Dialogue with the Messenger of Yama: The Fruits of Sinful Deeds

Verse 1 (markandeya.14.1)

पुत्र उवाच इति पृष्टस्तदा तेन शृण्वतां नो महात्मना । उवाच पुरुषो याम्यो घोरोऽपि प्रसृतं वचः॥ 14.1 ॥

putra uvāca iti pṛṣṭastadā tena śṛṇvatāṁ no mahātmanā uvāca puruṣo yāmyo ghoro’pi prasṛtaṁ vacaḥ

Thus questioned, then, as we all listened, that man of Yama — terrible though he was, yet great of soul — spoke these unfolding words.

Verse 2 (markandeya.14.2)

यमकिङ्कर उवाच महाराज ! यथात्थ त्वं तथैतन्नात्र संशयः । किन्तु स्वल्पं कृतं पापं भवता स्मारयामि तत्॥ 14.2 ॥

yamakiṅkara uvāca mahārāja ! yathāttha tvaṁ tathaitannātra saṁśayaḥ kintu svalpaṁ kṛtaṁ pāpaṁ bhavatā smārayāmi tat

'O great king, it is exactly as you say — there is no doubt of it. But one small sin was committed by you; let me remind you of it.'

Verse 3 (markandeya.14.3)

वैदर्भो तव या पत्नी पीवरी नाम नामतः । ऋतुमत्या ऋतुर्वन्ध्यस्त्वया तस्याः कृतः पुरा॥ 14.3 ॥

vaidarbho tava yā patnī pīvarī nāma nāmataḥ ṛtumatyā ṛturvandhyastvayā tasyāḥ kṛtaḥ purā

'Your wife, the princess of Vidarbha named Pivari — when she was in her fertile season, you let that fertile time pass by, fruitless.'

Verse 4 (markandeya.14.4)

शुशोभनायां कैकेय्यामासक्तेन ततो भवान् । ऋतुव्यतिक्रमात् प्राप्तो नरकं घोरमीदृशम्॥ 14.4 ॥

śuśobhanāyāṁ kaikeyyāmāsaktena tato bhavān ṛtuvyatikramāt prāpto narakaṁ ghoramīdṛśam

'Being then attached instead to the beautiful princess of Kekaya, it is through that very transgression of her fertile season that you have come to this terrible hell.'

Verse 5 (markandeya.14.5)

होमकाले यथा वह्निराज्यपातमवेक्षते । ऋतौ प्रजापतिस्तद्वद् बीजपातमवेक्षते॥ 14.5 ॥

homakāle yathā vahnirājyapātamavekṣate ṛtau prajāpatistadvad bījapātamavekṣate

'As the sacrificial fire, at the moment of oblation, watches for the falling of the ghee, so Prajapati, during the fertile season, watches for the falling of the seed.'

Verse 6 (markandeya.14.6)

यस्तमुल्लङ्घ्य धर्मात्मा कामेष्वासक्तिमान् भवेत् । स तु पित्र्यादृणात् पापमवाप्य नरकं पतेत्॥ 14.6 ॥

yastamullaṅghya dharmātmā kāmeṣvāsaktimān bhavet sa tu pitryādṛṇāt pāpamavāpya narakaṁ patet

'Whoever, even being righteous of soul, neglects that duty and becomes attached to other pleasures, incurs sin through the debt owed to the ancestors, and falls into hell.'

Verse 7 (markandeya.14.7)

एतावदेव ते पापं नान्यत् किञ्चन विद्यते । तदेहि गच्छ पुण्यानामुपभोगाय पार्थिव॥ 14.7 ॥

etāvadeva te pāpaṁ nānyat kiñcana vidyate tadehi gaccha puṇyānāmupabhogāya pārthiva

'This alone was your sin; nothing else whatsoever exists against you. Come now, O king — go, to enjoy the fruits of your merits.'

Verse 8 (markandeya.14.8)

राजोवाच यास्यामि देवानुचर यत्र त्वं मां नयिष्यसि । किञ्चित् पृच्छामि तन्मे त्वं यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि॥ 14.8 ॥

rājovāca yāsyāmi devānucara yatra tvaṁ māṁ nayiṣyasi kiñcit pṛcchāmi tanme tvaṁ yathāvadvaktumarhasi

'I shall go, servant of the god, wherever you lead me. But I ask you something; you should answer it truly.'

Verse 9 (markandeya.14.9)

वज्रतुण्डास्त्वमी काकाः पुंसां नयनहारिणः । पुनः पुनश्च नेत्राणि तद्वदेषां भवन्ति हि॥ 14.9 ॥

vajratuṇḍāstvamī kākāḥ puṁsāṁ nayanahāriṇaḥ punaḥ punaśca netrāṇi tadvadeṣāṁ bhavanti hi

'These crows here, their beaks like thunderbolts, tear out men's eyes — and yet, again and again, eyes grow anew for them just the same.'

Verse 10 (markandeya.14.10)

किं कर्म कृतवन्तश्च कथयैतज्जुगुप्सितम् । हरन्त्येषां तथा जिह्वां जायमानां पुनर्नवाम्॥ 14.10 ॥

kiṁ karma kṛtavantaśca kathayaitajjugupsitam harantyeṣāṁ tathā jihvāṁ jāyamānāṁ punarnavām

'Tell me what loathsome deed these others have done, that their tongues too are torn out just so, growing fresh again and again?'

Verse 11 (markandeya.14.11)

परपत्रेण पाट्यन्ते कस्मादेतेऽतिदुःखिताः । करम्भवालुकास्वेते पच्यन्ते तैलगोचराः॥ 14.11 ॥

parapatreṇa pāṭyante kasmādete’tiduḥkhitāḥ karambhavālukāsvete pacyante tailagocarāḥ

'Why are these most wretched ones sliced apart by sharp leaves? Why are these cooked in the scalding sand and made subject to boiling oil?'

Verse 12 (markandeya.14.12)

अयोमुखैः खगैश्चैते कृष्यन्ते किंविधा वद । विश्र्लिष्टदेहबन्धार्ति-महारावविराविणः॥ 14.12 ॥

ayomukhaiḥ khagaiścaite kṛṣyante kiṁvidhā vada viśrliṣṭadehabandhārti-mahārāvavirāviṇaḥ

'Tell me, what kind of sinners are these, dragged by iron-beaked birds, their bodies' very bonds torn apart, crying out in great anguish?'

