Deliverance from Hell

Verse 1 (shiva.uma.16.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तेषां मूर्धोपरिष्टाद्वै नरकांस्तान् श्रुणुष्व च । मत्तो मुनिवरश्रेष्ठ पच्यन्ते यत्र पापिनः

sanatkumāra uvāca teṣāṁ mūrdhopariṣṭādvai narakāṁstān śruṇuṣva ca matto munivaraśreṣṭha pacyante yatra pāpinaḥ

Sanatkumara said: O best of sages, hear now from me of those hells that lie above those Patalas, where sinners are cooked.

Verse 2 (shiva.uma.16.2)

रौरवः शूकरो रोधस्तालो विवसनस्तथा । महाज्वालस्तप्तकुम्भो लवणोऽपि विलोहितः

rauravaḥ śūkaro rodhastālo vivasanastathā mahājvālastaptakumbho lavaṇo'pi vilohitaḥ

Raurava, Shukara, Rodha, Tala, and Vivasana; Mahajvala, Taptakumbha, and Lavana and Vilohita —

Verse 3 (shiva.uma.16.3)

वैतरणी पूयवहा कृमिशः कृमिभोजनः । असिपत्रवनं घोरं लालाभक्षश्च दारुणः

vaitaraṇī pūyavahā kṛmiśaḥ kṛmibhojanaḥ asipatravanaṁ ghoraṁ lālābhakṣaśca dāruṇaḥ

Vaitarani, Puyavaha, Krimisha, Krimibhojana; the dreadful Asipatravana, and the terrible Lalabhaksha —

Verse 4 (shiva.uma.16.4)

तथा पूयवहः प्रायो वन्हिज्वालो ह्यधःशिराः । सन्दंशः कालसूत्रश्च तमश्चावीचिरोधनः

tathā pūyavahaḥ prāyo vanhijvālo hyadhaḥśirāḥ sandaṁśaḥ kālasūtraśca tamaścāvīcirodhanaḥ

And likewise Puyavaha, Vahnijvala, and Adhahshira; Sandamsha, Kalasutra, Tamas, and Avichirodhana —

Verse 5 (shiva.uma.16.5)

श्वभोजनोऽथ रुष्टश्च महारौरवशाल्मली । इत्याद्या बहवस्तत्र नरका दुःखदायकाः

śvabhojano'tha ruṣṭaśca mahārauravaśālmalī ityādyā bahavastatra narakā duḥkhadāyakāḥ

And Shvabhojana, Rushta, Maharaurava, and Shalmali — these and many other such hells there cause suffering.

Verse 6 (shiva.uma.16.6)

पच्यन्ते तेषु पुरुषाः पापकर्मरतास्तु ये । क्रमाद्वक्ष्ये तु तान् व्यास सावधानतया शृणु

pacyante teṣu puruṣāḥ pāpakarmaratāstu ye kramādvakṣye tu tān vyāsa sāvadhānatayā śṛṇu

In these are cooked those men who were devoted to sinful deeds; O Vyasa, I shall now tell of them in order — listen carefully.

Verse 7 (shiva.uma.16.7)

कूटसाक्ष्यं तु यो वक्ति विना विप्रान् सुरांश्च गाः । सदानृतं वदेद्यस्तु स नरो याति रौरवम्

kūṭasākṣyaṁ tu yo vakti vinā viprān surāṁśca gāḥ sadānṛtaṁ vadedyastu sa naro yāti rauravam

Whoever gives false testimony, or, apart from the protection of brahmins, gods, or cows, constantly speaks falsehood, that man goes to Raurava.

