The Account of Raurava and the Other Great Hells

Verse 1 (markandeya.12.1)

पितोवाच साधु वत्स ! त्वयाख्यातं संसारगहनं परम् । ज्ञानप्रदानसम्भूतं समाश्रित्य महाफलम्॥ 12.1 ॥

pitovāca sādhu vatsa ! tvayākhyātaṁ saṁsāragahanaṁ param jñānapradānasambhūtaṁ samāśritya mahāphalam

Well done, dear child! You have well set forth this vast and tangled thicket of worldly existence, resorting to the great fruit that comes of imparting such knowledge.

Verse 2 (markandeya.12.2)

तत्र ते नरकाः सर्वे यथा वै रौरवस्तथा । वर्णितास्तान् समाचक्ष्व विस्तरेण महामते॥ 12.2 ॥

tatra te narakāḥ sarve yathā vai rauravastathā varṇitāstān samācakṣva vistareṇa mahāmate

O wise one, describe to me in full detail all those hells you mentioned there, beginning with Raurava.

Verse 3 (markandeya.12.3)

पुत्र उवाच रौरवस्ते समाख्यातः प्रथमं नरको मया । महारौरवसंज्ञं तु शृणुष्व नरकं पितः॥ 12.3 ॥

putra uvāca rauravaste samākhyātaḥ prathamaṁ narako mayā mahārauravasaṁjñaṁ tu śṛṇuṣva narakaṁ pitaḥ

Raurava, the first hell, has already been described to you by me; now hear, father, of the hell named Maharaurava.

Verse 4 (markandeya.12.4)

योजनानां सहस्राणि सप्त पञ्च समन्ततः । तत्र ताम्रमयी भूमिरधस्तस्य हुताशनः॥ 12.4 ॥

yojanānāṁ sahasrāṇi sapta pañca samantataḥ tatra tāmramayī bhūmiradhastasya hutāśanaḥ

It extends twelve thousand yojanas on every side; there the ground is made of copper, and beneath it a fire blazes.

Verse 5 (markandeya.12.5)

तत्तापतप्ता सर्वाशा प्रोद्यदिन्दुसमप्रभा । विभात्यतिमहारौद्रा दर्शनस्पर्शनादिषु॥ 12.5 ॥

tattāpataptā sarvāśā prodyadindusamaprabhā vibhātyatimahāraudrā darśanasparśanādiṣu

Heated by that fire's warmth in every direction, gleaming like a rising moon, it appears utterly terrible to sight, touch and every other sense.

Verse 6 (markandeya.12.6)

तस्यां बद्धः कराभ्याञ्च पद्भ्याञ्चैव यमानुगैः । मुच्यते पापकृन्मध्ये लुठमानः स गच्छति॥ 12.6 ॥

tasyāṁ baddhaḥ karābhyāñca padbhyāñcaiva yamānugaiḥ mucyate pāpakṛnmadhye luṭhamānaḥ sa gacchati

Bound there by hand and foot by the servants of Yama, the sinner is set loose in its midst, and moves along writhing upon the ground.

Verse 7 (markandeya.12.7)

काकैर्वकैर्वृकोलूकैर्वृश्चिकैर्मशकैस्तथा । भक्ष्यमाणस्तथा गृध्रैर्द्रुतं मार्गे विकृष्यते॥ 12.7 ॥

kākairvakairvṛkolūkairvṛścikairmaśakaistathā bhakṣyamāṇastathā gṛdhrairdrutaṁ mārge vikṛṣyate

Devoured there by crows, herons, wolves, owls, scorpions, and mosquitoes, and by vultures too, he is dragged swiftly along the path.

Verse 8 (markandeya.12.8)

दह्यमानः पितर्मातर्भ्रातस्तातेति चाकुलः । वदत्यसकृदुद्विग्नो न शान्तिमधिगच्छति॥ 12.8 ॥

dahyamānaḥ pitarmātarbhrātastāteti cākulaḥ vadatyasakṛdudvigno na śāntimadhigacchati

As he burns, distraught, he cries out again and again in anguish, 'O father! O mother! O brother! O dear one!' — yet he finds no peace.

