The Hells and Dhaneshvara's Deliverance

Verse 1 (padma.6.114.1)

श्रीकृष्णोवाच। ततो धनेश्वरं नीत्वा निरयान्प्रेतपोऽब्रवीत् । प्रदर्शयिष्यंस्तान्सर्वान्यमस्यानुचरस्तदा

śrīkṛṣṇovāca tato dhaneśvaraṁ nītvā nirayānpretapo'bravīt pradarśayiṣyaṁstānsarvānyamasyānucarastadā

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Then, having led Dhaneshvara into the hells, Yama's attendant Pretapa, intending to show him all of them, spoke thus.

Verse 2 (padma.6.114.2)

प्रेतप उवाच। पश्येमान्निरयान्घोरान्धनेश्वर महाभयान् । येषु पापकरा नित्यं पच्यंते यमकिंकरैः

pretapa uvāca paśyemānnirayānghorāndhaneśvara mahābhayān yeṣu pāpakarā nityaṁ pacyaṁte yamakiṁkaraiḥ

Pretapa said: Behold, O Dhaneshvara, these terrible and greatly fearsome hells, in which evildoers are forever cooked by Yama's servants.

Verse 3 (padma.6.114.3)

तप्तवालुकनामायं निरयो घोरदर्शनः । यस्मिन्नेते दग्धदेहाः क्रंदंते पापकारिणः

taptavālukanāmāyaṁ nirayo ghoradarśanaḥ yasminnete dagdhadehāḥ kraṁdaṁte pāpakāriṇaḥ

This hell, terrible to look upon, is named Taptavaluka [Hot Sand]; in it these sinners, their bodies scorched, cry out in anguish.

Verse 4 (padma.6.114.4)

अतिथीन्वैश्वदेवान्ते क्षुत्क्षामानागतान्गृहे । ये नार्चंति नरास्ते हि पच्यंते स्वेन कर्मणा

atithīnvaiśvadevānte kṣutkṣāmānāgatāngṛhe ye nārcaṁti narāste hi pacyaṁte svena karmaṇā

Those who fail to honor the guests who come to their homes hungry and weak at the time of the Vaishvadeva offering are cooked here, by the fruit of their own deed.

Verse 5 (padma.6.114.5)

गुर्वग्निब्राह्मणान्देवांस्तथा मूर्द्धाभिषिक्तकान् । ताडयंति पदा ये वै ते निर्दग्धांघ्रयस्त्विमे

gurvagnibrāhmaṇāndevāṁstathā mūrddhābhiṣiktakān tāḍayaṁti padā ye vai te nirdagdhāṁghrayastvime

Those who kick the guru, the sacred fire, brahmins, the gods, or anointed kings with their foot — it is their feet that are burnt away here.

Verse 6 (padma.6.114.6)

षड्भेदस्त्वेषनिरयो नानापापैः प्रपद्यते । तथैव चांधतामिस्रो द्वितीयो निरयो महान्

ṣaḍbhedastveṣanirayo nānāpāpaiḥ prapadyate tathaiva cāṁdhatāmisro dvitīyo nirayo mahān

This hell has six divisions, into which one falls for various sins. And likewise there is a second great hell, Andhatamisra [Blind Darkness].

Verse 7 (padma.6.114.7)

पश्य सूचीमुखैर्देहो भिद्यते पापकर्मणा । क्रिमिभिर्घोरवक्त्रैश्च तत्संपर्कागमैर्द्विज

paśya sūcīmukhairdeho bhidyate pāpakarmaṇā krimibhirghoravaktraiśca tatsaṁparkāgamairdvija

Behold, O brahmin, how, on account of sinful deeds, the body is pierced by worms with needle-like and dreadful mouths, through mere contact with them.

Verse 8 (padma.6.114.8)

असावपि स्थितः षोढा श्वकाकमृगपक्षिभिः । परमर्मभिदो मर्त्याः पच्यंते तेषु पापिनः

asāvapi sthitaḥ ṣoḍhā śvakākamṛgapakṣibhiḥ paramarmabhido martyāḥ pacyaṁte teṣu pāpinaḥ

This too has six divisions, where mortals who wound others in their vital organs are cooked by dogs, crows, beasts, and birds — these sinners.

Verse 9 (padma.6.114.9)

तृतीयः क्रकचो ह्येष निरयो घोरदर्शनः । यत्रेमे क्रकचैर्मर्त्याः पाट्यंते पापकारिणः

tṛtīyaḥ krakaco hyeṣa nirayo ghoradarśanaḥ yatreme krakacairmartyāḥ pāṭyaṁte pāpakāriṇaḥ

This is the third hell, Krakaca [the Saw], terrible to behold, where these evildoing mortals are sawn apart with saws.