Verse 8 (shiva.uma.16.8)

भ्रूणहा स्वर्णहर्ता च गोरोधी विश्वघातकः । सुरापो ब्रह्महन्ता च परद्रव्यापहारकः

bhrūṇahā svarṇahartā ca gorodhī viśvaghātakaḥ surāpo brahmahantā ca paradravyāpahārakaḥ

The slayer of an embryo, the thief of gold, the obstructor of cows, the betrayer of the whole world, the drinker of liquor, the killer of a brahmin, and the plunderer of another's wealth —

Verse 9 (shiva.uma.16.9)

यस्तत्सङ्गी स वै याति मृतो व्यास गुरोर्वधात् । तप्तकुम्भे स्वसुर्मातुर्गोश्चैव दुहितुस्तथा

yastatsaṅgī sa vai yāti mṛto vyāsa gurorvadhāt taptakumbhe svasurmāturgoścaiva duhitustathā

and whoever keeps company with such a one — he too, O Vyasa, upon death, on account of the sin of killing a guru, or of violating his sister, mother, a cow, or his daughter, goes to the Taptakumbha, the heated-cauldron hell.

Verse 10 (shiva.uma.16.10)

साध्व्या विक्रयकृच्चाथ वार्द्धकी केशविक्रयी । तप्तलोहेषु पच्यन्ते यश्च भक्तं परित्यजेत्

sādhvyā vikrayakṛccātha vārddhakī keśavikrayī taptaloheṣu pacyante yaśca bhaktaṁ parityajet

And whoever traffics in a virtuous woman, the procuress, the seller of hair, and whoever abandons one dependent on him — they are cooked in heated iron.

Verse 11 (shiva.uma.16.11)

अवमन्ता गुरूणां यः पश्चाद्भोक्ता नराधमः । देवदूषयिता चैव देवविक्रयिकश्च यः

avamantā gurūṇāṁ yaḥ paścādbhoktā narādhamaḥ devadūṣayitā caiva devavikrayikaśca yaḥ

The vile man who dishonors his elders and eats before them, and whoever defiles a deity, and whoever traffics in images of the gods —

Verse 12 (shiva.uma.16.12)

अगम्यगामी यश्चान्ते याति सप्तबलं द्विज । चौरो गोघ्नो हि पतितो मर्यादादूषकस्तथा

agamyagāmī yaścānte yāti saptabalaṁ dvija cauro goghno hi patito maryādādūṣakastathā

and whoever engages in forbidden sexual union — he, O twice-born, goes in the end to the hell called Saptabala; likewise the thief, the cow-killer, the outcaste, and the transgressor of moral bounds.

Verse 13 (shiva.uma.16.13)

देवद्विजपितृद्वेष्टा रत्नदूषयिता च यः । स याति कृमिभक्षं वै कृमीनत्ति दुरिष्टिकृत्

devadvijapitṛdveṣṭā ratnadūṣayitā ca yaḥ sa yāti kṛmibhakṣaṁ vai kṛmīnatti duriṣṭikṛt

Whoever hates gods, brahmins, or ancestors, and whoever adulterates gems — he goes to the hell Krimibhaksha; there the performer of malicious sacrificial rites eats worms.

Verse 14 (shiva.uma.16.14)

पितृदेवसुरान् यस्तु पर्यश्नाति नराधमः । लालाभक्षं स यात्यज्ञो यः शास्त्रकूटकृन्नरः

pitṛdevasurān yastu paryaśnāti narādhamaḥ lālābhakṣaṁ sa yātyajño yaḥ śāstrakūṭakṛnnaraḥ

Whatever vile man eats the portion meant for ancestors, gods, and deities before it is offered goes to the hell Lalabhaksha; likewise the ignorant man who falsifies scripture.

Verse 15 (shiva.uma.16.15)

यश्चान्त्यजेन संसेव्यो ह्यसद्ग्राही तु यो द्विजः । अयाज्ययाजकश्चैव तथैवाभक्ष्यभक्षकः

yaścāntyajena saṁsevyo hyasadgrāhī tu yo dvijaḥ ayājyayājakaścaiva tathaivābhakṣyabhakṣakaḥ

Whoever is served by an outcaste, whatever brahmin accepts unworthy gifts, whoever officiates sacrifices for the unfit, and likewise whoever eats forbidden food —

Verse 16 (shiva.uma.16.16)

रुधिरौघे पतन्त्येते सोमविक्रयिणश्च ये । मधुहा ग्रामहा याति क्रूरां वैतरणीं नदीम्

rudhiraughe patantyete somavikrayiṇaśca ye madhuhā grāmahā yāti krūrāṁ vaitaraṇīṁ nadīm

these fall into the hell Rudhiraugha, as do those who traffic in Soma; the destroyer of honey and of a village goes to the cruel river Vaitarani.

