The Realms of the Pious

Verse 1 (padma.2.69.1)

मातलिरुवाच । अथ धर्माः शिवेनोक्ताः शिवधर्मागमोत्तमाः । ज्ञेया बहुविधास्ते च कर्मयोगप्रभेदतः

mātaliruvāca atha dharmāḥ śivenoktāḥ śivadharmāgamottamāḥ jñeyā bahuvidhāste ca karmayogaprabhedataḥ

Matali said: "Now know the dharmas declared by Shiva, foremost among the scriptures of Shaiva teaching — they are to be understood as manifold, according to the distinctions of the yoga of action."

Verse 2 (padma.2.69.2)

हिंसादिदोषनिर्मुक्ताः क्लेशायासविवर्जिताः । सर्वभूतहिताः शुद्धाः सूक्ष्मायासा महत्फलाः

hiṁsādidoṣanirmuktāḥ kleśāyāsavivarjitāḥ sarvabhūtahitāḥ śuddhāḥ sūkṣmāyāsā mahatphalāḥ

"free from faults such as violence, devoid of affliction and toil, beneficial to all beings, pure, requiring only subtle effort yet yielding great fruit,"

Verse 3 (padma.2.69.3)

अनंतशाखाकलिताः शिवमूलैकसंश्रिताः । ज्ञानध्यानसुपुष्पाढ्याः शिवधर्माः सनातनाः

anaṁtaśākhākalitāḥ śivamūlaikasaṁśritāḥ jñānadhyānasupuṣpāḍhyāḥ śivadharmāḥ sanātanāḥ

"possessed of endless branches, resting solely on Shiva as their root, richly flowering with knowledge and meditation — such are the eternal dharmas of Shiva."

Verse 4 (padma.2.69.4)

धारयंति शिवं यस्माद्धार्यते शिवभाषितैः । शिवधर्माः स्मृतास्तस्मात्संसारार्णवतारकाः

dhārayaṁti śivaṁ yasmāddhāryate śivabhāṣitaiḥ śivadharmāḥ smṛtāstasmātsaṁsārārṇavatārakāḥ

"Because they hold Shiva within them, and are themselves upheld by Shiva's own teachings, they are called the dharmas of Shiva, and they carry one across the ocean of worldly existence."

Verse 5 (padma.2.69.5)

तथाऽहि सा क्षमा सत्यं ह्रीः श्रद्धेन्द्रियसंयमः । दानमिज्यातपोदानं दशकं धर्मसाधनम्

tathā'hi sā kṣamā satyaṁ hrīḥ śraddhendriyasaṁyamaḥ dānamijyātapodānaṁ daśakaṁ dharmasādhanam

"Thus: forbearance, truth, modesty, faith, control of the senses, generosity, sacrifice, austerity, and giving — these form the tenfold means of dharma."

Verse 6 (padma.2.69.6)

अथ व्यस्तैः समस्तैर्वा शिवधर्मैरनुष्ठितैः । शिवैकरस्य संप्राप्तैर्गतिरेकैव कल्पिता

atha vyastaiḥ samastairvā śivadharmairanuṣṭhitaiḥ śivaikarasya saṁprāptairgatirekaiva kalpitā

"Now, whether the dharmas of Shiva are practiced singly or all together, for those who attain them devoted solely to Shiva, a single destiny alone is ordained."

Verse 7 (padma.2.69.7)

यथा भूः सर्वभूतानां स्थानं साधारणं स्मृतम् । तत्तथा शिवभक्तानां तुल्यं शिवपुरंस्मृतम्

yathā bhūḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ sthānaṁ sādhāraṇaṁ smṛtam tattathā śivabhaktānāṁ tulyaṁ śivapuraṁsmṛtam

"Just as the earth is regarded as the shared abode of all beings, so the City of Shiva is regarded as the shared abode of Shiva's devotees."

