The Soul's Journey to the Other World

Verse 1 (skanda.1.85.1)

॥अतिथिरुवाच॥ साध्वबालमते बाल कमठैतत्त्वयोच्यते॥ शरीरलक्षणं श्रोतुं पुनरिच्छामि तद्वद

atithiruvāca sādhvabālamate bāla kamaṭhaitattvayocyate śarīralakṣaṇaṁ śrotuṁ punaricchāmi tadvada

The guest said: "Well said indeed, O boy Kamatha of fine understanding — you have spoken this well. Now I wish once more to hear of the nature of the body; tell me of that."

Verse 2 (skanda.1.85.2)

॥कमठ उवाच॥ यथैतद्वेद ब्रह्मांडं शरीरं च तथा शृणु॥ पादमूलं च पातालं प्रपदं च रसातलम्

kamaṭha uvāca yathaitadveda brahmāṁḍaṁ śarīraṁ ca tathā śṛṇu pādamūlaṁ ca pātālaṁ prapadaṁ ca rasātalam

Kamatha said: "Just as this universe is known, so is the body too — listen: the sole of the foot is Patala, and the forepart of the foot is Rasatala."

Verse 3 (skanda.1.85.3)

तलातलं तथा गुल्फौ जंघे चास्य महातलम्॥ जानुनी सुतलं चोरू वितलं चातलं कटिम्

talātalaṁ tathā gulphau jaṁghe cāsya mahātalam jānunī sutalaṁ corū vitalaṁ cātalaṁ kaṭim

"The ankles are Talatala, and the shins its Mahatala; the knees are Sutala, the thighs are Vitala, and the waist is Atala."

Verse 4 (skanda.1.85.4)

नाभिं महीतलं प्राहुर्भुवर्लोकमथोदरम्॥ उरःस्थलं च स्वर्लोकं महर्ग्रीवा मुखं जनम्

nābhiṁ mahītalaṁ prāhurbhuvarlokamathodaram uraḥsthalaṁ ca svarlokaṁ mahargrīvā mukhaṁ janam

"The navel, they say, is Mahitala, the earth itself, and the belly is Bhuvarloka; the chest is Svarloka, the neck is Maharloka, and the mouth is Janaloka."

Verse 5 (skanda.1.85.5)

नेत्रे तपः सत्यलोकं शीर्षदेशं वदंति च॥ तद्यथा सप्त द्वीपानि पृथिव्यां संस्थितानि च

netre tapaḥ satyalokaṁ śīrṣadeśaṁ vadaṁti ca tadyathā sapta dvīpāni pṛthivyāṁ saṁsthitāni ca

"The eyes are Tapoloka, and the crown of the head, they say, is Satyaloka. And just as seven continents lie situated upon the earth—"

Verse 6 (skanda.1.85.6)

तथात्र धातवः सप्त नामतस्तान्निबोध मे॥ त्वगसृङ्मांस मेदोऽस्थिमज्जाशुक्राणि धातवः

tathātra dhātavaḥ sapta nāmatastānnibodha me tvagasṛṅmāṁsa medo'sthimajjāśukrāṇi dhātavaḥ

"—so too here there are seven bodily tissues; learn their names from me: skin, blood, flesh, fat, bone, marrow, and semen are these tissues."

Verse 7 (skanda.1.85.7)

अस्थ्नामत्र शतानि स्युस्त्रीणि षष्ट्यधिकानि च॥ त्रिंशच्छतसहस्राणि नाडीनां कथितानि च

asthnāmatra śatāni syustrīṇi ṣaṣṭyadhikāni ca triṁśacchatasahasrāṇi nāḍīnāṁ kathitāni ca

"The bones here are said to number three hundred and sixty, and the nadis are declared to number three million."

Verse 8 (skanda.1.85.8)

षट्पंचाशत्सहस्राणि तथान्यानि नवैव तु॥ ता वहंति रसं देहे जलं नद्यो यथा भुवि

ṣaṭpaṁcāśatsahasrāṇi tathānyāni navaiva tu tā vahaṁti rasaṁ dehe jalaṁ nadyo yathā bhuvi

"And besides these, another fifty-six thousand and nine — they carry the vital fluid through the body, just as rivers carry water over the earth."