Verse 17 (shiva.uma.16.17)

नवयौवनमत्ताश्च मर्यादाभेदिनश्च ये । ते कृम्यं यान्त्यशौचाश्च कुलटाजीविनश्च ये

navayauvanamattāśca maryādābhedinaśca ye te kṛmyaṁ yāntyaśaucāśca kulaṭājīvinaśca ye

Those intoxicated with youthful pride and those who transgress moral boundaries go to the hell Krimya; likewise the impure, and those who live off an unchaste woman.

Verse 18 (shiva.uma.16.18)

असिपत्रवनं याति वृक्षच्छेदी वृथैव यः । क्षुरभ्रका मृगव्याधा वह्निज्वाले पतन्ति ते

asipatravanaṁ yāti vṛkṣacchedī vṛthaiva yaḥ kṣurabhrakā mṛgavyādhā vahnijvāle patanti te

Whoever needlessly cuts down trees goes to Asipatravana; those who deceive with blades and hunters of deer fall into the hell Vahnijvala.

Verse 19 (shiva.uma.16.19)

भ्रष्टाचारो हि यो विप्रः क्षत्रियो वैश्य एव च । यात्यन्ते द्विज तत्रैव यः श्वपाकेषु वह्निदः

bhraṣṭācāro hi yo vipraḥ kṣatriyo vaiśya eva ca yātyante dvija tatraiva yaḥ śvapākeṣu vahnidaḥ

Whatever brahmin, kshatriya, or vaishya has fallen from proper conduct, O twice-born, goes there in the end; likewise whoever sets fire to the dwellings of outcastes.

Verse 20 (shiva.uma.16.20)

व्रतस्य लोपका ये च स्वाश्रमाद्विच्युताश्च ये । सन्दंशयातनामध्ये पतन्ति भृशदारुणे

vratasya lopakā ye ca svāśramādvicyutāśca ye sandaṁśayātanāmadhye patanti bhṛśadāruṇe

Those who break their vows, and those who have fallen from their proper stage of life, fall into the extremely dreadful torment of Sandamsha.

Verse 21 (shiva.uma.16.21)

वीर्यं स्वप्नेषु स्कन्देयुर्ये नरा ब्रह्मचारिणः । पुत्रा नाध्यापिता यैश्च ते पतन्ति श्वभोजने

vīryaṁ svapneṣu skandeyurye narā brahmacāriṇaḥ putrā nādhyāpitā yaiśca te patanti śvabhojane

Those celibate students who neglect the required rite after emitting semen in their dreams, and those fathers by whom their sons were not taught, fall into the hell Shvabhojana.

Verse 22 (shiva.uma.16.22)

एते चान्ये च नरकाः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः । येषु दुष्कृतकर्माणः पच्यन्ते यातनागताः

ete cānye ca narakāḥ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ yeṣu duṣkṛtakarmāṇaḥ pacyante yātanāgatāḥ

Thus these, and hundreds and thousands of other hells besides, exist, in which the doers of evil deeds are cooked, having fallen into torment.

Verse 23 (shiva.uma.16.23)

तथैव पापान्येतानि तथान्यानि सहस्रशः । भुज्यन्ते यानि पुरुषैर्नरकान्तरगोचरैः

tathaiva pāpānyetāni tathānyāni sahasraśaḥ bhujyante yāni puruṣairnarakāntaragocaraiḥ

And likewise these sins, and thousands of others, are experienced by men who fall within the range of the various hells.

Verse 24 (shiva.uma.16.24)

वर्णाश्रमविरुद्धं च कर्म कुर्वन्ति ये नराः । कर्मणा मनसा वाचा निरये तु पतन्ति ते

varṇāśramaviruddhaṁ ca karma kurvanti ye narāḥ karmaṇā manasā vācā niraye tu patanti te

Those men who perform actions contrary to the duties of their varna and ashrama, by deed, mind, or speech, fall into hell.