Verse 9 (markandeya.12.9)

एवं तस्मान्नरैमर्मोक्षो ह्यतिक्रान्तैरवाप्यते । वर्षायुतायुतैः पापं यैः कृतं दुष्टबुद्धिभिः॥ 12.9 ॥

evaṁ tasmānnaraimarmokṣo hyatikrāntairavāpyate varṣāyutāyutaiḥ pāpaṁ yaiḥ kṛtaṁ duṣṭabuddhibhiḥ

Thus release from that hell is obtained only after tens of thousands of years have passed, by those evil-minded men by whom such sin was committed.

Verse 10 (markandeya.12.10)

तथान्यस्तु तमो नाम सोऽतिशीतः स्वभावतः । महारौरववद् दीर्घस्तथा स तमसा वृतः॥ 12.10 ॥

tathānyastu tamo nāma so’tiśītaḥ svabhāvataḥ mahārauravavad dīrghastathā sa tamasā vṛtaḥ

There is another hell besides, called Tamas, which is by nature extremely cold; vast in extent like Maharaurava, it too lies wrapped in darkness.

Verse 11 (markandeya.12.11)

शीतार्तास्तत्र धावन्तो नरास्तमसि दारुणे । परस्परं समासाद्य परिरभ्याश्रयन्ति च॥ 12.11 ॥

śītārtāstatra dhāvanto narāstamasi dāruṇe parasparaṁ samāsādya parirabhyāśrayanti ca

Tormented by cold, men run about there in that dreadful darkness; meeting one another, they clutch and cling together seeking shelter.

Verse 12 (markandeya.12.12)

दन्तास्तेषाञ्च भज्यन्ते शीतार्तिपरिकम्पिताः । क्षुत्तृष्णाप्रबलास्तत्र तथैवान्येऽप्युपद्रवाः॥ 12.12 ॥

dantāsteṣāñca bhajyante śītārtiparikampitāḥ kṣuttṛṣṇāprabalāstatra tathaivānye’pyupadravāḥ

Their teeth, chattering from the affliction of cold, break; hunger and thirst rage there unchecked, and likewise other torments as well.

Verse 13 (markandeya.12.13)

हिमखण्डवहो वायुर्भिनत्त्यस्थीनि दारुणः । मज्जासृग्गलितं तस्मादश्नुवन्ति क्षुधान्विताः॥ 12.13 ॥

himakhaṇḍavaho vāyurbhinattyasthīni dāruṇaḥ majjāsṛggalitaṁ tasmādaśnuvanti kṣudhānvitāḥ

A terrible wind laden with fragments of ice shatters their bones; and, overcome by hunger, they eat the marrow and blood that oozes out from them.

Verse 14 (markandeya.12.14)

लेलिह्यमाना भ्राम्यन्ते परस्परसमागमे । एवं तत्रापि सुमहान् क्लेशस्तमसि मानवैः॥ 12.14 ॥

lelihyamānā bhrāmyante parasparasamāgame evaṁ tatrāpi sumahān kleśastamasi mānavaiḥ

Licking at one another, they wander about meeting again and again; thus, even there in that darkness, exceedingly great suffering is undergone by men.

Verse 15 (markandeya.12.15)

प्राप्यते ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ यावद्दुष्कृतसंक्षयः । निकृन्तन इति ख्यातस्ततोऽन्यो नरकोत्तमः॥ 12.15 ॥

prāpyate brāhmaṇaśreṣṭha yāvadduṣkṛtasaṁkṣayaḥ nikṛntana iti khyātastato’nyo narakottamaḥ

This, O best of brahmanas, is endured until their evil deeds are exhausted. Beyond it is yet another terrible hell known as Nikrintana, The Cutter.

Verse 16 (markandeya.12.16)

तस्मिन् कुलालचक्राणि भ्राम्यन्त्यविरतं पितः । तेष्वारोप्य निकृत्यन्ते कालसूत्रेण मानवाः॥ 12.16 ॥

tasmin kulālacakrāṇi bhrāmyantyavirataṁ pitaḥ teṣvāropya nikṛtyante kālasūtreṇa mānavāḥ

There, father, potter's wheels turn without ceasing; men are mounted upon them and cut apart by the thread of time.