Verse 8 (padma.2.69.8)

यथेह सर्वभूतानां भोगाः सातिशयाः स्मृताः । नानापुण्यविशेषेण भोगाः शिवपुरे तथा

yatheha sarvabhūtānāṁ bhogāḥ sātiśayāḥ smṛtāḥ nānāpuṇyaviśeṣeṇa bhogāḥ śivapure tathā

"Just as here on earth the enjoyments of all beings vary in degree according to each one's particular merit, so too do the enjoyments in the City of Shiva."

Verse 9 (padma.2.69.9)

शुभाशुभफलं चापि भुज्यते सर्वदेहिभिः । शिवधर्मस्य चैकस्य फलं तत्रोपभुज्यते

śubhāśubhaphalaṁ cāpi bhujyate sarvadehibhiḥ śivadharmasya caikasya phalaṁ tatropabhujyate

"And the fruit of good and evil deeds is experienced by all embodied beings; but there, only the fruit of the single dharma of Shiva is enjoyed."

Verse 10 (padma.2.69.10)

यस्य यादृग्भवेत्पुण्यं श्रद्धापात्रविशेषतः । भोगाः शिवपुरे तस्य ज्ञेयाः सातिशयाः शुभाः

yasya yādṛgbhavetpuṇyaṁ śraddhāpātraviśeṣataḥ bhogāḥ śivapure tasya jñeyāḥ sātiśayāḥ śubhāḥ

"Whatever merit a person has, according to the quality of his faith and the worthiness of its recipient, his enjoyments in the City of Shiva should be known as correspondingly auspicious, in varying measure."

Verse 11 (padma.2.69.11)

स्थानप्राप्तिः परं तुल्या भोगाः शांतिमयाः स्थिताः । कुर्यात्पुण्यं महत्तस्मान्महाभोगजिगीषया

sthānaprāptiḥ paraṁ tulyā bhogāḥ śāṁtimayāḥ sthitāḥ kuryātpuṇyaṁ mahattasmānmahābhogajigīṣayā

"But the attaining of that place is equally shared by all, and the enjoyments there abide full of peace. Therefore, one who desires great enjoyment should perform great merit."

Verse 12 (padma.2.69.12)

सर्वातिशयमेवैकं भावितं च सुरोत्तमैः । आत्मभोगाधिपत्यं स्याच्छिवः सर्वजगत्पतिः

sarvātiśayamevaikaṁ bhāvitaṁ ca surottamaiḥ ātmabhogādhipatyaṁ syācchivaḥ sarvajagatpatiḥ

"That single state surpassing all others, meditated upon even by the greatest of gods, is lordship over one's own bliss — union with Shiva, lord of the entire universe."

Verse 13 (padma.2.69.13)

केचित्तत्रैव मुच्यंते ज्ञानयोगरता नराः । आवर्तंते पुनश्चान्ये संसारे भोगतत्पराः

kecittatraiva mucyaṁte jñānayogaratā narāḥ āvartaṁte punaścānye saṁsāre bhogatatparāḥ

"Some men, devoted to the yoga of knowledge, are liberated right there; others, intent upon enjoyment, return again into the cycle of worldly existence."

Verse 14 (padma.2.69.14)

तस्माद्विमुक्तिमिच्छंस्तु भोगासक्तिं च वर्जयेत् । विरक्तः शांतचित्तात्मा शिवज्ञानमवाप्नुयात्

tasmādvimuktimicchaṁstu bhogāsaktiṁ ca varjayet viraktaḥ śāṁtacittātmā śivajñānamavāpnuyāt

"Therefore, one who desires liberation should give up attachment to enjoyment; dispassionate, with a peaceful mind and self, he attains the knowledge of Shiva."

Verse 15 (padma.2.69.15)

ये चापीशान्यहृदया यजंतीशं प्रसंगतः । तेषामपि ददातीशः स्थानं भावानुरूपतः

ye cāpīśānyahṛdayā yajaṁtīśaṁ prasaṁgataḥ teṣāmapi dadātīśaḥ sthānaṁ bhāvānurūpataḥ

"And even those whose hearts are set on other things, who worship the Lord only incidentally, are granted by the Lord a place suited to their disposition."