Verse 25 (shiva.uma.16.25)

अधःशिरोभिर्दृश्यन्ते नारका दिवि दैवतैः । देवानधोमुखान् सर्वानधः पश्यन्ति नारकाः

adhaḥśirobhirdṛśyante nārakā divi daivataiḥ devānadhomukhān sarvānadhaḥ paśyanti nārakāḥ

The denizens of hell are seen head-downward by the gods in heaven; and, in turn, the denizens of hell see all the gods below them, as though with their heads pointed downward.

Verse 26 (shiva.uma.16.26)

स्थावराः कृमयोऽब्जाश्च पक्षिणः पशवो नराः । धार्मिकास्त्रिदशास्तद्वन्मोक्षिणश्च यथाक्रमम्

sthāvarāḥ kṛmayo'bjāśca pakṣiṇaḥ paśavo narāḥ dhārmikāstridaśāstadvanmokṣiṇaśca yathākramam

Stationary beings, worms, aquatic creatures, birds, beasts, men, the righteous, the gods, and, in the same way, the liberated — such is the ascending order, each in due sequence.

Verse 27 (shiva.uma.16.27)

यावन्तो जन्तवः स्वर्गे तावन्तो नरकौकसः । पापकृद्याति नरकं प्रायश्चित्तपराङ्मुखः

yāvanto jantavaḥ svarge tāvanto narakaukasaḥ pāpakṛdyāti narakaṁ prāyaścittaparāṅmukhaḥ

As many creatures as there are in heaven, so many are the denizens of hell; the sinner who turns his face away from atonement goes to hell.

Verse 28 (shiva.uma.16.28)

गुरूणि गुरुभिश्चैव लघूनि लघुभिस्तथा । प्रायश्चित्तानि कालेय मनुः स्वायम्भुवोऽब्रवीत्

gurūṇi gurubhiścaiva laghūni laghubhistathā prāyaścittāni kāleya manuḥ svāyambhuvo'bravīt

Manu Svayambhuva declared that great sins require great atonements, and, likewise, minor sins require minor atonements.

Verse 29 (shiva.uma.16.29)

यानि तेषामशेषाणां कर्माण्युक्तानि तेषु वै । प्रायश्चित्तमशेषेण हरानुस्मरणं परम्

yāni teṣāmaśeṣāṇāṁ karmāṇyuktāni teṣu vai prāyaścittamaśeṣeṇa harānusmaraṇaṁ param

For all these sinful deeds that have been described, the supreme and complete atonement, above all, is the remembrance of Hara.

Verse 30 (shiva.uma.16.30)

प्रायश्चित्तं तु तस्यैकं यस्य पुंसः प्रजायते । कृते पापेऽनुतापोऽपि शिवसंस्मरणं परम्

prāyaścittaṁ tu tasyaikaṁ yasya puṁsaḥ prajāyate kṛte pāpe'nutāpo'pi śivasaṁsmaraṇaṁ param

Indeed, for that man in whom remorse arises after committing sin, there is but one atonement — the remembrance of Shiva, which is supreme.

Verse 31 (shiva.uma.16.31)

माहेश्वरमवाप्नोति मध्याह्नादिषु संस्मरन् । प्रातर्निशि च सन्ध्यायां क्षीणपापो भवेन्नरः

māheśvaramavāpnoti madhyāhnādiṣu saṁsmaran prātarniśi ca sandhyāyāṁ kṣīṇapāpo bhavennaraḥ

Remembering Shiva at midday and other times, and in the morning, at night, and at twilight, a man attains the state of a devotee of Maheshvara, and his sins are destroyed.

Verse 32 (shiva.uma.16.32)

मुक्तिं प्रयाति स्वर्गं वा समस्तक्लेशसङ्क्षयम् । शिवस्य स्मरणादेव तस्य शम्भोरुमापतेः

muktiṁ prayāti svargaṁ vā samastakleśasaṅkṣayam śivasya smaraṇādeva tasya śambhorumāpateḥ

Through the remembrance alone of that Shambhu, the Lord of Uma, a man attains liberation, or heaven, along with the complete destruction of all afflictions.