Verse 9 (skanda.1.85.9)

सार्धाभिस्तिसृभिश्छन्नं समंताद्रोमकोटिभिः॥ शरीरं स्थूलसूक्ष्माभिर्दृश्यादृश्या हि ताः स्मृताः

sārdhābhistisṛbhiśchannaṁ samaṁtādromakoṭibhiḥ śarīraṁ sthūlasūkṣmābhirdṛśyādṛśyā hi tāḥ smṛtāḥ

"The body is covered all over by three and a half crores of hairs, both gross and subtle; these are said to be visible and invisible alike."

Verse 10 (skanda.1.85.10)

षडंगानि प्रधानानि कथ्यमानानि मे शृणु॥ द्वौ बाहू सक्थिनी द्वे च मूर्धा जठरमेव च

ṣaḍaṁgāni pradhānāni kathyamānāni me śṛṇu dvau bāhū sakthinī dve ca mūrdhā jaṭharameva ca

"Hear now the six principal limbs as I name them: the two arms, the two legs, the head, and the belly."

Verse 11 (skanda.1.85.11)

अंत्राण्यत्र तथा त्रीणि सार्धव्यामत्रयाणि च॥ त्रिव्यामानि तथा स्त्रीणामाहुर्वेदविदो द्विजाः

aṁtrāṇyatra tathā trīṇi sārdhavyāmatrayāṇi ca trivyāmāni tathā strīṇāmāhurvedavido dvijāḥ

"The intestines are said to measure three and a half vyāmas [arm-spans]; and for women, the Veda-knowing brahmins declare them to measure three vyāmas."

Verse 12 (skanda.1.85.12)

ऊर्ध्वनालमधोवक्त्रं हृदि पद्मं प्रकीर्त्यते॥ हृत्पद्मवामतः प्लीहो दक्षिणे स्यात्तथा यकृत्

ūrdhvanālamadhovaktraṁ hṛdi padmaṁ prakīrtyate hṛtpadmavāmataḥ plīho dakṣiṇe syāttathā yakṛt

"In the heart a lotus is spoken of, its stalk turned upward and its face downward; to the left of this heart-lotus lies the spleen, and to the right, the liver."

Verse 13 (skanda.1.85.13)

मज्जातो मेदसश्चैव वसायाश्च तथा द्विज॥ मूत्रस्य चैव पित्तस्य श्लेष्मणः शकृतस्तथा

majjāto medasaścaiva vasāyāśca tathā dvija mūtrasya caiva pittasya śleṣmaṇaḥ śakṛtastathā

"O brahmin, there are seats of marrow, of fat, and of vasa (bodily oil), and likewise of urine, bile, phlegm, and feces."

Verse 14 (skanda.1.85.14)

रक्तस्य चरमस्यात्र गर्ता द्व्यंजलयः स्मृताः॥ गेयः प्रवर्तमानास्ते देहं संधारयंत्युत

raktasya caramasyātra gartā dvyaṁjalayaḥ smṛtāḥ geyaḥ pravartamānāste dehaṁ saṁdhārayaṁtyuta

"And here, for the blood too, the cavities are said to measure two handfuls each; flowing properly, they sustain the body."

Verse 15 (skanda.1.85.15)

सीवन्यश्च तथा सप्त पंच मूर्धानमास्थिताः॥ एका मेढ्रं गता चैका तथा जिह्वां गता द्विज

sīvanyaśca tathā sapta paṁca mūrdhānamāsthitāḥ ekā meḍhraṁ gatā caikā tathā jihvāṁ gatā dvija

"There are, in the same way, seven sutures; of these five are located in the head, O brahmin, one reaches to the genital organ, and one to the tongue."

Verse 16 (skanda.1.85.16)

नाड्यः सर्वाः प्रवर्तंते नाभिपद्मात्तथात्र च॥ यासां श्रेष्ठा शिरो याता सुषुम्नेडाऽथ पिंगला

nāḍyaḥ sarvāḥ pravartaṁte nābhipadmāttathātra ca yāsāṁ śreṣṭhā śiro yātā suṣumneḍā'tha piṁgalā

"All the nadis arise here from the lotus of the navel; the foremost of them, which ascend to the head, are Sushumna, Ida, and Pingala."