Verse 13 (markandeya.14.13)

अयश्चञ्चुनिपातेन सर्वाङ्गक्षतदुःखिताः । किमेतेऽनिष्टकर्तारस्तुद्यन्तेऽहर्निशं नराः॥ 14.13 ॥

ayaścañcunipātena sarvāṅgakṣataduḥkhitāḥ kimete’niṣṭakartārastudyante’harniśaṁ narāḥ

'Wounded and afflicted over their whole bodies by the blows of iron beaks — what evil have these men done, that they are pierced and tormented day and night?'

Verse 14 (markandeya.14.14)

एताश्चान्याश्च दृश्यन्ते यातनाः पापकर्मिणाम् । येन कर्मविपाकेण तन्ममाशेषतो वद॥ 14.14 ॥

etāścānyāśca dṛśyante yātanāḥ pāpakarmiṇām yena karmavipākeṇa tanmamāśeṣato vada

'These and other torments of sinners are seen besides; tell me fully by the ripening of exactly what deed each of these comes about.'

Verse 15 (markandeya.14.15)

यमकिङ्कर उवाच यन्मां पृच्छसि भूपाल ! पापकर्मफलोदयम् । तत् तेऽहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि संक्षेपेण यथातथम्॥ 14.15 ॥

yamakiṅkara uvāca yanmāṁ pṛcchasi bhūpāla ! pāpakarmaphalodayam tat te’haṁ sampravakṣyāmi saṁkṣepeṇa yathātatham

'What you ask me, O king, about the arising of the fruits of sinful deeds — that I shall now tell you truly, in brief.'

Verse 16 (markandeya.14.16)

पुण्यापुण्ये हि पुरुषः पर्यायेण समश्नते । भुञ्जतश्च क्षयं याति पापं पुण्यमथापि वा॥ 14.16 ॥

puṇyāpuṇye hi puruṣaḥ paryāyeṇa samaśnate bhuñjataśca kṣayaṁ yāti pāpaṁ puṇyamathāpi vā

'A man experiences merit and demerit alternately, in turn; and as he experiences them — whether sin or merit — it wears away.'

Verse 17 (markandeya.14.17)

न तु भोगादृते पुण्यं किञ्चिद्वा कर्म मानवम् । पापकं वा पुनात्याशु क्षयो भोगात् प्रजायते॥ 14.17 ॥

na tu bhogādṛte puṇyaṁ kiñcidvā karma mānavam pāpakaṁ vā punātyāśu kṣayo bhogāt prajāyate

'But without actual experience, no human deed — meritorious or sinful — is quickly exhausted; its exhaustion arises only from being experienced.'

Verse 18 (markandeya.14.18)

परित्यजति भोगाच्च पुण्यापुण्ये निबोध मे । दुर्भिक्षादेव दुर्भिक्षं क्लेशात् क्लेशं भयाद्भयम्॥ 14.18 ॥

parityajati bhogācca puṇyāpuṇye nibodha me durbhikṣādeva durbhikṣaṁ kleśāt kleśaṁ bhayādbhayam

'Only through such experience are merit and demerit shed — understand this from me. Famine follows from famine, affliction from affliction, fear from fear.'

Verse 19 (markandeya.14.19)

मृतेभ्यः प्रमृता यान्ति दरिद्राः पापकर्मिणः । गतिं नानाविधां यान्ति जन्तवः कर्मबन्धनात्॥ 14.19 ॥

mṛtebhyaḥ pramṛtā yānti daridrāḥ pāpakarmiṇaḥ gatiṁ nānāvidhāṁ yānti jantavaḥ karmabandhanāt

'Among the dead, those who die poor and sinful pass on likewise; creatures go to manifold destinies, bound by the fetters of their deeds.'

Verse 20 (markandeya.14.20)

उत्सवादुत्सवं यान्ति स्वर्गात् स्वर्गं सुखात् सुखम् । श्रद्धधानाश्च शान्ताश्च धनदाः शुभकारिणः॥ 14.20 ॥

utsavādutsavaṁ yānti svargāt svargaṁ sukhāt sukham śraddhadhānāśca śāntāśca dhanadāḥ śubhakāriṇaḥ

'Those who are full of faith, tranquil, generous givers, and doers of good pass from festival to festival, from heaven to heaven, from joy to joy.'

Verse 21 (markandeya.14.21)

व्यालकुञ्जरदुर्गाणि सर्पचौरभयानि तु । हताः पापेन गच्छन्ति पापिनः किमतः परम्॥ 14.21 ॥

vyālakuñjaradurgāṇi sarpacaurabhayāni tu hatāḥ pāpena gacchanti pāpinaḥ kimataḥ param

'But sinners, struck down by their own sin, go instead into wild places infested with fierce beasts and elephants, and into places fraught with fear of serpents and thieves — what more is there to say?'

Verse 23 (markandeya.14.23)

अनेकशतसाहस्त्र-जन्मसंचयसञ्चितम् । पुण्यापुण्यं नृणां तद्वत् सुखदुःखाङ्कुरोद्भवम्॥ 14.23 ॥

anekaśatasāhastra-janmasaṁcayasañcitam puṇyāpuṇyaṁ nṛṇāṁ tadvat sukhaduḥkhāṅkurodbhavam

'The merit and demerit of men, accumulated across many hundreds of thousands of births, likewise becomes the seed from which the sprout of pleasure and pain arises.'

Verse 24 (markandeya.14.24)

यथा बीजं हि भूपाल ! पयांसि समवेक्षते । पुण्यापुण्ये तथा कालदेशान्यकर्मकारकम्॥ 14.24 ॥

yathā bījaṁ hi bhūpāla ! payāṁsi samavekṣate puṇyāpuṇye tathā kāladeśānyakarmakārakam

'Just as a seed, O king, awaits water, so too merit and demerit await the fitting time, place, and other conditions that bring about the deed's effect.'

Verse 25 (markandeya.14.25)

स्वल्पं पापं कृतं पुंसा देशकालोपपादितम् । पादन्यासकृतं दुःखं कण्टकोत्थं प्रयच्छति॥ 14.25 ॥

svalpaṁ pāpaṁ kṛtaṁ puṁsā deśakālopapāditam pādanyāsakṛtaṁ duḥkhaṁ kaṇṭakotthaṁ prayacchati

'A small sin committed by a man, when it meets the fitting place and time, gives the kind of suffering caused by merely setting one's foot upon a thorn.'

