Description of the Hell Realms

Verse 1 (shiva.uma.8.1)

चित्रगुप्त उवाच । भो भो दुष्कृतकर्माणः परद्रव्यापहारकाः । गर्विता रूपवीर्येण परदारावमर्दकाः

citragupta uvāca bho bho duṣkṛtakarmāṇaḥ paradravyāpahārakāḥ garvitā rūpavīryeṇa paradārāvamardakāḥ

Chitragupta said: Ho, you evildoers, you seizers of others' property! You who, proud of your beauty and strength, violated the wives of others!

Verse 2 (shiva.uma.8.2)

यत् स्वयं क्रियते कर्म तदिदं भुज्यते पुनः । तत्किमात्मोपघातार्थं भवद्भिर्दुष्कृतं कृतम्

yat svayaṁ kriyate karma tadidaṁ bhujyate punaḥ tatkimātmopaghātārthaṁ bhavadbhirduṣkṛtaṁ kṛtam

Whatever deed one performs oneself, that very deed must be experienced again. Why then did you commit evil deeds for the sake of your own destruction?

Verse 3 (shiva.uma.8.3)

इदानीं किं प्रलप्यध्वं पीड्यमानाः स्वकर्मभिः । भुज्यन्तां स्वानि कर्माणि नास्ति दोषो हि कस्यचित्

idānīṁ kiṁ pralapyadhvaṁ pīḍyamānāḥ svakarmabhiḥ bhujyantāṁ svāni karmāṇi nāsti doṣo hi kasyacit

Now, being tormented by your own deeds, what is there to lament? Let your own deeds be experienced — indeed, it is no one else's fault.

Verse 4 (shiva.uma.8.4)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एवं ते पृथिवीपालाः सम्प्राप्तास्तत्समीपतः । स्वकीयैः कर्मभिघौरैर्दुष्कर्मबलदर्पिणः

sanatkumāra uvāca evaṁ te pṛthivīpālāḥ samprāptāstatsamīpataḥ svakīyaiḥ karmabhighaurairduṣkarmabaladarpiṇaḥ

Sanatkumara said: Thus those rulers of the earth, who through their own terrible deeds had been proud of the power of their misdeeds, arrived in his presence.

Verse 5 (shiva.uma.8.5)

तानपि क्रोधसंयुक्तश्चित्रगुप्तो महाप्रभुः । संशिक्षयति धर्मज्ञो यमराजानुशिक्षया

tānapi krodhasaṁyuktaścitragupto mahāprabhuḥ saṁśikṣayati dharmajño yamarājānuśikṣayā

Chitragupta, the great lord, filled with wrath, knowing dharma, instructs even them, following the guidance of King Yama.

Verse 6 (shiva.uma.8.6)

चित्रगुप्त उवाच । भो भो नृपा दुराचाराः प्रजाविध्वंसकारिणः । अल्पकालस्य राज्यस्य कृते किं दुष्कृतं कृतम्

citragupta uvāca bho bho nṛpā durācārāḥ prajāvidhvaṁsakāriṇaḥ alpakālasya rājyasya kṛte kiṁ duṣkṛtaṁ kṛtam

Chitragupta said: Ho, you kings of evil conduct, destroyers of your subjects! For the sake of a kingdom of but brief duration, why did you commit such evil deeds?

Verse 7 (shiva.uma.8.7)

राज्यभोगेन मोहेन बलादन्यायतः प्रजाः । यद्दण्डिताः फलं तस्य भुज्यतामधुना नृपाः

rājyabhogena mohena balādanyāyataḥ prajāḥ yaddaṇḍitāḥ phalaṁ tasya bhujyatāmadhunā nṛpāḥ

By the enjoyment of your kingdom, through delusion, you unjustly punished your subjects by force; now, O kings, experience the fruit of that.