Verse 17 (skanda.1.85.17)

नासिकाद्वारमासाद्य संस्थिते देहवर्धने॥ वायुरग्निश्चंद्रमाश्च पंचधा पंचधात्र च

nāsikādvāramāsādya saṁsthite dehavardhane vāyuragniścaṁdramāśca paṁcadhā paṁcadhātra ca

"Reaching the gateway of the nostrils, where the body's growth is sustained, Vayu, Agni, and Chandra (soma) are each of five kinds here."

Verse 18 (skanda.1.85.18)

प्राणापानसमानाश्च उदानो व्यान एव च॥ पंच भेदाः स्मृता वायोः कर्मार्ण्येषां वदंति च

prāṇāpānasamānāśca udāno vyāna eva ca paṁca bhedāḥ smṛtā vāyoḥ karmārṇyeṣāṁ vadaṁti ca

"Prana, Apana, Samana, Udana, and Vyana — these are remembered as the five divisions of Vayu; their functions are now described."

Verse 19 (skanda.1.85.19)

उच्छ्वासश्चैव निःश्वासो ह्यन्नपानप्रवेशनम्॥ आकंठाच्छीर्षसंस्थास्य प्राणकर्म प्रकीर्तितम्

ucchvāsaścaiva niḥśvāso hyannapānapraveśanam ākaṁṭhācchīrṣasaṁsthāsya prāṇakarma prakīrtitam

"Inhaling, exhaling, and the taking in of food and drink — situated from the throat up to the head, this is declared to be the work of Prana."

Verse 20 (skanda.1.85.20)

त्यागो विण्मूत्रशुक्राणां गर्भविस्रवणं तथा॥ अपानकर्म निर्दिष्टं स्थानमस्य गुदोपरि

tyāgo viṇmūtraśukrāṇāṁ garbhavisravaṇaṁ tathā apānakarma nirdiṣṭaṁ sthānamasya gudopari

"The expelling of feces, urine, and semen, and likewise the discharge of childbirth — this is designated as the function of Apana; its seat is just above the anus."

Verse 21 (skanda.1.85.21)

समानो धारयत्यन्नं विवेचयति चाप्यथ॥ रसयंश्चैव चरति सर्वश्रोणिष्ववारितः

samāno dhārayatyannaṁ vivecayati cāpyatha rasayaṁścaiva carati sarvaśroṇiṣvavāritaḥ

"Samana holds the food and also separates it out; extracting its essence, it moves unhindered through all the body's channels."

Verse 22 (skanda.1.85.22)

वाक्प्रवृत्तिप्रदोद्गारे प्रयत्ने सर्वकर्मणाम्॥ आकंठसुरसंस्थानमुदानस्य प्रकीर्त्यते

vākpravṛttipradodgāre prayatne sarvakarmaṇām ākaṁṭhasurasaṁsthānamudānasya prakīrtyate

"In the initiation of speech, in belching, and in the exertion of all actions — abiding pleasantly from the throat upward, this is declared to be the function of Udana."

Verse 23 (skanda.1.85.23)

व्यानो हृदि स्थितो नित्यं तथा देहचरोपि च॥ धातुवृद्धिप्रदः स्वेदलालोन्मेषनिमेषकृत्

vyāno hṛdi sthito nityaṁ tathā dehacaropi ca dhātuvṛddhipradaḥ svedalālonmeṣanimeṣakṛt

"Vyana, ever situated in the heart yet also moving throughout the body, promotes the growth of the tissues and produces sweat, saliva, and the opening and closing of the eyes."

Verse 24 (skanda.1.85.24)

पाचको रजकश्चैव साधकालोचकौ तथा॥ भ्राजकश्च तथा देहे पञ्चधा पावकः स्थितः

pācako rajakaścaiva sādhakālocakau tathā bhrājakaśca tathā dehe pañcadhā pāvakaḥ sthitaḥ

"Pachaka, Rajaka, Sadhaka, Alochaka, and Bhrajaka — thus the digestive fire abides in the body in five distinct forms."

Verse 25 (skanda.1.85.25)

पाचकस्तु पचत्यन्नं नित्यं पक्वाशये स्थित.॥ आमाशयस्थोऽपि रसं रंजकः कुरुते त्वसृक्

pācakastu pacatyannaṁ nityaṁ pakvāśaye sthita. āmāśayastho'pi rasaṁ raṁjakaḥ kurute tvasṛk

"Pachaka, ever situated in the lower stomach, digests the food; Rajaka, dwelling in the upper stomach, turns the essence of food into blood."