Verse 17 (markandeya.12.17)

यमानुगाङ्गुलिस्थेन आपादतलमस्तकम् । न चैषां जीवितभ्रंशो जायते द्विजसत्तम॥ 12.17 ॥

yamānugāṅgulisthena āpādatalamastakam na caiṣāṁ jīvitabhraṁśo jāyate dvijasattama

Held taut in the fingers of Yama's servants, that thread cuts them from the sole of the foot to the crown of the head; yet, best of the twice-born, no loss of life befalls them.

Verse 18 (markandeya.12.18)

छिन्नानि तेषां शतशः खण्डान्यैक्यं व्रजन्ति च । एवं वर्षसहस्राणि छिद्यन्ते पापकर्मिणः॥ 12.18 ॥

chinnāni teṣāṁ śataśaḥ khaṇḍānyaikyaṁ vrajanti ca evaṁ varṣasahasrāṇi chidyante pāpakarmiṇaḥ

Their bodies, severed into a hundred pieces, come together again into one; thus, for thousands of years, sinful men are cut apart again and again.

Verse 19 (markandeya.12.19)

तावद् यावदशेषं वै तत्पापं हि क्षयं गतम् । अप्रतिष्ठञ्च नरकं शृणुष्व गदतो मम॥ 12.19 ॥

tāvad yāvadaśeṣaṁ vai tatpāpaṁ hi kṣayaṁ gatam apratiṣṭhañca narakaṁ śṛṇuṣva gadato mama

This goes on until that sin of theirs is entirely spent. Now hear from me of the hell called Apratishtha, the Bottomless.

Verse 20 (markandeya.12.20)

अत्रस्थैर्नारकैर्दुःखमसह्यमनुभूयते । तान्येव यत्र चक्राणि घटीयन्त्राणि चान्यतः॥ 12.20 ॥

atrasthairnārakairduḥkhamasahyamanubhūyate tānyeva yatra cakrāṇi ghaṭīyantrāṇi cānyataḥ

The denizens of hell dwelling there endure unbearable suffering; there too are those same wheels, and elsewhere the water-drawing machines as well.

Verse 21 (markandeya.12.21)

दुःखस्य हेतुभूतानि पापकर्मकृतां नृणाम् । चक्रेष्वारोपिताः केचिद् भ्राम्यन्ते तत्र मानवाः॥ 12.21 ॥

duḥkhasya hetubhūtāni pāpakarmakṛtāṁ nṛṇām cakreṣvāropitāḥ kecid bhrāmyante tatra mānavāḥ

These are the very causes of suffering for men who have committed sinful deeds; some men, mounted upon these wheels, are made to revolve there endlessly.

Verse 22 (markandeya.12.22)

यावद्वर्षसहस्राणि न तेषां स्थितिरन्तरा । घटीयन्त्रेषु चैवान्यो बद्धस्तोये यथा घटी॥ 12.22 ॥

yāvadvarṣasahasrāṇi na teṣāṁ sthitirantarā ghaṭīyantreṣu caivānyo baddhastoye yathā ghaṭī

For thousands of years there is no respite for them in between; and others, bound within the water-wheels, are held fast like a bucket dipping in water.

Verse 23 (markandeya.12.23)

भ्राम्यन्ते मानवा रक्तमुदिगरन्तः पुनः पुनः । अस्त्रैर्मुखविनिष्क्रान्तैः नेत्रैरश्रुविलम्बिभिः॥ 12.23 ॥

bhrāmyante mānavā raktamudigarantaḥ punaḥ punaḥ astrairmukhaviniṣkrāntaiḥ netrairaśruvilambibhiḥ

Men revolve there vomiting blood again and again, weapons protruding from their mouths, tears streaming from their eyes.