Verse 8 (shiva.uma.8.8)

क्व तद्राज्यं कलत्रं च यदर्थमशुभं कृतम् । तत्सर्वं सम्परित्यज्य यूयमेकाकिनः स्थिताः

kva tadrājyaṁ kalatraṁ ca yadarthamaśubhaṁ kṛtam tatsarvaṁ samparityajya yūyamekākinaḥ sthitāḥ

Where now is that kingdom, and that wife, for whose sake you committed evil? Having abandoned all of that, you now stand utterly alone.

Verse 9 (shiva.uma.8.9)

पश्यामि तद्बलं नष्टं येन विध्वंसिताः प्रजाः । यमदूतैर्योज्यमाना अधुना कीदृशं भवेत्

paśyāmi tadbalaṁ naṣṭaṁ yena vidhvaṁsitāḥ prajāḥ yamadūtairyojyamānā adhunā kīdṛśaṁ bhavet

I see that power, by which your subjects were destroyed, now itself destroyed. Now, harnessed by the messengers of Yama, what will become of you?

Verse 10 (shiva.uma.8.10)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एवं बहुविधैर्वाक्यैरुपलब्धा यमेन ते । स्वानि कर्माणि शोचन्ति तूष्णीं तिष्ठन्ति पार्थिवाः

sanatkumāra uvāca evaṁ bahuvidhairvākyairupalabdhā yamena te svāni karmāṇi śocanti tūṣṇīṁ tiṣṭhanti pārthivāḥ

Sanatkumara said: Thus rebuked by Yama with many kinds of words, those kings grieve over their own deeds and stand there in silence.

Verse 11 (shiva.uma.8.11)

इति कर्म समुद्दिश्य नृपाणां धर्मराड् यमः । तत्पापपङ्कशुद्ध्यर्थमिदं दूतान् ब्रवीति च

iti karma samuddiśya nṛpāṇāṁ dharmarāḍ yamaḥ tatpāpapaṅkaśuddhyarthamidaṁ dūtān bravīti ca

Thus, having pointed out the deeds of the kings, Dharmaraja Yama, for the purpose of cleansing them of the mire of that sin, speaks this to his messengers.

Verse 12 (shiva.uma.8.12)

यमराज उवाच । भो भोश्चण्ड महाचण्ड गृहीत्वा नृपतीन्बलात् । नियमेन विशुद्यध्वं क्रमेण नरकाग्निषु

yamarāja uvāca bho bhoścaṇḍa mahācaṇḍa gṛhītvā nṛpatīnbalāt niyamena viśudyadhvaṁ krameṇa narakāgniṣu

King Yama said: Ho, Chanda, Mahachanda! Having forcibly seized these kings, purify them in due order, according to rule, in the fires of hell.

Verse 13 (shiva.uma.8.13)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततः शीघ्रं समादाय नृपान् सङ्गृह्य पादयोः । भ्रामयित्वा तु वेगेन निक्षिप्योर्ध्वं प्रगृह्य च

sanatkumāra uvāca tataḥ śīghraṁ samādāya nṛpān saṅgṛhya pādayoḥ bhrāmayitvā tu vegena nikṣipyordhvaṁ pragṛhya ca

Sanatkumara said: Then, swiftly seizing the kings and grasping them by the feet, whirling them about with force, and hurling them upward, having gripped them —

Verse 14 (shiva.uma.8.14)

सर्वप्रायेण महतातीव तप्ते शिलातले । आस्फालयन्ति तरसा वज्रेणेव महाद्रुमान्

sarvaprāyeṇa mahatātīva tapte śilātale āsphālayanti tarasā vajreṇeva mahādrumān

— they dash them down with great force upon a vast, exceedingly heated stone floor, as thunderbolts might strike down great trees.

Verse 15 (shiva.uma.8.15)

ततः स रक्तं श्रोत्रेण स्रवते जर्जरीकृतः । निःसंज्ञः स तदा देही निश्चेष्टः सम्प्रजायते

tataḥ sa raktaṁ śrotreṇa sravate jarjarīkṛtaḥ niḥsaṁjñaḥ sa tadā dehī niśceṣṭaḥ samprajāyate

Then, shattered, that being bleeds from his ears; he becomes unconscious and motionless.