Verse 26 (markandeya.14.26)

तत् प्रभूततरं स्थूलं शूलकीलकसम्भवम् । दुःखं यच्छति तद्वच्च शिरोरोगादि दुः सहम्॥ 14.26 ॥

tat prabhūtataraṁ sthūlaṁ śūlakīlakasambhavam duḥkhaṁ yacchati tadvacca śirorogādi duḥ saham

'That very sin, grown greater and grosser, yields the kind of suffering caused by a spear or a stake, and unbearable afflictions such as headache as well.'

Verse 27 (markandeya.14.27)

अपथ्याशनशीतोष्ण-श्रमतापादिकारकम् । तथान्योऽन्यमपेक्षन्ते पापानि फलसङ्गमे॥ 14.27 ॥

apathyāśanaśītoṣṇa-śramatāpādikārakam tathānyo’nyamapekṣante pāpāni phalasaṅgame

'Suffering caused by unwholesome food, by cold and heat, by exertion and fatigue and the like — thus sins, when their fruit comes due, depend on one another and on circumstance.'

Verse 28 (markandeya.14.28)

एवं महान्ति पापानि दीर्घरोगादिविक्रियाम् । तद्वच्छस्त्राग्निकृच्छ्रार्ति-बन्धनादिफलाय वै॥ 14.28 ॥

evaṁ mahānti pāpāni dīrgharogādivikriyām tadvacchastrāgnikṛcchrārti-bandhanādiphalāya vai

'Thus great sins bring about the disturbance of chronic disease and the like, and likewise yield the fruits of weapons, fire, severe hardship, imprisonment, and so on.'

Verse 29 (markandeya.14.29)

स्वल्पं पुण्यं शुभं गन्धं हेलया सम्प्रयच्छिति । स्पर्श वाप्यथवा शब्दं रसं रूपमथापि वा॥ 14.29 ॥

svalpaṁ puṇyaṁ śubhaṁ gandhaṁ helayā samprayacchiti sparśa vāpyathavā śabdaṁ rasaṁ rūpamathāpi vā

'A small merit easily bestows a pleasant fragrance, or a pleasant touch, sound, taste, or beautiful form.'

Verse 30 (markandeya.14.30)

चिराद् गुरुतरं तद्वन्महान्तमपि कालजम् । एवञ्च सुखदुःखानि पुण्यापुण्योद्भवानि वै॥ 14.30 ॥

cirād gurutaraṁ tadvanmahāntamapi kālajam evañca sukhaduḥkhāni puṇyāpuṇyodbhavāni vai

'In time, that same merit, grown weightier and greater, ripens into its fruit. And thus pleasures and pains, born of merit and demerit...'

Verse 31 (markandeya.14.31)

भुञ्जानोऽनेकसंसार-सम्भवानीह तिष्ठति । जाति देशावरुद्धानि ज्ञानाज्ञानफलानि च॥ 14.31 ॥

bhuñjāno’nekasaṁsāra-sambhavānīha tiṣṭhati jāti deśāvaruddhāni jñānājñānaphalāni ca

'...experiencing them, this soul abides here amid the many conditions born of transmigratory life — bound to particular births and places, together with the fruits both of knowledge and of ignorance.'

Verse 32 (markandeya.14.32)

तिष्णन्ति तत्र युक्तानि लिङ्गमात्रेण चात्मनि । वपुषा मनसा वाचा न कदाचित् क्वचिन्नरः॥ 14.32 ॥

tiṣṇanti tatra yuktāni liṅgamātreṇa cātmani vapuṣā manasā vācā na kadācit kvacinnaraḥ

'These remain fixed there, joined to the self merely as a subtle trace. Never, under any circumstance, does a man...'

Verse 33 (markandeya.14.33)

अकुर्वन् पापकं कर्म पुण्यं वाप्यवतिष्ठते । यद् यत् प्राप्नोति पुरुषो दुःखं सुखमथापि वा॥ 14.33 ॥

akurvan pāpakaṁ karma puṇyaṁ vāpyavatiṣṭhate yad yat prāpnoti puruṣo duḥkhaṁ sukhamathāpi vā

'...remain, through body, mind, or speech, without performing either sinful or meritorious deeds. Whatever suffering or pleasure a man obtains...'

Verse 34 (markandeya.14.34)

प्रभूतमथवा स्वल्पं विक्रियाकारि चेतसः । तावता तस्य पुण्यं वा पापं वाप्यथ चेतरत्॥ 14.34 ॥

prabhūtamathavā svalpaṁ vikriyākāri cetasaḥ tāvatā tasya puṇyaṁ vā pāpaṁ vāpyatha cetarat

'...whether great or small, whatever disturbs the mind — to that same extent is his merit, or sin, or whatever else it may be, worn away.'

Verse 35 (markandeya.14.35)

उपभोगात् क्षयं याति भुज्यमानमिवाशनम् । एवमेते महापापं यातनाभिरहर्निशम्॥ 14.35 ॥

upabhogāt kṣayaṁ yāti bhujyamānamivāśanam evamete mahāpāpaṁ yātanābhiraharniśam

'It wastes away through experience, just as food is consumed as it is eaten. Thus these sinners, through torments day and night, wear away their great sin...'

Verse 36 (markandeya.14.36)

क्षपयन्ति नरा घोरं नरकान्तर्विवर्तिनः । तथैव राजन् ! पुण्यानि स्वर्गलोकेऽमरैः सह॥ 14.36 ॥

kṣapayanti narā ghoraṁ narakāntarvivartinaḥ tathaiva rājan ! puṇyāni svargaloke’maraiḥ saha

'...revolving within the hells. And, O king, just so, the virtuous wear away their merits in the world of heaven, together with the gods...'

Verse 37 (markandeya.14.37)

गन्धर्वसिद्धाप्सरसां गीताद्यैरुपभुञ्जते । देवत्वे मानुषत्वे च तिर्यक्त्वे च शुभाशुभम्॥ 14.37 ॥

gandharvasiddhāpsarasāṁ gītādyairupabhuñjate devatve mānuṣatve ca tiryaktve ca śubhāśubham

'...enjoying the songs and the like of Gandharvas, Siddhas, and Apsarases. And in the state of a god, a human, or a beast, each experiences the good and evil...'

