyaca

Sinking, he reviles himself — 'I never gave anything at all to any brahmin for the sake of provisions,

Verse 32 (garuda.2.16.32)

न दत्तं न हुतं जप्तं न स्नातं न कृतं स्तुतम् । यादृशं कर्म चरितं मूढ भुङ्क्ष्वेति तादृशम्

na dattaṁ na hutaṁ japtaṁ na snātaṁ na kṛtaṁ stutam | yādṛśaṁ karma caritaṁ mūḍha bhuṁkṣveti tādṛśam

gave no gift, offered no oblation, recited no prayer, took no ritual bath, sang no praise — O fool, endure now what you yourself have done!'

Verse 33 (garuda.2.16.33)

तदैव हृदि संमूढस्ताडितो भाषते भटैः । वैतरण्याः परतटे भुङ्क्ते दत्तं घटादिकम्

tadaiva hṛdi saṁmūḍhastāḍito bhāṣate bhaṭaiḥ | vaitaraṇyāḥ parataṭe bhuṁkte dattaṁ ghaṭādikam

At that very moment, utterly distraught in heart, struck by the soldiers, he speaks thus. On the far bank of the Vaitarani, he there partakes of the water-pot and other gifts given for him,

Verse 34 (garuda.2.16.34)

ऊनषाण्मासिकश्राद्धं भुक्त्वा गच्छति चाग्रतः । तार्क्ष्य तत्र विशेषेण भोजयीत द्विजाञ्छुभान्

ūnaṣāṇmāsikaśrāddhaṁ bhuktvā gacchati cāgrataḥ | tārkṣya tatra viśeṣeṇa bhojayīta dvijāñchubhān

and, having partaken of the near-six-monthly shraddha, moves on. O Tarkshya, on that occasion, virtuous brahmins should especially be fed.

Verse 35 (garuda.2.16.35)

चत्वारिंशत्तथा सप्त योजनानि शतद्वयम् । प्रयाति प्रत्यहं तार्क्ष्य अहोरात्रेण कर्शितः

catvāriṁśattathā sapta yojanāni śatadvayam | prayāti pratyahaṁ tārkṣya ahorātreṇa karśitaḥ

O Tarkshya, growing weaker, he travels two hundred and forty-seven yojanas each day, in a single day and night.

Verse 36 (garuda.2.16.36)

सप्तमे मासि सम्प्राप्ते पुरं बह्वापदं व्रजेत् । तत्र भुक्त्व प्रदत्तं यच्छ्राद्धं सप्तममासिकम्

saptame māsi samprāpte puraṁ bahvāpadaṁ vrajet | tatra bhuktva pradattaṁ yacchrāddhaṁ saptamamāsikam

When the seventh month comes, he proceeds to the city thronged with calamities; there, having partaken of the seventh monthly shraddha given for him,

Verse 37 (garuda.2.16.37)

अष्टमे मासि सम्प्राप्ते नानाक्रन्दपुरं व्रजेत् । नानाक्रन्दगणान्दृष्ट्वा क्रन्दमानान्सुदारुणम्

aṣṭame māsi samprāpte nānākrandapuraṁ vrajet | nānākrandagaṇāndṛṣṭvā krandamānānsudāruṇam

when the eighth month comes he proceeds to Nanakrandapura; there, seeing throngs crying out in manifold ways, wailing most terribly,

Verse 38 (garuda.2.16.38)

स्वयं च शून्यहृदयः समाक्रन्दति दुः खितः । तन्मासिकं च यच्छ्राद्धं भुक्त्वा तत्र सुखी भवेत्

svayaṁ ca śūnyahṛdayaḥ samākrandati duḥ khitaḥ | tanmāsikaṁ ca yacchrāddhaṁ bhuktvā tatra sukhī bhavet

he himself too, his heart utterly hollow, cries out in his own misery. Having partaken of that monthly shraddha, he becomes content there.