Verse 16 (shiva.uma.8.16)

ततः स वायुना स्पृष्टः स तैरुज्जीवितः पुनः । ततः पापविशुद्ध्यर्थं क्षिपन्ति नरकार्णवे

tataḥ sa vāyunā spṛṣṭaḥ sa tairujjīvitaḥ punaḥ tataḥ pāpaviśuddhyarthaṁ kṣipanti narakārṇave

Then, touched by the wind, he is revived by them once more; and then, for the purpose of purifying his sin, they cast him into the ocean of hell.

Verse 17 (shiva.uma.8.17)

अष्टाविंशतिसङ्ख्याभिः क्षित्यधः सप्तकोटयः । सप्तमस्य तलस्यान्ते घोरे तमसि संस्थितः

aṣṭāviṁśatisaṅkhyābhiḥ kṣityadhaḥ saptakoṭayaḥ saptamasya talasyānte ghore tamasi saṁsthitaḥ

Below the earth are seven nether regions, divided into twenty-eight parts; at the end of the seventh region, situated in dreadful darkness —

Verse 18 (shiva.uma.8.18)

घोराख्या प्रथमा कोटिः सुघोरा तदधः स्थिता । अतिघोरा महाघोरा घोररूपा च पञ्चमी

ghorākhyā prathamā koṭiḥ sughorā tadadhaḥ sthitā atighorā mahāghorā ghorarūpā ca pañcamī

— the first is named Ghora ('Dreadful'); below it lies Sughora ('Very Dreadful'); then Atighora, Mahaghora, and the fifth, Ghorarupa.

Verse 19 (shiva.uma.8.19)

षष्ठी तलातलाख्या च सप्तमी च भयानका । अष्टमी कालरात्रिश्च नवमी च भयोत्कटा

ṣaṣṭhī talātalākhyā ca saptamī ca bhayānakā aṣṭamī kālarātriśca navamī ca bhayotkaṭā

The sixth is named Talatala; the seventh, Bhayanaka; the eighth, Kalaratri; and the ninth, Bhayotkata.

Verse 20 (shiva.uma.8.20)

दशमी तदधश्चण्डा महाचण्डा ततोऽप्यधः । चण्डकोलाहला चान्या प्रचण्डा चण्डनायिका

daśamī tadadhaścaṇḍā mahācaṇḍā tato'pyadhaḥ caṇḍakolāhalā cānyā pracaṇḍā caṇḍanāyikā

The tenth is Chanda; below that, Mahachanda; below even that, another named Chandakolahala; then Prachanda, and Chandanayika.

Verse 21 (shiva.uma.8.21)

पद्मा पद्मावती भीता भीमा भीषणनायिका । कराला विकराला च वज्रा विंशतिमा स्मृता

padmā padmāvatī bhītā bhīmā bhīṣaṇanāyikā karālā vikarālā ca vajrā viṁśatimā smṛtā

Padma, Padmavati, Bhita, Bhima, Bhishananayika, Karala, Vikarala — and Vajra is remembered as the twentieth.

Verse 22 (shiva.uma.8.22)

त्रिकोणा पञ्चकोणा च सुदीर्घा चाखिलार्तिदा । समा भीमबलाभोग्रा दीप्तप्रायेति चाष्टमी

trikoṇā pañcakoṇā ca sudīrghā cākhilārtidā samā bhīmabalābhogrā dīptaprāyeti cāṣṭamī

Trikona, Pancakona, Sudirgha, Akhilartida; Sama, Bhimabalabhogra — and Diptapraya is the twenty-eighth.