Verse 16 (padma.2.69.16)

तत्रार्चयंति ये रुद्रं सकृदुच्छिन्नकल्मषाः । तेषां पिशाचलोकेषु भोगानीशः प्रयच्छति

tatrārcayaṁti ye rudraṁ sakṛducchinnakalmaṣāḥ teṣāṁ piśācalokeṣu bhogānīśaḥ prayacchati

"Those who worship Rudra even once, thereby having their sins cut away, are granted enjoyments by the Lord in the worlds of the pishachas."

Verse 17 (padma.2.69.17)

संतप्ता दुःखभारेण म्रियंते सर्वदेहिनः । अन्नदः पुण्यदः प्रोक्तः प्राणदश्चापि सर्वदः

saṁtaptā duḥkhabhāreṇa mriyaṁte sarvadehinaḥ annadaḥ puṇyadaḥ proktaḥ prāṇadaścāpi sarvadaḥ

"All embodied beings, weighed down by suffering, eventually die. He who gives food is declared to be the giver of merit, the giver of life, and indeed the giver of everything."

Verse 18 (padma.2.69.18)

तस्मादन्नप्रदानेन सर्वदानफलं लभेत् । त्रैलोक्ये यानि रत्नानि भोगस्त्रीवाहनानि च

tasmādannapradānena sarvadānaphalaṁ labhet trailokye yāni ratnāni bhogastrīvāhanāni ca

"Therefore, through the gift of food one obtains the fruit of every gift. Whatever jewels exist in the three worlds, along with enjoyments, women, and conveyances —"

Verse 19 (padma.2.69.19)

अन्नदानप्रदः सर्वमिहामुत्र फलं लभेत् । यस्यान्नपानपुष्टांगः कुरुते पुण्यसंचयम्

annadānapradaḥ sarvamihāmutra phalaṁ labhet yasyānnapānapuṣṭāṁgaḥ kurute puṇyasaṁcayam

"The giver of food obtains all this as fruit, both in this world and the next. He whose body is nourished by food and drink thereby accumulates merit."

Verse 20 (padma.2.69.20)

अन्नप्रदातुस्तस्यार्धं कर्तुश्चार्धं न संशयः । धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां देहः परमसाधनम्

annapradātustasyārdhaṁ kartuścārdhaṁ na saṁśayaḥ dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇāṁ dehaḥ paramasādhanam

"half of that merit goes to the giver of food, and half to the one who acts, there is no doubt. The body is the supreme instrument for dharma, wealth, desire, and liberation."

Verse 21 (padma.2.69.21)

स्थितिस्तस्यान्नपानाभ्यामतस्तत्सर्वसाधनम् । अन्नं प्रजापतिः साक्षादन्नं विष्णुः शिवः स्वयम्

sthitistasyānnapānābhyāmatastatsarvasādhanam annaṁ prajāpatiḥ sākṣādannaṁ viṣṇuḥ śivaḥ svayam

"and its sustenance depends on food and drink; therefore food and drink are the means to everything. Food is Prajapati himself, food is Vishnu, food is Shiva himself."

Verse 22 (padma.2.69.22)

तस्मादन्नसमं दानं न भूतं न भविष्यति । त्रयाणामपि लोकानामुदकं जीवनं स्मृतम्

tasmādannasamaṁ dānaṁ na bhūtaṁ na bhaviṣyati trayāṇāmapi lokānāmudakaṁ jīvanaṁ smṛtam

"Therefore, no gift equal to food has ever existed, nor will exist. Water is remembered as the very life of all three worlds."

Verse 23 (padma.2.69.23)

पवित्रमुदकं दिव्यं शुद्धं सर्वरसायनम् । अन्नपानाश्व गो वस्त्र शय्या सूत्रासनानि च

pavitramudakaṁ divyaṁ śuddhaṁ sarvarasāyanam annapānāśva go vastra śayyā sūtrāsanāni ca

"Water is sacred, divine, pure, the very essence of all things. Food and drink, horses, cows, garments, a bed, a sacred thread, and a seat —"

Verse 24 (padma.2.69.24)