Verse 38 (markandeya.14.38)

पुण्यपापोद्भवं भुङ्क्ते सुखदुःखोपलक्षणम् । यद् त्वं पृच्छसि मां राजन् ! यातनाः पापकर्मिणाम् । केन केनेति पापेन तत् ते वक्ष्याम्यशेषतः॥ 14.38 ॥

puṇyapāpodbhavaṁ bhuṅkte sukhaduḥkhopalakṣaṇam yad tvaṁ pṛcchasi māṁ rājan ! yātanāḥ pāpakarmiṇām kena keneti pāpena tat te vakṣyāmyaśeṣataḥ

'...arisen from merit and sin, marked by pleasure and pain. Now, O king, as to what you ask me — the torments of sinners, caused each by which particular sin — that I shall tell you in full.'

Verse 39 (markandeya.14.39)

दुष्टेन चक्षुषा दृष्टाः परदारा नराधमैः । मानसेन च दुष्टेन परद्रव्यञ्च सस्पृहैः॥ 14.39 ॥

duṣṭena cakṣuṣā dṛṣṭāḥ paradārā narādhamaiḥ mānasena ca duṣṭena paradravyañca saspṛhaiḥ

'Those base men who looked with a lustful eye upon another's wife, and those who, with a corrupted mind, coveted another's wealth...'

Verse 40 (markandeya.14.40)

वज्रतुण्डाः खगास्तेषां हरन्त्येते विलोचने । पुनः पुनश्च सम्भूतिरक्ष्णोरेषां भवत्यथ॥ 14.40 ॥

vajratuṇḍāḥ khagāsteṣāṁ harantyete vilocane punaḥ punaśca sambhūtirakṣṇoreṣāṁ bhavatyatha

'...for these, these thunderbolt-beaked birds tear out their eyes; and then, again and again, fresh eyes grow anew for them.'

Verse 41 (markandeya.14.41)

यावतोऽक्षिनिमेषांस्तु पापमेभिर्नृभिः कृतम् । तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि नेत्रात्ति प्राप्नुवन्त्युत॥ 14.41 ॥

yāvato’kṣinimeṣāṁstu pāpamebhirnṛbhiḥ kṛtam tāvadvarṣasahasrāṇi netrātti prāpnuvantyuta

'For as many blinks of the eye as this sin was committed by these men, for that many thousands of years they undergo this devouring of the eyes.'

Verse 42 (markandeya.14.42)

असच्छास्त्रोपदेशास्तु यैर्दत्ता यैश्च मन्त्रिताः । सम्यग्दृष्टेर्विनाशाय रिपूणामपि मानवैः॥ 14.42 ॥

asacchāstropadeśāstu yairdattā yaiśca mantritāḥ samyagdṛṣṭervināśāya ripūṇāmapi mānavaiḥ

'Those men by whom false teachings were given, and who counseled even their enemies toward the destruction of right understanding...'

Verse 43 (markandeya.14.43)

यैः शास्त्रमन्यथा प्रोक्तं यैरसद्वागुदाहृता । वेददेवद्विजातीनां गुरोर्निन्दा च यैः कृता॥ 14.43 ॥

yaiḥ śāstramanyathā proktaṁ yairasadvāgudāhṛtā vedadevadvijātīnāṁ gurornindā ca yaiḥ kṛtā

'...those by whom scripture was falsely expounded, by whom untrue speech was uttered, and by whom the Veda, the gods, brahmanas, or the guru were reviled...'

Verse 44 (markandeya.14.44)

हरन्ति तेषां जिह्वाश्च जायमानाः पुनः पुनः । तावतो वत्सरानेते वज्रतुण्डाः सदारुणाः॥ 14.44 ॥

haranti teṣāṁ jihvāśca jāyamānāḥ punaḥ punaḥ tāvato vatsarānete vajratuṇḍāḥ sadāruṇāḥ

'...for these, thunderbolt-beaked, ever-dreadful birds tear out their tongues, which grow again and again, for that same span of years.'

Verse 45 (markandeya.14.45)

मित्रभेदं तथा पित्रा पुत्रस्य स्वजनस्य च । याज्योपाध्याययोर्मात्रा सुतस्य सहचारिणः॥ 14.45 ॥

mitrabhedaṁ tathā pitrā putrasya svajanasya ca yājyopādhyāyayormātrā sutasya sahacāriṇaḥ

'Those who sowed discord between father and son, between kinsmen, between sacrificial patron and priest, between teacher and pupil, between mother and son, and between companions...'

Verse 46 (markandeya.14.46)

भार्यापत्योश्च ये केचिद् भेदं चक्रुर्नराधमाः । त हमे पश्य पाट्यन्ते करपत्रेण पार्थिव॥ 14.46 ॥

bhāryāpatyośca ye kecid bhedaṁ cakrurnarādhamāḥ ta hame paśya pāṭyante karapatreṇa pārthiva

'...and whatever base men sowed such division even between wife and husband — behold, O king, all these are here sawn apart with a saw.'

Verse 47 (markandeya.14.47)

परोपतापका ये च ये चाह्लादनिषेधकाः । तालवृन्तानिलस्थान-चन्दनोशीरहारिणः॥ 14.47 ॥

paropatāpakā ye ca ye cāhlādaniṣedhakāḥ tālavṛntānilasthāna-candanośīrahāriṇaḥ

'Those who tormented others, and those who denied others their comforts — who took away the breeze of a fan, a cool resting place, sandalwood, and fragrant khus-root...'

Verse 48 (markandeya.14.48)

प्राणान्तिकं ददुस्तापमदुष्टानाञ्च येऽधमाः । करम्भवालुकासंस्थास्त इमे पापभागिनः॥ 14.48 ॥

prāṇāntikaṁ dadustāpamaduṣṭānāñca ye’dhamāḥ karambhavālukāsaṁsthāsta ime pāpabhāginaḥ

'...and those base men who inflicted fatal torment upon the guiltless — these sinners stand fixed here amid the scalding sand.'