Verse 39 (garuda.2.16.39)

विहाय तत्पुरं प्रेतो याति तप्तपुरं प्रति । सुतप्तनगरं प्राप्य नवमे मासि सोऽश्नुते । द्विजभोज्यं पिण्डदानं कृतं श्राद्धं सुतेन यत्

vihāya tatpuraṁ preto yāti taptapuraṁ prati | sutaptanagaraṁ prāpya navame māsi so'śnute | dvijabhojyaṁ piṇḍadānaṁ kṛtaṁ śrāddhaṁ sutena yat

Leaving that city, the departed proceeds toward Taptapura. Reaching Sutaptanagara, in the ninth month he partakes of what was given — the feast to brahmins, the pinda-offering, and the shraddha performed by his son.

Verse 40 (garuda.2.16.40)

मासि वै दशमे प्राप्ते रौद्रं स्थानं स गच्छति । दशमे मासि यद्दत्तं तद्भुक्त्वा च प्रयाति सः

māsi vai daśame prāpte raudraṁ sthānaṁ sa gacchati | daśame māsi yaddattaṁ tadbhuktvā ca prayāti saḥ

When the tenth month comes, he goes to the place called Raudra; having partaken of what was given in the tenth month, he moves on.

Verse 41 (garuda.2.16.41)

दशैकमासिकं भुक्त्वा पयोवर्षणमृच्छति । मेघास्तत्र प्रवर्षन्ति प्रेतानां दुः खदायकाः

daśaikamāsikaṁ bhuktvā payovarṣaṇamṛcchati | meghāstatra pravarṣanti pretānāṁ duḥ khadāyakāḥ

Having partaken of the eleventh monthly shraddha, he attains Payovarshana; there clouds pour down rain that torments the pretas.

Verse 42 (garuda.2.16.42)

(ततः प्रचलितो पोतो बहुर्घमतृषार्दितः) । द्वादशे मासि यच्छ्राद्धं तत्र भुङ्क्ते सुदुः शितः

(tataḥ pracalito poto bahurghamatṛṣārditaḥ) | dvādaśe māsi yacchrāddhaṁ tatra bhuṁkte suduḥ śitaḥ

(Then, tormented greatly by thirst, he moves on further.) The shraddha performed in the twelfth month he there partakes of in the greatest distress.

Verse 43 (garuda.2.16.43)

किञ्चिन्न्यूने ततो वर्षे सार्धे चैकादशेऽथ वा । याति शीतपुरं तत्र शीतं यत्रातिदुः खदम्

kiñcinnyūne tato varṣe sārdhe caikādaśe'tha vā | yāti śītapuraṁ tatra śītaṁ yatrātiduḥ khadam

After that, when the year is just short of complete, or at eleven and a half months, he goes toward Shitapura, where the cold is most tormenting.

Verse 44 (garuda.2.16.44)

शीतार्तः क्षुधितः सोऽथ वीक्षते हि दिशो दश । तिष्ठेत्तु बान्धवः कोऽपि यो मे दुःखं व्यपोहति

śītārtaḥ kṣudhitaḥ so'tha vīkṣate hi diśo daśa | tiṣṭhettu bāndhavaḥ ko'pi yo me duḥkhaṁ vyapohati

Tormented by cold, hungry, he looks about in all ten directions — 'Might there be some kinsman who could dispel my suffering?'

Verse 45 (garuda.2.16.45)

किङ्करास्तं वदन्त्येवं क्व ते पुण्यं हि तादृशम् । श्रुत्वा तेषां तु तद्वाक्यं हा दैव इति भाषते

kiṁkarāstaṁ vadantyevaṁ kva te puṇyaṁ hi tādṛśam | śrutvā teṣāṁ tu tadvākyaṁ hā daiva iti bhāṣate

Yama's servants say to him — 'What such merit do you have?' Hearing their words, he says — 'Alas, fate!'

Verse 46 (garuda.2.16.46)

दैवं हि पूर्वसुकृतं तन्मया नैव सञ्चितम् । एवं सञ्चिन्त्य बहुशो धैर्यमालम्बते पुनः

daivaṁ hi pūrvasukṛtaṁ tanmayā naiva sañcitam | evaṁ sañcintya bahuśo dhairyamālambate punaḥ

'Fate is nothing but the merit accumulated in a former time, and that I never gathered at all' — thus reflecting again and again, he once more takes hold of his patience.