प्रेतलोके प्रशस्तानि दानान्यष्टौ विशेषतः । एवं दानविशेषेण धर्मराजपुरं नरः

pretaloke praśastāni dānānyaṣṭau viśeṣataḥ evaṁ dānaviśeṣeṇa dharmarājapuraṁ naraḥ

"these eight gifts are especially praised in the world of departed spirits. By such particular gifts, a man reaches the city of Dharmaraja"

Verse 25 (padma.2.69.25)

यस्माद्याति सुखेनैव तस्माद्धर्मं समाचरेत् । ये पुनः क्रूरकर्माणः पापादानविवर्जिताः

yasmādyāti sukhenaiva tasmāddharmaṁ samācaret ye punaḥ krūrakarmāṇaḥ pāpādānavivarjitāḥ

"reaches it in comfort; therefore one should practice dharma. But those, by contrast, who are cruel of deed, devoid of giving, and sinful —"

Verse 26 (padma.2.69.26)

भुंजते दारुणं दुःखं नरके नृपनंदन । तथा सुखं प्रभुंजंति दानकर्तार एव तु

bhuṁjate dāruṇaṁ duḥkhaṁ narake nṛpanaṁdana tathā sukhaṁ prabhuṁjaṁti dānakartāra eva tu

"they experience terrible suffering in hell, O prince. But those who are givers of gifts, they alone experience happiness."

Verse 27 (padma.2.69.27)

तेषां तु संभवेत्सौख्यं कर्मयोगरतात्मनाम् । अप्रमेयगुणैर्दिव्यैर्विमानैः सर्वकामकैः

teṣāṁ tu saṁbhavetsaukhyaṁ karmayogaratātmanām aprameyaguṇairdivyairvimānaiḥ sarvakāmakaiḥ

"For those souls devoted to the yoga of righteous action, happiness arises — through immeasurable divine qualities, through celestial chariots that fulfill every desire,"

Verse 28 (padma.2.69.28)

असंख्यैस्तत्पुरं व्याप्तं प्राणिनामुपकारकैः । सहस्रसोमदिव्यं वा सूर्यतेजः समप्रभम्

asaṁkhyaistatpuraṁ vyāptaṁ prāṇināmupakārakaiḥ sahasrasomadivyaṁ vā sūryatejaḥ samaprabham

"and that city, filled with countless such chariots beneficial to all beings, shines like a thousand divine moons, or with a splendor equal to the sun."

Verse 29 (padma.2.69.29)

रुद्रलोकमिति प्रोक्तमशेषगुणसंयुतम् । सर्वेषां शिवभक्तानां तत्पुरं परिकीर्तितम्

rudralokamiti proktamaśeṣaguṇasaṁyutam sarveṣāṁ śivabhaktānāṁ tatpuraṁ parikīrtitam

"That is declared to be Rudraloka, complete with every quality without exception; that city is proclaimed to belong to all devotees of Shiva."

Verse 30 (padma.2.69.30)

रुद्रक्षेत्रे मृतानां च जंगमस्थावरात्मनाम् । अप्येकदिवसं भक्त्या यः पूजयति शंकरम्

rudrakṣetre mṛtānāṁ ca jaṁgamasthāvarātmanām apyekadivasaṁ bhaktyā yaḥ pūjayati śaṁkaram

"For those who die within a sacred field of Rudra — whether moving beings or unmoving like trees — this reward comes; and whoever worships Shankara with devotion, even for a single day,"

Verse 31 (padma.2.69.31)

सोपि याति शिवस्थानं किं पुनर्बहुशोर्चयन् । वैष्णवा विष्णुभक्ताश्च विष्णुध्यानपरायणाः

sopi yāti śivasthānaṁ kiṁ punarbahuśorcayan vaiṣṇavā viṣṇubhaktāśca viṣṇudhyānaparāyaṇāḥ

"he too attains the abode of Shiva; how much more so one who worships repeatedly! Vaishnavas, devotees of Vishnu, intent upon meditation on Vishnu —"

Verse 32 (padma.2.69.32)

तेपि गच्छंति वैकुंठे समीपं देवचक्रिणः । ब्रह्मवादी च धर्मात्मा ब्रह्मलोकं प्रयाति सः

tepi gacchaṁti vaikuṁṭhe samīpaṁ devacakriṇaḥ brahmavādī ca dharmātmā brahmalokaṁ prayāti saḥ

"they too go to Vaikuntha, into the presence of the disc-bearing god. And whoever expounds Brahman, being righteous of soul, goes to Brahmaloka."