Verse 10 (padma.6.114.10)

असिपत्रवनाद्यैस्तु षट्प्रकारो व्यवस्थितः । पत्नीपुत्रादिभिर्ये वै वियोगं कारयंति हि

asipatravanādyaistu ṣaṭprakāro vyavasthitaḥ patnīputrādibhirye vai viyogaṁ kārayaṁti hi

This too is established in six kinds, with the Forest of Sword-leaves and the rest. Those who bring about separation between wives, sons, and other loved ones —

Verse 11 (padma.6.114.11)

इष्टैरन्यैरपि परान्पच्यंते त इमे नराः । असिपत्रैश्छिद्यमाना छेदभीत्या पलायिताः

iṣṭairanyairapi parānpacyaṁte ta ime narāḥ asipatraiśchidyamānā chedabhītyā palāyitāḥ

— or between others and any of their loved ones, these men are cooked here: cut by the sword-like leaves, fleeing here and there in fear of being cut.

Verse 12 (padma.6.114.12)

पच्यंते पापिनः पश्य क्रंदमाना इतस्ततः । अर्गलाख्यो महाघोरश्चतुर्थो निरयो ह्ययम्

pacyaṁte pāpinaḥ paśya kraṁdamānā itastataḥ argalākhyo mahāghoraścaturtho nirayo hyayam

Behold the sinners, crying out here and there, being cooked. This fourth hell, exceedingly terrible, is named Argala [the Bolt].

Verse 13 (padma.6.114.13)

पश्य नानाविधैः पाशैराबध्य यमकिंकरैः । मुद्गराद्यैर्वध्यमानाः क्रंदंते ते च पापिनः

paśya nānāvidhaiḥ pāśairābadhya yamakiṁkaraiḥ mudgarādyairvadhyamānāḥ kraṁdaṁte te ca pāpinaḥ

Behold, bound with various kinds of nooses by Yama's servants, these sinners cry out as they are beaten with maces and other weapons.

Verse 14 (padma.6.114.14)

सज्जनान्ब्राह्मणाद्यांश्च विरुंधंतीह ये नराः । कंठग्रहाद्यैस्ते पापाः पच्यंते यमकिंकरैः

sajjanānbrāhmaṇādyāṁśca viruṁdhaṁtīha ye narāḥ kaṁṭhagrahādyaiste pāpāḥ pacyaṁte yamakiṁkaraiḥ

Those men who, in this world, hinder good people and brahmins — these sinners are tormented by Yama's servants, seized by the throat and made to suffer in like ways.

Verse 15 (padma.6.114.15)

असावपि हि षड्भेदो वधभेदादिभिः स्थितः । कूटशाल्मलिनामानं निरयं पश्य पंचमम्

asāvapi hi ṣaḍbhedo vadhabhedādibhiḥ sthitaḥ kūṭaśālmalināmānaṁ nirayaṁ paśya paṁcamam

This too has six divisions, according to the different manners of killing. Behold the fifth hell, named Kutashalmali [the False Silk-Cotton Tree].

Verse 16 (padma.6.114.16)

यत्रांगारनिभा एते शाल्मल्याद्याः स्थिता द्विज । यत्र षोढा विपच्यंते यातनाभिरिमे नराः

yatrāṁgāranibhā ete śālmalyādyāḥ sthitā dvija yatra ṣoḍhā vipacyaṁte yātanābhirime narāḥ

There, O brahmin, where these trees — the Shalmali and the rest — stand glowing like embers, these men are tormented through six kinds of punishment.

Verse 17 (padma.6.114.17)

परदारा परद्रव्य परद्रोह रताः सदा । रक्तपूयमिमं पश्य षष्ठं निरयमद्भुतम्

paradārā paradravya paradroha ratāḥ sadā raktapūyamimaṁ paśya ṣaṣṭhaṁ nirayamadbhutam

Those ever given to lusting after others' wives, coveting others' wealth, and doing injury to others — behold this astonishing sixth hell, Raktapuya [Blood and Pus].

Verse 18 (padma.6.114.18)

अधोमुखा विपच्यंते यत्र पापकृतो नराः । अभक्ष्यभक्षका निंदा पैशुन्यादि रता इमे

adhomukhā vipacyaṁte yatra pāpakṛto narāḥ abhakṣyabhakṣakā niṁdā paiśunyādi ratā ime

Where sinful men are tormented head-downward — these who eat what should not be eaten, who slander others, and who are given to backbiting and the like.

Verse 19 (padma.6.114.19)

भज्यमाना वध्यमानाः क्रंदंते भैरवान्स्वरान् । षट्प्रकारैर्विगंधाढ्यैरसावपि च संस्थितः

bhajyamānā vadhyamānāḥ kraṁdaṁte bhairavānsvarān ṣaṭprakārairvigaṁdhāḍhyairasāvapi ca saṁsthitaḥ

Broken and beaten, they cry out with dreadful sounds. This hell too is established in six kinds, filled with foul stench.