Verse 47 (garuda.2.16.47)

चत्वारिंशद्योजनानि चतुर्युक्तानि वै ततः । धर्मराजपुरं रम्यं गन्धर्वाप्सराकुलम्

catvāriṁśadyojanāni caturyuktāni vai tataḥ | dharmarājapuraṁ ramyaṁ gandharvāpsarākulam

Then, forty yojanas in extent, spread across four sections, lies the lovely city of Dharmaraja, thronged with gandharvas and apsaras,

Verse 48 (garuda.2.16.48)

चतुरशीतिलक्षैश्च मूर्तामूर्तैरधिष्ठितम् । त्रयोदश प्रतीहारा धर्मराजपुरे स्थिताः

caturaśītilakṣaiśca mūrtāmūrtairadhiṣṭhitam | trayodaśa pratīhārā dharmarājapure sthitāḥ

held by eighty-four hundred thousand embodied and disembodied beings. Thirteen gatekeepers are stationed in the city of Dharmaraja,

Verse 49 (garuda.2.16.49)

शुभाशुभं तु यत्कर्म ते विचार्य पुनः पुनः । श्रवणा ब्रह्मणः पुत्रा मनुष्याणां च चेष्टितम् । कथयन्ति तदा लोके पूजिताः पूजिताः स्वयम्

śubhāśubhaṁ tu yatkarma te vicārya punaḥ punaḥ | śravaṇā brahmaṇaḥ putrā manuṣyāṇāṁ ca ceṣṭitam | kathayanti tadā loke pūjitāḥ pūjitāḥ svayam

who, examining again and again whatever deeds, good or evil, have been performed, and who, sons of Brahma called 'Shravana' though themselves worshipped by all,

Verse 50 (garuda.2.16.50)

नरैस्तुष्टैश्च पुष्टैश्च यत्प्रोक्तं च कृतं च यत् । सर्वमावेदयन्ति स्म चित्रगुप्ते यमे च तत्

naraistuṣṭaiśca puṣṭaiśca yatproktaṁ ca kṛtaṁ ca yat | sarvamāvedayanti sma citragupte yame ca tat

there report to the world the conduct of men. Whatever has been said and done by contented and satisfied men,

Verse 51 (garuda.2.16.51)

दूराच्छ्रवणविज्ञाना दूराद्दर्शनगोचराः । एवञ्चेष्टास्तु ते ह्यष्टौ स्वर्भूपातालचारिणः

dūrācchravaṇavijñānā dūrāddarśanagocarāḥ | evañceṣṭāstu te hyaṣṭau svarbhūpātālacāriṇaḥ

all of this they report to Chitragupta and to Yama. They are able to hear from afar, capable of seeing from afar,

Verse 52 (garuda.2.16.52)

तेषां पत्न्यस्तथै वोग्रा श्रवण्यः पृथगाह्वयाः । एवं तेषां शक्तिरस्ति यर्त्ये मर्त्याधिकारिणः

teṣāṁ patnyastathai vogrā śravaṇyaḥ pṛthagāhvayāḥ | evaṁ teṣāṁ śaktirasti yartye martyādhikāriṇaḥ

and in this way those eight are able to move through heaven and the netherworld alike. Their wives too are of fierce nature, called 'Shravani' by their various separate names.

Verse 53 (garuda.2.16.53)

व्रतैर्दानैस्तवैर्यश्च पूजयेदिह मानवः । जायन्ते तस्य ते सौम्याः सुखमृत्युप्रदायिनः

vratairdānaistavairyaśca pūjayediha mānavaḥ | jāyante tasya te saumyāḥ sukhamṛtyupradāyinaḥ

Such is their power, by which they hold authority over the mortal world. Whatever man here worships them with vows, gifts, and hymns of praise — for him they become gentle, and grant him an easy death.