Verse 33 (padma.2.69.33)

पुण्यकर्ता सुपुण्येन पुण्यलोकं प्रयाति च । तस्मादीशे सदा भक्तिं भावयेदात्मनात्मनि

puṇyakartā supuṇyena puṇyalokaṁ prayāti ca tasmādīśe sadā bhaktiṁ bhāvayedātmanātmani

"The doer of meritorious deeds goes, through his great merit, to the world of the meritorious. Therefore one should always cultivate devotion to the Lord within one's own self."

Verse 34 (padma.2.69.34)

हरौ वापि महाराज युक्तात्मा ज्ञानवान्स्वयम् । तस्मात्सर्वविचारेण भावदोषविचारतः

harau vāpi mahārāja yuktātmā jñānavānsvayam tasmātsarvavicāreṇa bhāvadoṣavicārataḥ

"or toward Hari, O great king, being oneself disciplined in spirit and possessed of knowledge. Therefore, through complete reflection and by examining the faults of one's own disposition,"

Verse 35 (padma.2.69.35)

एवं विष्णुप्रभावेण विशिष्टेनापि कर्मणा । नरः स्थानमवाप्येतदेशभावानुरूपतः

evaṁ viṣṇuprabhāveṇa viśiṣṭenāpi karmaṇā naraḥ sthānamavāpyetadeśabhāvānurūpataḥ

"thus, through the power of Vishnu, and also through distinguished action, a man attains this state, according to the disposition proper to him."

Verse 36 (padma.2.69.36)

इत्येतदपरं प्रोक्तं श्रीमच्छिवपुरं महत् । देहिनां कर्मनिष्ठानां पुनरावर्त्तकं स्मृतम्

ityetadaparaṁ proktaṁ śrīmacchivapuraṁ mahat dehināṁ karmaniṣṭhānāṁ punarāvarttakaṁ smṛtam

"Thus has this other great and glorious City of Shiva been described. For embodied beings devoted only to ritual action, it is remembered as a place from which one returns again to rebirth."

Verse 37 (padma.2.69.37)

ऊर्ध्वं शिवपुराज्ज्ञेयं वैष्णवं लोकमुत्तमम् । वैष्णवा मानवा यांति विष्णुध्यानपरायणाः

ūrdhvaṁ śivapurājjñeyaṁ vaiṣṇavaṁ lokamuttamam vaiṣṇavā mānavā yāṁti viṣṇudhyānaparāyaṇāḥ

"Above the City of Shiva is to be known the supreme world of Vishnu; Vaishnava men, intent on meditation upon Vishnu, go there."

Verse 38 (padma.2.69.38)

ब्राह्मणा ब्रह्मलोकं तु सदाचारा नरोत्तमाः । प्रयांति यज्विनः सर्वे पुरीं तां तत्त्वकोविदाः

brāhmaṇā brahmalokaṁ tu sadācārā narottamāḥ prayāṁti yajvinaḥ sarve purīṁ tāṁ tattvakovidāḥ

"Brahmins of good conduct, the best of men, go to Brahmaloka; all those devoted to sacrifice, who are learned in ultimate truth, attain that same city."

Verse 39 (padma.2.69.39)

ऐंद्रं लोकं तथा यांति क्षत्रिया युद्धशालिनः । अन्ये च पुण्यकर्त्तारः पुण्यलोकान्प्रयांति ते

aiṁdraṁ lokaṁ tathā yāṁti kṣatriyā yuddhaśālinaḥ anye ca puṇyakarttāraḥ puṇyalokānprayāṁti te

"Likewise, kshatriyas skilled in warfare go to the world of Indra; and other doers of meritorious deeds attain the worlds appropriate to their merit."