Verse 26 (skanda.1.85.26)

साधको हृदिसंस्थश्च बुद्ध्याद्युत्साहकारकः॥ आलोचकश्च दृक्संस्थो रूपदर्शनशक्ति कृत

sādhako hṛdisaṁsthaśca buddhyādyutsāhakārakaḥ ālocakaśca dṛksaṁstho rūpadarśanaśakti kṛta

"Sadhaka, situated in the heart, is the cause of intellect and enthusiasm; Alochaka, situated in the eyes, produces the power of seeing forms."

Verse 27 (skanda.1.85.27)

त्वक्संस्थो भ्राजको देहं भ्राजयेन्निर्मलीकृतः॥ क्लेदको बोधकश्चैव तर्पणः श्लेष्मणस्तथा

tvaksaṁstho bhrājako dehaṁ bhrājayennirmalīkṛtaḥ kledako bodhakaścaiva tarpaṇaḥ śleṣmaṇastathā

"Bhrajaka, situated in the skin, renders the body radiant and unblemished. (Of Kapha's five forms:) Kledaka, Bodhaka, and likewise Tarpaka—"

Verse 28 (skanda.1.85.28)

आलंबकस्तथा देहे पंचधा सोम उच्यते॥ क्लेदकः क्लेदयत्यन्नं नित्यं पक्वाशये स्थितः

ālaṁbakastathā dehe paṁcadhā soma ucyate kledakaḥ kledayatyannaṁ nityaṁ pakvāśaye sthitaḥ

"—and Alambaka: thus Soma is said to be fivefold in the body. Kledaka, ever situated in the lower stomach, moistens the food."

Verse 29 (skanda.1.85.29)

बोधको रसनास्थश्च रसानामवबोधकः॥ शिरःस्थश्चक्षुरादीनां तर्पणात्तर्पणः स्मृतः

bodhako rasanāsthaśca rasānāmavabodhakaḥ śiraḥsthaścakṣurādīnāṁ tarpaṇāttarpaṇaḥ smṛtaḥ

"Bodhaka, situated on the tongue, discerns the tastes; situated in the head, it is called Tarpaka because it nourishes the eyes and the other sense organs."

Verse 30 (skanda.1.85.30)

सर्वसंधिगतश्चैव श्लेष्मणः श्लेष्मकृत्तथा॥ उरःस्थः सर्वगात्राणि स वै ह्यालंबकः स्थितः

sarvasaṁdhigataścaiva śleṣmaṇaḥ śleṣmakṛttathā uraḥsthaḥ sarvagātrāṇi sa vai hyālaṁbakaḥ sthitaḥ

"Present in all the joints, this same form is called Shleshmaka, since it produces mucus there; situated in the chest, this Alambaka sustains all the limbs of the body."

Verse 31 (skanda.1.85.31)

एवं वाय्वग्निसोमैश्च देहः संधारितस्त्वसौ॥ आकाशजानि स्रोतांसि तथा कोष्ठविविक्तता

evaṁ vāyvagnisomaiśca dehaḥ saṁdhāritastvasau ākāśajāni srotāṁsi tathā koṣṭhaviviktatā

"Thus is this body sustained by Vayu, Agni, and Soma. (Now hear what belongs to Akasha, ether:) the channels of the body, and likewise the hollowness within its cavities—"

Verse 32 (skanda.1.85.32)

पार्थिवानीह जानीहि घ्राणकेशनखानि च॥ अस्थीनि धैर्यं गुरुता त्वङ्मांस हृदयं गुदम्

pārthivānīha jānīhi ghrāṇakeśanakhāni ca asthīni dhairyaṁ gurutā tvaṅmāṁsa hṛdayaṁ gudam

"—these belong to Akasha. Know as earthy here: the sense of smell, the hair and nails, the bones, firmness, heaviness, the skin, the flesh, the heart, and the anus."