Verse 49 (markandeya.14.49)

भुङ्क्ते श्राद्धन्तु योऽन्यस्य नरोऽन्येन निमन्त्रितः । दैवे वाप्यथवा पित्र्ये स द्विधा कृष्यते खगैः॥ 14.49 ॥

bhuṅkte śrāddhantu yo’nyasya naro’nyena nimantritaḥ daive vāpyathavā pitrye sa dvidhā kṛṣyate khagaiḥ

'The man who, though invited by one person, eats the offering meant for another's rite — whether for the gods or for the ancestors — is torn in two by birds.'

Verse 50 (markandeya.14.50)

मर्माणि यस्तु साधूनामसद्वाग्भिर्निकृन्तति । तमिमे तुदमानास्तु खगास्तिष्ठन्त्यवारिता॥ 14.50 ॥

marmāṇi yastu sādhūnāmasadvāgbhirnikṛntati tamime tudamānāstu khagāstiṣṭhantyavāritā

'Whoever wounds the tender, vital places of good men with false speech — these birds remain there upon him, pecking him without hindrance.'

Verse 51 (markandeya.14.51)

यः करोति च पैशुन्यमन्यवागन्यथामतिः । पाट्यते हि द्विधा जिह्वा तस्येत्थं निशितैः क्षुरैः॥ 14.51 ॥

yaḥ karoti ca paiśunyamanyavāganyathāmatiḥ pāṭyate hi dvidhā jihvā tasyetthaṁ niśitaiḥ kṣuraiḥ

'Whoever practices slander, speaking one thing while his mind holds another — his tongue is thus split in two by sharp razors.'

Verse 52 (markandeya.14.52)

माता-पित्रोर्गुरूणाञ्च येऽवज्ञां चक्रुरुद्धताः । त इमे पूयविण्मूत्र-गर्ते मज्जन्त्यधोमुखाः॥ 14.52 ॥

mātā-pitrorgurūṇāñca ye’vajñāṁ cakruruddhatāḥ ta ime pūyaviṇmūtra-garte majjantyadhomukhāḥ

'Those arrogant ones who showed contempt for mother, father, and teachers sink here head-downward into a pit of pus, excrement, and urine.'

Verse 53 (markandeya.14.53)

देवतातिथिभूतेषु भृत्येष्वभ्यागतेषु च । अभुक्तवत्सु येऽश्नन्ति तद्वत् पित्रग्निपक्षिषु॥ 14.53 ॥

devatātithibhūteṣu bhṛtyeṣvabhyāgateṣu ca abhuktavatsu ye’śnanti tadvat pitragnipakṣiṣu

'Those who eat before the gods, guests, spirits, servants, and visitors have eaten, and likewise before the ancestors, the sacred fire, or the birds have received their portion...'

Verse 54 (markandeya.14.54)

दुष्टास्ते पूयनिर्यास-भुजः सूचीमुखास्तु ते । जायन्ते गिरिवर्ष्माणः पश्यैते यादृशा नराः॥ 14.54 ॥

duṣṭāste pūyaniryāsa-bhujaḥ sūcīmukhāstu te jāyante girivarṣmāṇaḥ paśyaite yādṛśā narāḥ

'...these wicked ones become eaters of pus and filth, needle-mouthed, their bodies the size of mountains — behold what manner of men these are.'

Verse 55 (markandeya.14.55)

एकपङ्क्त्या तु ये विप्रमथवेतरवर्णजम् । विषमं बोजयन्तीह विड्भुजस्त इमे यथा॥ 14.55 ॥

ekapaṅktyā tu ye vipramathavetaravarṇajam viṣamaṁ bojayantīha viḍbhujasta ime yathā

'Those who, seating men in the same row for a meal, serve unequal food to a brahmana or to one of another varna — behold, these here become eaters of excrement.'

Verse 56 (markandeya.14.56)

एकसार्थप्रयातं ये निःस्वमर्थार्थिनं नरम् । अपास्य स्वान्नमश्नन्ति त इमे श्लेष्मभोजिनः॥ 14.56 ॥

ekasārthaprayātaṁ ye niḥsvamarthārthinaṁ naram apāsya svānnamaśnanti ta ime śleṣmabhojinaḥ

'Those who, traveling together in one company, thrust away a penniless man seeking help and eat their own food alone — these here become eaters of phlegm.'

Verse 57 (markandeya.14.57)

गोबाह्मणाग्नयः स्पृष्टा यैरुच्छिष्टैर्नरेश्वर । तेषामेतेऽग्निकुम्भेषु लेलिह्यन्त्याहिताः कराः॥ 14.57 ॥

gobāhmaṇāgnayaḥ spṛṣṭā yairucchiṣṭairnareśvara teṣāmete’gnikumbheṣu lelihyantyāhitāḥ karāḥ

'O lord of men, those who touched a cow, a brahmana, or the sacred fire with unclean, food-soiled hands — their hands are placed in vessels of fire and licked there by flame.'

Verse 58 (markandeya.14.58)

सूर्येन्दुतारका दृष्टा यैरुच्छिष्टैस्तु कामतः । तेषां याम्यैर्नरैर्नेत्रे न्यस्तो वह्निः समेध्यते॥ 14.58 ॥

sūryendutārakā dṛṣṭā yairucchiṣṭaistu kāmataḥ teṣāṁ yāmyairnarairnetre nyasto vahniḥ samedhyate

'Those who, willfully, while still unpurified after eating, gazed upon the sun, moon, or stars — into their eyes Yama's men place fire and make it blaze.'

Verse 59 (markandeya.14.59)

गावोऽग्निर्जननी विप्रोज्येष्ठभ्राता पिता स्वसा । जामयो गुरवो वृद्धा यैः स्पृष्टास्तु पदा नृभिः॥ 14.59 ॥

gāvo’gnirjananī viprojyeṣṭhabhrātā pitā svasā jāmayo guravo vṛddhā yaiḥ spṛṣṭāstu padā nṛbhiḥ

'Cows, fire, one's mother, a brahmana, an elder brother, one's father, a sister, sisters-in-law, teachers, and elders — whichever of these were touched by men with the foot...'

Verse 60 (markandeya.14.60)

बद्धाङ्घ्रयस्ते निगडैलौहैरग्निप्रतापितैः । अङ्गारराशिमध्यस्थास्तिष्ठन्त्याजानुदाहिनः॥ 14.60 ॥

baddhāṅghrayaste nigaḍailauhairagnipratāpitaiḥ aṅgārarāśimadhyasthāstiṣṭhantyājānudāhinaḥ

'...their feet are bound with iron fetters heated red in fire, and they stand amid a heap of burning coals, scorched up to the knees.'