Verse 33 (shiva.uma.16.33)

पापन्तरायो विप्रेन्द्र जपहोमार्चनादि च । भवत्येव न कुत्रापि त्रैलोक्ये मुनिसत्तम

pāpantarāyo viprendra japahomārcanādi ca bhavatyeva na kutrāpi trailokye munisattama

O foremost of brahmins, O best of sages, sin never becomes an obstacle anywhere in the three worlds to recitation, fire-oblation, worship, and the like directed toward Shiva.

Verse 34 (shiva.uma.16.34)

महेश्वरे मतिर्यस्य जपहोमार्चनादिषु । यत्पुण्यं तत्कृतं तेन देवेन्द्रत्वादिकं फलम्

maheśvare matiryasya japahomārcanādiṣu yatpuṇyaṁ tatkṛtaṁ tena devendratvādikaṁ phalam

Whoever's mind is fixed on Maheshvara in recitation, fire-oblation, worship, and the like — whatever merit is thereby accomplished bears the fruit of the status of Indra among the gods, and the like.

Verse 35 (shiva.uma.16.35)

पुमान्न नरकं याति यः स्मरेद् भक्तितो मुने । अहर्निशं शिवं तस्मात् स क्षीणाशेषपातकः

pumānna narakaṁ yāti yaḥ smared bhaktito mune aharniśaṁ śivaṁ tasmāt sa kṣīṇāśeṣapātakaḥ

O sage, that man who remembers Shiva with devotion, day and night, does not go to hell; on that account his sins are entirely destroyed.

Verse 36 (shiva.uma.16.36)

नरकस्वर्गसंज्ञे वै पापपुण्ये द्विजोत्तम । ययोस्त्वेकं तु दुःखायान्यत्सुखायोद्भवाय च

narakasvargasaṁjñe vai pāpapuṇye dvijottama yayostvekaṁ tu duḥkhāyānyatsukhāyodbhavāya ca

O best of the twice-born, sin and merit are indeed simply named "hell" and "heaven"; of these two, one leads to suffering and the other to the arising of happiness.

Verse 37 (shiva.uma.16.37)

तदेव प्रीतये भूत्वा पुनर्दुःखाय जायते । तत्स्माद्दुःखात्मकं नास्ति न च किञ्चित्सुखात्मकम्

tadeva prītaye bhūtvā punarduḥkhāya jāyate tatsmādduḥkhātmakaṁ nāsti na ca kiñcitsukhātmakam

That very happiness, having become delight, is again born as suffering; therefore nothing whatsoever is purely of the nature of suffering, nor anything purely of the nature of happiness.

Verse 38 (shiva.uma.16.38)

मनसः परिणामोऽयं सुखदुःखोपलक्षणः । ज्ञानमेव परं ब्रह्म ज्ञानं तत्त्वाय कल्पते

manasaḥ pariṇāmo'yaṁ sukhaduḥkhopalakṣaṇaḥ jñānameva paraṁ brahma jñānaṁ tattvāya kalpate

This distinction of pleasure and pain is merely a transformation of the mind; knowledge alone is the supreme Brahman, and knowledge alone is fit for the realization of Truth.

Verse 39 (shiva.uma.16.39)

ज्ञानात्मकमिदं विश्वं सकलं सचराचरम् । परविज्ञानतः किञ्चित् विद्यते न परं मुने

jñānātmakamidaṁ viśvaṁ sakalaṁ sacarācaram paravijñānataḥ kiñcit vidyate na paraṁ mune

This entire universe, moving and unmoving, is of the nature of knowledge; O sage, nothing whatsoever exists that is higher than supreme wisdom.

Verse 40 (shiva.uma.16.40)

एवमेतन्मयाख्यातं सर्वं नरकमण्डलम् । अत ऊर्ध्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि साम्प्रतं मण्डलं भुवः

evametanmayākhyātaṁ sarvaṁ narakamaṇḍalam ata ūrdhvaṁ pravakṣyāmi sāmprataṁ maṇḍalaṁ bhuvaḥ

Thus has this entire circle of hells been declared by me. Henceforth I shall now speak of the circle of the earth.