Verse 23 (shiva.uma.8.23)

इति ते नामतः प्रोक्ता घोरा नरककोटयः । अष्टाविंशतिरेवैताः पापानां यातनात्मिकाः

iti te nāmataḥ proktā ghorā narakakoṭayaḥ aṣṭāviṁśatirevaitāḥ pāpānāṁ yātanātmikāḥ

Thus these dreadful hell-regions have been named. These very twenty-eight are of the nature of torment for sinners.

Verse 24 (shiva.uma.8.24)

तासां क्रमेण विज्ञेयाः पञ्च पञ्चैव नायकाः । प्रत्येकं सर्वकोटीनां नामतः सन्निबोधत

tāsāṁ krameṇa vijñeyāḥ pañca pañcaiva nāyakāḥ pratyekaṁ sarvakoṭīnāṁ nāmataḥ sannibodhata

Of these, one should know, in order, the five presiding hells belonging to each and every region; now hear the names of them all.

Verse 25 (shiva.uma.8.25)

रौरवः प्रथमस्तेषां रुदन्ते यत्र देहिनः । महारौरवपीडाभिर्महान्तोऽपि रुदन्ति च

rauravaḥ prathamasteṣāṁ rudante yatra dehinaḥ mahārauravapīḍābhirmahānto'pi rudanti ca

Raurava is the first among them, where embodied beings weep; by the torments of Maharaurava, even the mighty weep.

Verse 26 (shiva.uma.8.26)

ततः शीतं तथा चोष्णं पञ्चाद्या नायकाः स्मृताः । सुघोरः सुमहातीक्ष्णस्तथा सञ्जीवनः स्मृतः

tataḥ śītaṁ tathā coṣṇaṁ pañcādyā nāyakāḥ smṛtāḥ sughoraḥ sumahātīkṣṇastathā sañjīvanaḥ smṛtaḥ

Then Shita ('Cold') and Ushna ('Hot') are counted among these presiding hells; and Sughora, Sumahatikshna, and Sanjivana are also named.

Verse 27 (shiva.uma.8.27)

महातमो विलोमश्च विलोपश्चापि कण्टकः । तीव्रवेगः करालश्च विकरालः प्रकम्पनः

mahātamo vilomaśca vilopaścāpi kaṇṭakaḥ tīvravegaḥ karālaśca vikarālaḥ prakampanaḥ

Mahatamas, Viloma, Vilopa, Kantaka; Tivravega, Karala, Vikarala, Prakampana —

Verse 28 (shiva.uma.8.28)

महावक्रश्च कालश्च कालसूत्रः प्रगर्जनः । सूचीमुखः सुनेतिश्च खादकः सुप्रपीडनः

mahāvakraśca kālaśca kālasūtraḥ pragarjanaḥ sūcīmukhaḥ sunetiśca khādakaḥ suprapīḍanaḥ

Mahavakra, Kala, Kalasutra, Pragarjana; Suchimukha, Suneti, Khadaka, Suprapidana —

Verse 29 (shiva.uma.8.29)

कुम्भीपाकसुपाकौ च क्रकचश्चातिदारुणः । अङ्गारराशिभवनं मेदोऽसृक्प्रहितस्ततः

kumbhīpākasupākau ca krakacaścātidāruṇaḥ aṅgārarāśibhavanaṁ medo'sṛkprahitastataḥ

Kumbhipaka and Supaka; the most terrible Krakacha; the dwelling made of a heap of embers; and the hell where one is cast amid fat and blood —

Verse 30 (shiva.uma.8.30)

तीक्ष्णतुण्डश्च शकुनिर्महासंवर्तकः क्रतुः । तप्तजन्तुः पङ्कलेपः प्रतिमांसस्त्रपूद्भवः

tīkṣṇatuṇḍaśca śakunirmahāsaṁvartakaḥ kratuḥ taptajantuḥ paṅkalepaḥ pratimāṁsastrapūdbhavaḥ

Tikshnatunda-Shakuni, Mahasamvartaka, Kratu; Taptajantu, Pankalepa, Pratimamsa, Trapubhava —

Verse 31 (shiva.uma.8.31)