Verse 61 (markandeya.14.61)

पायसं कृशरं छागो देवान्नानि च यानि वै । भुक्तानि यैरसंस्कृत्य तेषां नेत्राणि पापिनाम्॥ 14.61 ॥

pāyasaṁ kṛśaraṁ chāgo devānnāni ca yāni vai bhuktāni yairasaṁskṛtya teṣāṁ netrāṇi pāpinām

'Milk-rice, sesame-rice, goat's meat, and other offerings meant for the gods — those sinners who ate these without the proper prior consecration, their eyes...'

Verse 62 (markandeya.14.62)

निपातितानां भूपृष्ठे उद्वृत्ताक्षि निरीक्षताम् । सन्दंशैः पश्य कृष्यन्ते नरैर्याम्यैर्मुखात् ततः॥ 14.62 ॥

nipātitānāṁ bhūpṛṣṭhe udvṛttākṣi nirīkṣatām sandaṁśaiḥ paśya kṛṣyante narairyāmyairmukhāt tataḥ

'...are thrown down upon the ground, rolled back and staring, and see — they are dragged out by Yama's men with tongs, through the mouth.'

Verse 63 (markandeya.14.63)

गुरु-देव-द्विजातीनां वेदानाञ्च नराधमैः । निन्दा निशामिता यैश्च पापानामभिनन्दताम्॥ 14.63 ॥

guru-deva-dvijātīnāṁ vedānāñca narādhamaiḥ nindā niśāmitā yaiśca pāpānāmabhinandatām

'Those base men who listened to the vilification of guru, gods, brahmanas, or the Vedas, and who took delight in such sinners...'

Verse 64 (markandeya.14.64)

तेषामयोमयान् कीलानग्निवर्षान् पुनः पुनः । कर्णेषु प्रेरयन्त्येते याम्या विलपतामपि॥ 14.64 ॥

teṣāmayomayān kīlānagnivarṣān punaḥ punaḥ karṇeṣu prerayantyete yāmyā vilapatāmapi

'...into their ears these servants of Yama drive iron nails showering fire, again and again, even as they cry out in lamentation.'

Verse 65 (markandeya.14.65)

यैः प्रपा-देवविप्रौको-देवालयसभाः शुभाः । भङ्क्त्वा विध्वंसमानीताः क्रोधलोभानुवर्तिभिः॥ 14.65 ॥

yaiḥ prapā-devaviprauko-devālayasabhāḥ śubhāḥ bhaṅktvā vidhvaṁsamānītāḥ krodhalobhānuvartibhiḥ

'Those who, driven by anger and greed, broke and reduced to ruin water-sheds, temples, brahmanas' dwellings, and other auspicious shrines and assembly-halls...'

Verse 66 (markandeya.14.66)

तेषामेतैः शितैः शस्त्रैर्मुहुर्विलपतां त्वचः । पृथक् कुर्वन्ति वै याम्याः शरीरादतिदारुणाः॥ 14.66 ॥

teṣāmetaiḥ śitaiḥ śastrairmuhurvilapatāṁ tvacaḥ pṛthak kurvanti vai yāmyāḥ śarīrādatidāruṇāḥ

'...these exceedingly fierce servants of Yama, with sharpened weapons, again and again strip the skin from their bodies as they lament.'

Verse 67 (markandeya.14.67)

गोब्राह्मणार्कमार्गेषु येऽवमेहन्ति मानवाः । तेषामेतानि कृष्यन्ते गुदेनान्त्राणि वायसैः॥ 14.67 ॥

gobrāhmaṇārkamārgeṣu ye’vamehanti mānavāḥ teṣāmetāni kṛṣyante gudenāntrāṇi vāyasaiḥ

'Those men who urinate upon the paths of cows, brahmanas, or the sun — their entrails are dragged out through the anus by crows.'

Verse 68 (markandeya.14.68)

दत्त्वा कन्यां च एकस्मै द्वितीयाय प्रयच्छति । स त्वेवं नैकधाच्छिन्नः क्षारनद्यां प्रवाह्यते॥ 14.68 ॥

dattvā kanyāṁ ca ekasmai dvitīyāya prayacchati sa tvevaṁ naikadhācchinnaḥ kṣāranadyāṁ pravāhyate

'He who, having given his daughter to one man, gives her yet again to a second — such a man, cut into many pieces, is swept along in a river of caustic brine.'

Verse 69 (markandeya.14.69)

स्वपोषणपरो यस्तु परित्यजति मानवः । पुत्र-भृत्य-कलत्रादि-बन्धुवर्गमकिञ्चिनम्॥ 14.69 ॥

svapoṣaṇaparo yastu parityajati mānavaḥ putra-bhṛtya-kalatrādi-bandhuvargamakiñcinam

'The man who, intent only on nourishing himself, abandons his destitute dependents — sons, servants, wife, and other kin...'

Verse 70 (markandeya.14.70)

दुर्भिक्षे सम्भ्रमे वापि सोऽप्येवं यमकिङ्करैः । उत्कृत्य दत्तानि मुखे स्वमांसान्यश्नुते क्षुधा॥ 14.70 ॥

durbhikṣe sambhrame vāpi so’pyevaṁ yamakiṅkaraiḥ utkṛtya dattāni mukhe svamāṁsānyaśnute kṣudhā

'...whether in famine or in crisis — such a man, by Yama's servants, has his own flesh cut off and thrust into his mouth, and driven by hunger he eats it.'

Verse 71 (markandeya.14.71)

शरणागतान् यस्त्यजति लोभाद् वृत्त्युपजीविनः । सोऽप्येवं यन्त्रपीडाभिः पीड्यते यमकिङ्करैः॥ 14.71 ॥

śaraṇāgatān yastyajati lobhād vṛttyupajīvinaḥ so’pyevaṁ yantrapīḍābhiḥ pīḍyate yamakiṅkaraiḥ

'He who, out of greed, abandons those who came to him for refuge and depended on him for their livelihood — he too is afflicted, just so, by Yama's servants, with the torments of crushing machines.'