Verse 24 (markandeya.12.24)

दुःखानि ते प्राप्नुवन्ति यान्यसह्यानि जन्तुभिः । असिपत्रवनं नाम नरकं शृणु चापरम्॥ 12.24 ॥

duḥkhāni te prāpnuvanti yānyasahyāni jantubhiḥ asipatravanaṁ nāma narakaṁ śṛṇu cāparam

They undergo sufferings unbearable to any living creature. Now hear also of another hell, named Asipatravana, the Forest of Sword-Leaves.

Verse 25 (markandeya.12.25)

योजनानां सहस्रं यो ज्वलदग्न्यास्तृतावनिः । तप्ताः सूर्यकरैश्चण्डैर्यत्रातीव सुदारुणैः॥ 12.25 ॥

yojanānāṁ sahasraṁ yo jvaladagnyāstṛtāvaniḥ taptāḥ sūryakaraiścaṇḍairyatrātīva sudāruṇaiḥ

It extends a thousand yojanas, its ground strewn with blazing fire, scorched throughout by the sun's fierce and utterly dreadful rays.

Verse 26 (markandeya.12.26)

प्रपतन्ति सदा तत्र प्राणिनो नरकौकसः । तन्मध्ये च वनं रम्यं स्निग्धपत्रं विभाव्यते॥ 12.26 ॥

prapatanti sadā tatra prāṇino narakaukasaḥ tanmadhye ca vanaṁ ramyaṁ snigdhapatraṁ vibhāvyate

There the beings dwelling in that hell fall continually; and in the midst of it, a delightful forest with glossy leaves is seen in the distance.

Verse 27 (markandeya.12.27)

पत्राणि तत्र खङ्गानां फलानि द्विजसत्तमम् । श्वानश्च तत्र सबलाः स्वनन्त्ययुतशोभिताः॥ 12.27 ॥

patrāṇi tatra khaṅgānāṁ phalāni dvijasattamam śvānaśca tatra sabalāḥ svanantyayutaśobhitāḥ

There, best of the twice-born, its leaves are swords, and its fruits are likewise sharp; and there too are powerful dogs, many of them, baying loudly.

Verse 28 (markandeya.12.28)

महावक्त्रा महादंष्ट्रा व्याघ्रा इव भयानकाः । ततस्तद्वनमालोक्य शिशिरच्छायमग्रतः॥ 12.28 ॥

mahāvaktrā mahādaṁṣṭrā vyāghrā iva bhayānakāḥ tatastadvanamālokya śiśiracchāyamagrataḥ

With huge mouths and huge fangs, as terrifying as tigers. Then, seeing that forest ahead of them with its cool shade...

Verse 29 (markandeya.12.29)

प्रयान्ति प्राणिनस्तत्र तीव्रतृट्परिपीडिताः । हा मातर्हा तात ! इति क्रान्दन्तोऽतीव दुःखिता॥ 12.29 ॥

prayānti prāṇinastatra tīvratṛṭparipīḍitāḥ hā mātarhā tāta ! iti krāndanto’tīva duḥkhitā

...the beings, tormented by intense thirst, go toward it, crying out in extreme anguish, 'Alas, mother! Alas, father!'

Verse 30 (markandeya.12.30)

दह्यमानाङ्घ्रयुगला धरणीस्थेन वह्निना । तेषां गतानां तत्रासिपत्रपाती समीरणः॥ 12.30 ॥

dahyamānāṅghrayugalā dharaṇīsthena vahninā teṣāṁ gatānāṁ tatrāsipatrapātī samīraṇaḥ

Their two feet burning from the fire in the ground beneath them, and as they go there, a wind blows that showers the sword-leaves down upon them.

Verse 31 (markandeya.12.31)

प्रवाति तेन पात्यन्ते तेषां खड्गान्यथोपरि । ततः पतन्ति ते भूमौ ज्वलत्पवकसञ्चये॥ 12.31 ॥

pravāti tena pātyante teṣāṁ khaḍgānyathopari tataḥ patanti te bhūmau jvalatpavakasañcaye

As that wind blows, the swords fall down upon them; then they themselves fall to the ground, into a heap of blazing fire.