उच्छ्वासः सुनिरुच्छ्वासो सुदीर्घः कूटशाल्मलिः । दुरिष्टः सुमहावादः प्रवाहः सुप्रतापनः

ucchvāsaḥ sunirucchvāso sudīrghaḥ kūṭaśālmaliḥ duriṣṭaḥ sumahāvādaḥ pravāhaḥ supratāpanaḥ

Ucchvasa, Suniruccvasa, Sudirgha, Kutashalmali; Durishta, Sumahavada, Pravaha, Supratapana —

Verse 32 (shiva.uma.8.32)

ततो मेघो वृषः शाल्मः सिंहव्याघ्रगजाननाः । श्वसूकराजमहिषघूककोकवृकाननाः

tato megho vṛṣaḥ śālmaḥ siṁhavyāghragajānanāḥ śvasūkarājamahiṣaghūkakokavṛkānanāḥ

Then Megha, Vrisha, Shalma; hells with the faces of lion, tiger, and elephant; and those with the faces of dog, boar, goat, buffalo, owl, wolf, and jackal —

Verse 33 (shiva.uma.8.33)

ग्राहकुम्भीननक्राख्याः सर्पकूर्माख्यवायसाः । गृध्रोलूकहलौकाख्याः शार्दूलक्रथकर्कटाः

grāhakumbhīnanakrākhyāḥ sarpakūrmākhyavāyasāḥ gṛdhrolūkahalaukākhyāḥ śārdūlakrathakarkaṭāḥ

Those named Graha, Kumbhi, Nakra; those named Sarpa, Kurma, Vayasa; those named Gridhra, Uluka, Jalauka; Shardula, Kratha, Karkata —

Verse 34 (shiva.uma.8.34)

मण्डूकः पूतिवक्त्राश्च रक्ताक्षः पूतिमृत्तिकाः । कणधूम्रस्तथाग्निश्च कृमिगन्धिवपुस्तथा

maṇḍūkaḥ pūtivaktrāśca raktākṣaḥ pūtimṛttikāḥ kaṇadhūmrastathāgniśca kṛmigandhivapustathā

Manduka, those of putrid mouths, Raktaksha, those of foul mud; Kanadhumra and Agni; and those with worm-scented bodies —

Verse 35 (shiva.uma.8.35)

अग्नीध्रश्चाप्रतिष्ठश्च रुधिराभः श्वभोजनः । लालाभक्षान्त्रभक्षौ च सर्वभक्षः सुदारुणः

agnīdhraścāpratiṣṭhaśca rudhirābhaḥ śvabhojanaḥ lālābhakṣāntrabhakṣau ca sarvabhakṣaḥ sudāruṇaḥ

Agnidhra, Apratishtha; blood-hued; the food of dogs; eaters of saliva and of entrails; and the most terrible all-devouring hell —

Verse 36 (shiva.uma.8.36)

कण्टकः सुविशालश्च विकटः कटपूतनः । अम्बरीषः कटाहश्च कष्टा वैतरणी नदी

kaṇṭakaḥ suviśālaśca vikaṭaḥ kaṭapūtanaḥ ambarīṣaḥ kaṭāhaśca kaṣṭā vaitaraṇī nadī

Kantaka, Suvishala; Vikata, Katapootana; Ambarisha, Kataha; and the terrible river Vaitarani —

Verse 37 (shiva.uma.8.37)

सुतप्तलोहशयन एकपादः प्रपूरणः । असितालवनं घोरमस्थिभङ्गः सुपूरणः

sutaptalohaśayana ekapādaḥ prapūraṇaḥ asitālavanaṁ ghoramasthibhaṅgaḥ supūraṇaḥ

The bed of scorching-hot iron; Ekapada, Prapurana; the dreadful forest of black sword-leaves; Asthibhanga, Supurana —

Verse 38 (shiva.uma.8.38)