Verse 72 (markandeya.14.72)

सुकृतं ये प्रयच्छन्ति यावज्जन्म कृतं नराः । ते पिष्यन्ते शिलापेषैर्यथैते पापकर्मिणः॥ 14.72 ॥

sukṛtaṁ ye prayacchanti yāvajjanma kṛtaṁ narāḥ te piṣyante śilāpeṣairyathaite pāpakarmiṇaḥ

'Those who, throughout life, give away as their own the good deeds truly performed by another — such sinners are here ground between millstones.'

Verse 73 (markandeya.14.73)

न्यासापहारिणो बद्धाः सर्वगात्रेषु बन्धनैः । कृमिवृश्चिककाकोलैर्भुज्यन्तेऽहर्निशं नराः॥ 14.73 ॥

nyāsāpahāriṇo baddhāḥ sarvagātreṣu bandhanaiḥ kṛmivṛścikakākolairbhujyante’harniśaṁ narāḥ

'Those who embezzle a trust deposit, bound in fetters over their whole bodies, are devoured day and night by worms, scorpions, and ravens.'

Verse 74 (markandeya.14.74)

क्षुत्क्षामास्तृट्पतज्जिह्वा-तालवो वेदनातुराः । दिवामैथुनिनः पापाः परदारभुजश्च ये॥ 14.74 ॥

kṣutkṣāmāstṛṭpatajjihvā-tālavo vedanāturāḥ divāmaithuninaḥ pāpāḥ paradārabhujaśca ye

'Wasted with hunger, their tongues and palates hanging, parched with thirst, tormented with pain — these are the sinners who indulged in union by day, and who enjoyed the wives of others.'

Verse 75 (markandeya.14.75)

तथैव कण्टकैर्देर्घैरायसैः पश्य शाल्मलिम् । आरोपिता विभिन्नाङ्गाः प्रभूतासृक्स्त्रवाविलाः॥ 14.75 ॥

tathaiva kaṇṭakairderghairāyasaiḥ paśya śālmalim āropitā vibhinnāṅgāḥ prabhūtāsṛkstravāvilāḥ

'And see too these hoisted upon the shalmali tree with its long iron thorns, their limbs torn asunder, fouled with streams of flowing blood.'

Verse 76 (markandeya.14.76)

मूषायामपि पश्यैतान् नाश्यमानान् यमानुगैः । पुरुषैः पुरुषाव्याघ्र ! परदारावमर्षिणः॥ 14.76 ॥

mūṣāyāmapi paśyaitān nāśyamānān yamānugaiḥ puruṣaiḥ puruṣāvyāghra ! paradārāvamarṣiṇaḥ

'And see too, O tiger among men, these violators of other men's wives being destroyed in a smelting-crucible by the servants of Yama.'

Verse 77 (markandeya.14.77)

उपाद्यायमधः कृत्वा स्तब्धो योऽध्ययनं नरः । गृह्णाति शिल्पमथवा सोऽप्येवं शिरसा शिलाम्॥ 14.77 ॥

upādyāyamadhaḥ kṛtvā stabdho yo’dhyayanaṁ naraḥ gṛhṇāti śilpamathavā so’pyevaṁ śirasā śilām

'The arrogant man who, belittling his own teacher, takes up learning or a craft — he too, in just this way, bearing a stone upon his head...'

Verse 78 (markandeya.14.78)

बिभ्रत् क्लेशमवाप्नोति जनमार्गेऽतिपीडितः । क्षुत्क्षामोऽहर्निशं भारपीडाव्यथितमस्तकः॥ 14.78 ॥

bibhrat kleśamavāpnoti janamārge’tipīḍitaḥ kṣutkṣāmo’harniśaṁ bhārapīḍāvyathitamastakaḥ

'...suffers affliction bearing it, sorely tormented on the public road, wasted with hunger day and night, his head aching under the weight of the burden.'

Verse 79 (markandeya.14.79)

मूत्र-श्लेष्म-पूरीषाणि यैरुत्सृष्टानि वारिणि । त इमे श्लेष्मविण्मूत्र-दुर्गन्धं नरकं गताः॥ 14.79 ॥

mūtra-śleṣma-pūrīṣāṇi yairutsṛṣṭāni vāriṇi ta ime śleṣmaviṇmūtra-durgandhaṁ narakaṁ gatāḥ

'Those by whom urine, phlegm, or excrement were discharged into water — these have gone to a hell foul with the stench of phlegm, filth, and urine.'

Verse 80 (markandeya.14.80)

परस्परञ्च मांसानि भक्ष्यन्ति क्षुधान्विताः । भुक्तं नातिथ्यविधिना पूर्वमेभैः परस्परम्॥ 14.80 ॥

parasparañca māṁsāni bhakṣyanti kṣudhānvitāḥ bhuktaṁ nātithyavidhinā pūrvamebhaiḥ parasparam

'Driven by hunger, they devour one another's flesh — since, in their former life, they never fed one another according to the proper rites of hospitality.'

Verse 81 (markandeya.14.81)

अपविद्धास्तु यैर्वेदा वहनयश्चाहिताग्निभिः । त इमे शालशृङ्गाग्रात् पात्यन्तेऽधः पुनः पुनः॥ 14.81 ॥

apaviddhāstu yairvedā vahanayaścāhitāgnibhiḥ ta ime śālaśṛṅgāgrāt pātyante’dhaḥ punaḥ punaḥ

'Those who maintained the sacred fires yet abandoned the Vedas and their sacrifices — these are hurled down, again and again, from the top of a sal tree.'

Verse 82 (markandeya.14.82)

पुनर्भूपतयो जीर्णा यावज्जीवन्ति ये नराः । इमे कृमित्वमापन्ना भक्ष्यन्तेऽत्र पिपीलिकैः॥ 14.82 ॥

punarbhūpatayo jīrṇā yāvajjīvanti ye narāḥ ime kṛmitvamāpannā bhakṣyante’tra pipīlikaiḥ

'Those kings who, grown old, cling to their rule as long as they live — these, having become worms, are here devoured by ants.'

Verse 83 (markandeya.14.83)

पतितप्रतिग्रहादानाद्यजनान्नित्यसेवनात् । पाषाणमध्यकीटत्वं नरः सततमश्नुते॥ 14.83 ॥

patitapratigrahādānādyajanānnityasevanāt pāṣāṇamadhyakīṭatvaṁ naraḥ satatamaśnute

'From accepting gifts from a fallen person, from taking such things, and from constantly serving him instead of performing sacrifice, a man perpetually attains the state of a worm within stone.'