Verse 20 (padma.6.114.20)

कुंभीपाकः सप्तमोऽयं निरयो घोरदर्शनः । षोढास्तैलादिभिर्द्रव्यैर्धनेश्वर विलोकय

kuṁbhīpākaḥ saptamo'yaṁ nirayo ghoradarśanaḥ ṣoḍhāstailādibhirdravyairdhaneśvara vilokaya

O Dhaneshvara, behold this seventh hell, terrible to behold — Kumbhipaka, in its six kinds involving oil and other substances.

Verse 21 (padma.6.114.21)

महापातकिनो यत्र क्वथ्यंते यमकिंकरैः । बहून्यब्दसहस्राणि सोन्मज्जननिमज्जनैः

mahāpātakino yatra kvathyaṁte yamakiṁkaraiḥ bahūnyabdasahasrāṇi sonmajjananimajjanaiḥ

Where the great sinners are boiled by Yama's servants for many thousands of years, rising and sinking again and again in the boiling oil.

Verse 22 (padma.6.114.22)

चत्वारिंशन्मितानेतान्द्व्यधिकान्पश्य रौरवान् । अकामात्पातकं शुष्कं कामादार्द्रमुदाहृतम्

catvāriṁśanmitānetāndvyadhikānpaśya rauravān akāmātpātakaṁ śuṣkaṁ kāmādārdramudāhṛtam

Behold these forty-two Rauravas. A sin committed without desire is called "dry"; one committed with desire is called "moist."

Verse 23 (padma.6.114.23)

आर्द्रशुष्कादिभिः पापैर्द्विप्रकारानवस्थितान् । चतुरशीतिसंख्याकैः पृथग्भेदैरवस्थितान्

ārdraśuṣkādibhiḥ pāpairdviprakārānavasthitān caturaśītisaṁkhyākaiḥ pṛthagbhedairavasthitān

According to moist, dry, and other kinds of sin, they are established in two categories — and also, separately, in eighty-four distinct divisions.

Verse 24 (padma.6.114.24)

यत्प्रकीर्णमपांक्तेयं मलिनीकरणं तथा । ज्ञातिभ्रंशकरं तद्वदुपपातकसंज्ञकम्

yatprakīrṇamapāṁkteyaṁ malinīkaraṇaṁ tathā jñātibhraṁśakaraṁ tadvadupapātakasaṁjñakam

That which is minor and scattered, that which excludes one from the company of others, that which defiles, and that which causes loss of one's kin-standing — these are termed "sub-sins" (upapātaka).

Verse 25 (padma.6.114.25)

अतिपापं महापापं सप्तधा पातकं स्मृतम् । एभिः सप्तसु पच्यंते निरयेषु यथाक्रमम्

atipāpaṁ mahāpāpaṁ saptadhā pātakaṁ smṛtam ebhiḥ saptasu pacyaṁte nirayeṣu yathākramam

Sin is reckoned as sevenfold — extreme sin, great sin, and so on. According to these, sinners are cooked in these seven hells, each in its proper order.

Verse 26 (padma.6.114.26)

कार्तिकव्रतिभिर्यस्मात्संसर्गो ह्यभवत्तव । तत्पुण्योपचयादेते निर्हृता निरयाः खलु

kārtikavratibhiryasmātsaṁsargo hyabhavattava tatpuṇyopacayādete nirhṛtā nirayāḥ khalu

But since you had contact with the observers of the Kartika vow, by the accumulation of that very merit, these hells have indeed been withdrawn from you.

Verse 27 (padma.6.114.27)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच। दर्शयित्वेति निरयान्प्रेतपस्तमथाहरत् । धनेश्वरं यक्षलोकं पश्चादासीत्स तत्र हि

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca darśayitveti nirayānpretapastamathāharat dhaneśvaraṁ yakṣalokaṁ paścādāsītsa tatra hi

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Having shown him the hells in this way, Pretapa then brought Dhaneshvara to the world of the Yakshas, and thereafter he dwelt there.

Verse 28 (padma.6.114.28)

धनदस्यानुगः सोऽयं धनयक्षेति स स्मृतः । यदाख्यायाकरोत्तीर्थमयोध्यायां तु गाधिजः

dhanadasyānugaḥ so'yaṁ dhanayakṣeti sa smṛtaḥ yadākhyāyākarottīrthamayodhyāyāṁ tu gādhijaḥ

He became an attendant of Kubera [Dhanada], and came to be known by the name Dhanayaksha; and it was after this name that the son of Gadhi [Vishvamitra] established a sacred tirtha in Ayodhya.

Verse 29 (padma.6.114.29)

एवं प्रभावः खलु कार्तिकोऽयं मुक्तिप्रदो मुक्तिकरश्च यस्मात् । प्रयात्यनेकार्जितपातकोऽपि व्रतस्थसंदर्शनतोऽपि मुक्तिम्

evaṁ prabhāvaḥ khalu kārtiko'yaṁ muktiprado muktikaraśca yasmāt prayātyanekārjitapātako'pi vratasthasaṁdarśanato'pi muktim

Such, indeed, is the power of this Kartika month — bestowing liberation and bringing it about — that even one who has accumulated many sins attains liberation through the mere sight of those established in the vow.