विलातसोऽसुयन्त्रोपि कूटपाशः प्रमर्दनः । महाचूरर्णोऽसुचूर्णोऽपि तप्तलोहमयं तथा

vilātaso'suyantropi kūṭapāśaḥ pramardanaḥ mahācūrarṇo'sucūrṇo'pi taptalohamayaṁ tathā

Vilatasa; the machine that tortures the life-breath; Kutapasha, Pramardana; Mahachurna, Asuchurna; and that made of heated iron —

Verse 39 (shiva.uma.8.39)

पर्वतः क्षुरधारा च तथा यमलपर्वतः । मूत्रविष्ठाश्रुकूपश्च क्षारकूपश्च शीतलः

parvataḥ kṣuradhārā ca tathā yamalaparvataḥ mūtraviṣṭhāśrukūpaśca kṣārakūpaśca śītalaḥ

The mountain of torment; the razor-edged path; the twin mountains, Yamalaparvata; the well of urine, feces, and tears; and the cold, caustic well —

Verse 40 (shiva.uma.8.40)

मुसलोलूखलं यन्त्रं शिलाशकटलाङ्गलम् । तालपत्रासिगहनं महाशकटमण्डपम्

musalolūkhalaṁ yantraṁ śilāśakaṭalāṅgalam tālapatrāsigahanaṁ mahāśakaṭamaṇḍapam

The pestle-and-mortar machine; the stone cart and plough; the dense thicket of palm-leaf swords; the great cart-pavilion —

Verse 41 (shiva.uma.8.41)

सम्मोहमस्थिभङ्गश्च तप्तश्चलमयोगुडम् । बहुदुःखं महाक्लेशः कश्मलं समलं मलात्

sammohamasthibhaṅgaśca taptaścalamayoguḍam bahuduḥkhaṁ mahākleśaḥ kaśmalaṁ samalaṁ malāt

Sammoha, Asthibhanga; the scorching, rolling ball of iron; Bahudukha, Mahaklesha; Kashmala, Samala, Mala —

Verse 42 (shiva.uma.8.42)

हालाहलो विरूपश्च स्वरूपश्च यमानुगः । एकपादस्त्रिपादश्च तीव्रश्चाचीवरं तमः

hālāhalo virūpaśca svarūpaśca yamānugaḥ ekapādastripādaśca tīvraścācīvaraṁ tamaḥ

Halahala, Virupa, Svarupa, Yamanuga; Ekapada, Tripada, Tivra; and the darkness called Achivara —

Verse 43 (shiva.uma.8.43)

अष्टाविंशतिरित्येते क्रमशः पञ्चपञ्चकम् । कोटीनामानुपूर्व्येण पञ्च पञ्चैव नायकाः

aṣṭāviṁśatirityete kramaśaḥ pañcapañcakam koṭīnāmānupūrvyeṇa pañca pañcaiva nāyakāḥ

Thus these twenty-eight regions, each in due order with its own group of five-and-five, are described together with the five chief presiding hells belonging to each.

Verse 44 (shiva.uma.8.44)

रौरवाय प्रबोध्यन्ते नरकाणां शतं स्मृतम् । चत्वारिंशच्च तत्प्रोक्तं महानरकमण्डलम्

rauravāya prabodhyante narakāṇāṁ śataṁ smṛtam catvāriṁśacca tatproktaṁ mahānarakamaṇḍalam

Reckoned together with Raurava, a hundred hells are declared; and together with forty more, this is proclaimed as the great circle of hells.

Verse 45 (shiva.uma.8.45)

इति ते व्यास सम्प्रोक्ता नरकस्य स्थितिर्मया । प्रसङ्ख्यानाच्च वैराग्यं शृणु पापगतिं च ताम्

iti te vyāsa samproktā narakasya sthitirmayā prasaṅkhyānācca vairāgyaṁ śṛṇu pāpagatiṁ ca tām

Thus, O Vyasa, has the arrangement of hell been fully declared to you by me. From this reckoning may dispassion arise; now hear also of the destiny reached through sin.