Verse 84 (markandeya.14.84)

पश्यतो भृत्यवर्गस्य मित्राणामतिथेस्तथा । एको मिष्टान्नभुग् भुङ्क्ते ज्वलदङ्गारसञ्चयम्॥ 14.84 ॥

paśyato bhṛtyavargasya mitrāṇāmatithestathā eko miṣṭānnabhug bhuṅkte jvaladaṅgārasañcayam

'He who, before the very eyes of his servants, friends, and a guest, eats sweet food alone — he now eats a heap of blazing coals.'

Verse 85 (markandeya.14.85)

वृकैर्भयङ्करैः पृष्ठं नित्यमस्योपभुज्यते । पृष्ठमांसं नृपैतेन यतो लोकस्य भक्षितम्॥ 14.85 ॥

vṛkairbhayaṅkaraiḥ pṛṣṭhaṁ nityamasyopabhujyate pṛṣṭhamāṁsaṁ nṛpaitena yato lokasya bhakṣitam

'O king, his back is continually devoured by terrifying wolves, because it was by this very back — that is, by betrayal from behind — that he consumed the wealth of the people.'

Verse 86 (markandeya.14.86)

अन्धोऽथ बधिरो मूको भ्राम्यतेऽयं क्षुधातुरः । अकृतज्ञोऽधमः पुंसामुपकारेषु वर्तताम्॥ 14.86 ॥

andho’tha badhiro mūko bhrāmyate’yaṁ kṣudhāturaḥ akṛtajño’dhamaḥ puṁsāmupakāreṣu vartatām

'Blind, deaf, and mute, this one wanders about, tormented by hunger — the basest of men, ungrateful even toward those who continually did him good.'

Verse 87 (markandeya.14.87)

अयं कृतघ्रो मित्राणामपकारी सुदुर्मतिः । तत्पकुम्भे निपतति ततो यास्यति पेषणम्॥ 14.87 ॥

ayaṁ kṛtaghro mitrāṇāmapakārī sudurmatiḥ tatpakumbhe nipatati tato yāsyati peṣaṇam

'This utterly wicked man, ungrateful and injurious to his friends, falls into that cauldron, and from there goes on to the grinding.'

Verse 88 (markandeya.14.88)

करम्भवालुकां तस्मात् ततो यन्त्रानपीडनम् । असिपत्रवनं तस्मात् करपत्रेण पाटनम्॥ 14.88 ॥

karambhavālukāṁ tasmāt tato yantrānapīḍanam asipatravanaṁ tasmāt karapatreṇa pāṭanam

'From there to the scalding sand, then from there to the affliction of the crushing machines, then to the forest of sword-leaves, then to being sawn apart with a saw...'

Verse 89 (markandeya.14.89)

कालसूत्रे तथा छेदमनेकाश्चैव यातनाः । प्राप्य निष्कृतिमेतस्मान्न वेद्मि कथमेष्यति॥ 14.89 ॥

kālasūtre tathā chedamanekāścaiva yātanāḥ prāpya niṣkṛtimetasmānna vedmi kathameṣyati

'...and to the cutting in the Kalasutra hell, and to many other torments besides — having incurred these, how he shall ever find release from them, I do not know.'

Verse 90 (markandeya.14.90)

श्राद्धसङ्गतिनो विप्राः समुत्पत्य परस्परम् । दुष्टा हि निःसृतं फेनं सर्वाङ्गेभ्यः पिबन्ति वै॥ 14.90 ॥

śrāddhasaṅgatino viprāḥ samutpatya parasparam duṣṭā hi niḥsṛtaṁ phenaṁ sarvāṅgebhyaḥ pibanti vai

'Wicked brahmanas gathered together at a shraddha rite leap up against one another, and drink the froth that oozes out from one another's limbs.'

Verse 91 (markandeya.14.91)

सुवर्णस्तेयी विप्रघ्रः सुरापी गुरुतल्पगः । अधश्चोर्ध्वञ्च दीप्ताग्नौ दह्यमानाः समन्ततः॥ 14.91 ॥

suvarṇasteyī vipraghraḥ surāpī gurutalpagaḥ adhaścordhvañca dīptāgnau dahyamānāḥ samantataḥ

'The thief of gold, the slayer of a brahmana, the drinker of liquor, and the one who violated the guru's wife — burning below and above and on every side, in blazing fire...'

Verse 92 (markandeya.14.92)

तिष्ठन्त्यब्दसहस्राणि सुबहूनि ततः पुनः । जायन्ते मानवाः कुष्ठ-क्षयरोगादिचिह्नताः॥ 14.92 ॥

tiṣṭhantyabdasahasrāṇi subahūni tataḥ punaḥ jāyante mānavāḥ kuṣṭha-kṣayarogādicihnatāḥ

'...they remain there for many thousands of years, and thereafter are born again as men marked by leprosy, consumption, and other diseases.'

Verse 93 (markandeya.14.93)

मृताः पुनश्च नरकं पुनर्जाताश्च तादृशम् । व्याधिमृच्छन्ति कल्पान्तपरिमाणं नराधिप॥ 14.93 ॥

mṛtāḥ punaśca narakaṁ punarjātāśca tādṛśam vyādhimṛcchanti kalpāntaparimāṇaṁ narādhipa

'O lord of men, dying, they go again to hell, and being reborn in that same condition, they fall again into disease — this continues until the end of the kalpa.'

Verse 94 (markandeya.14.94)

गोघ्रो न्यूरतरं याति नरकेऽथ त्रिजन्मनि । तथोपपातकानाञ्च सर्वेषामिति निश्चयः॥ 14.94 ॥

goghro nyūrataraṁ yāti narake’tha trijanmani tathopapātakānāñca sarveṣāmiti niścayaḥ

'The killer of a cow undergoes a somewhat lesser torment in hell, and is purified within three births; and this is settled as the rule for all the lesser sins as well.'

Verse 95 (markandeya.14.95)

नरकप्रच्युता यानि यैर्यैर्विहितपातकैः । प्रयान्ति योनिजातानि तन्मे निगदतः शृणु॥ 14.95 ॥

narakapracyutā yāni yairyairvihitapātakaiḥ prayānti yonijātāni tanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu

'Hear now from me, as I tell it, into which wombs and births beings, released from hell, pass on according to whatever particular sins each committed.'