Verse 32 (markandeya.12.32)

लेलिह्यमाने चान्यत्र व्याप्ताशेषमहीतले । सारमेयास्ततः शीघ्रं शातयन्ति शरीरतः॥ 12.32 ॥

lelihyamāne cānyatra vyāptāśeṣamahītale sārameyāstataḥ śīghraṁ śātayanti śarīrataḥ

That fire spreads on, licking over the whole ground round about; then the dogs quickly tear pieces of flesh from their bodies.

Verse 33 (markandeya.12.33)

तेषामङ्गानि रुदतामनेकान्यतिभीषणाः । असिपत्रवनं तात ! मयैतत् कीर्तितं तव॥ 12.33 ॥

teṣāmaṅgāni rudatāmanekānyatibhīṣaṇāḥ asipatravanaṁ tāta ! mayaitat kīrtitaṁ tava

Utterly terrifying, they tear off the many limbs of those who weep. This, dear father, is Asipatravana as I have described it to you.

Verse 34 (markandeya.12.34)

अतः परं भीमतरं तप्तकुम्भं निबोध मे । समन्ततस्तप्तकुम्भा वह्निज्वालासमावृताः॥ 12.34 ॥

ataḥ paraṁ bhīmataraṁ taptakumbhaṁ nibodha me samantatastaptakumbhā vahnijvālāsamāvṛtāḥ

Learn from me now of the still more terrible hell beyond it, named Taptakumbha, the Heated Cauldrons. On every side stand cauldrons wrapped in blazing flames.

Verse 35 (markandeya.12.35)

ज्वलदग्निचयोद्वृत्ततैलायश्चूर्णपूरिताः । तेषु दुष्कृतकर्माणो याम्यैः क्षिप्ता ह्यधोमुखाः॥ 12.35 ॥

jvaladagnicayodvṛttatailāyaścūrṇapūritāḥ teṣu duṣkṛtakarmāṇo yāmyaiḥ kṣiptā hyadhomukhāḥ

Filled with iron filings and oil surging up from a mass of blazing fire, doers of evil deeds are cast headlong into these by Yama's servants.

Verse 36 (markandeya.12.36)

क्वाथ्यन्ते विस्फुटद्गात्र-गलन्मज्जजलाविलाः । स्फुरत्कपालनेत्रास्थिच्छिद्यमाना विभीषणैः॥ 12.36 ॥

kvāthyante visphuṭadgātra-galanmajjajalāvilāḥ sphuratkapālanetrāsthicchidyamānā vibhīṣaṇaiḥ

They are boiled there, their limbs bursting apart, fouled by the marrow that melts and flows; their skulls, eyes and bones, quivering, are torn apart by terrifying creatures.

Verse 37 (markandeya.12.37)

गृध्रैरुत्पाट्य मुच्यन्ते पुनस्तेष्वेव वेगितैः । पुनः सिमसिमायन्ते तैलेनैक्यं व्रजन्ति च॥ 12.37 ॥

gṛdhrairutpāṭya mucyante punasteṣveva vegitaiḥ punaḥ simasimāyante tailenaikyaṁ vrajanti ca

Torn out by swift vultures, they are dropped once more into those same cauldrons; again they sizzle there, and merge into one with the boiling oil.

Verse 38 (markandeya.12.38)

द्रवीभूतैः शिरोगात्र-स्नायु-मांस-त्वगस्थिभिः । ततो याम्यैर्नरैराशु दर्व्या घट्टनघट्टिताः॥ 12.38 ॥

dravībhūtaiḥ śirogātra-snāyu-māṁsa-tvagasthibhiḥ tato yāmyairnarairāśu darvyā ghaṭṭanaghaṭṭitāḥ

Their heads, limbs, sinews, flesh, skin and bones all melted together, Yama's men then quickly stir and churn them with a ladle.

Verse 39 (markandeya.12.39)

कृतावर्ते महातैले मथ्यन्ते पापकर्मिणः । एष ते विस्तरेणोक्तस्तप्तकुम्भो मया पितः॥ 12.39 ॥

kṛtāvarte mahātaile mathyante pāpakarmiṇaḥ eṣa te vistareṇoktastaptakumbho mayā pitaḥ

The sinners are churned round and round in that great whirlpool of oil. This, father, is Taptakumbha as I have described it to you in full.