Verse 33 (skanda.1.85.33)

नाभिर्मेदो यकृन्मज्जा अंत्रमामाशयः शिरा॥ स्नायुः पक्वाशयश्चैव प्राहुर्वेदविदो द्विजाः

nābhirmedo yakṛnmajjā aṁtramāmāśayaḥ śirā snāyuḥ pakvāśayaścaiva prāhurvedavido dvijāḥ

"The navel, fat, liver, marrow, intestines, stomach, veins, sinews, and the lower stomach — these too the Veda-knowing brahmins declare to be of the earthy element."

Verse 34 (skanda.1.85.34)

नेत्रयोर्मडलं शुक्लं कफाद्भवति पैतृकम्॥ कृष्णं च मण्डलं वातात्तथा भवति मातृकम्

netrayormaḍalaṁ śuklaṁ kaphādbhavati paitṛkam kṛṣṇaṁ ca maṇḍalaṁ vātāttathā bhavati mātṛkam

"The white ring of the eyes arises from kapha and is of paternal origin; the black ring arises from vata and is likewise of maternal origin."

Verse 35 (skanda.1.85.35)

पक्ष्ममण्डलमेकं तु द्वितीयं चर्ममण्डलम्॥ शुक्लं तृतीयं कथित चतुर्थं कृष्णमण्डलम्

pakṣmamaṇḍalamekaṁ tu dvitīyaṁ carmamaṇḍalam śuklaṁ tṛtīyaṁ kathita caturthaṁ kṛṣṇamaṇḍalam

"The first ring is that of the eyelashes, the second the ring of the eyelid's skin; the white ring is said to be the third, and the fourth is the black ring."

Verse 36 (skanda.1.85.36)

दृङ्मण्डलं पंचमं तु नेत्रं स्यात्पंचमण्डलम्॥ अपरे नेत्रभागे द्वे उपांगोऽपांग एव च

dṛṅmaṇḍalaṁ paṁcamaṁ tu netraṁ syātpaṁcamaṇḍalam apare netrabhāge dve upāṁgo'pāṁga eva ca

"The ring of sight is the fifth; thus the eye is made up of five rings. And there are two further parts of the eye — the upanga and the apanga."

Verse 37 (skanda.1.85.37)

उपांगो नेत्रपर्यंतो नासा मूलमपांगकः॥ वृषणौ च तथा प्रोक्तौ मेदोसृक्कफमांसकौ

upāṁgo netraparyaṁto nāsā mūlamapāṁgakaḥ vṛṣaṇau ca tathā proktau medosṛkkaphamāṁsakau

"The upanga is the corner of the eye toward the nose, and the apanga is its inner root. And the two testicles, likewise, are said to be formed of fat, blood, phlegm, and flesh."

Verse 38 (skanda.1.85.38)

असृङ्मांसमयी जिह्वा सर्वेषामेव देहिनाम्॥ हस्तयोरोष्ठयोर्मेढ्रे ग्रीवायां षट् च कूर्चकाः

asṛṅmāṁsamayī jihvā sarveṣāmeva dehinām hastayoroṣṭhayormeḍhre grīvāyāṁ ṣaṭ ca kūrcakāḥ

"The tongue of every embodied being is composed of blood and flesh. There are six kurchakas, bundles of sinew — in the two hands, the two lips, the genital organ, and the neck."

Verse 39 (skanda.1.85.39)

एवमत्र स्थिते जीवो देहेऽस्मिन्सप्तसप्तके॥ पंचविंशतिको व्याप्य देहं वासोऽस्य मूर्धनि

evamatra sthite jīvo dehe'sminsaptasaptake paṁcaviṁśatiko vyāpya dehaṁ vāso'sya mūrdhani

"Thus the soul, dwelling in this body composed of these sevens, pervades the body as its twenty-fifth principle, and its true seat is in the head."

Verse 40 (skanda.1.85.40)

त्वगसृग्मांसमित्याहुस्त्रिकं मातृसमुद्भवम्॥ मेदोमज्जास्थिकं प्रोक्तं पितृजं षट्च कौशिकम्

tvagasṛgmāṁsamityāhustrikaṁ mātṛsamudbhavam medomajjāsthikaṁ proktaṁ pitṛjaṁ ṣaṭca kauśikam

"Skin, blood, and flesh — this triad is said to arise from the mother; fat, marrow, and bone are declared to be born of the father — six constituents in all, called the kaushikas."

Verse 41 (skanda.1.85.41)

एवं भूतमयं देहं पंचभूतसमुद्भवैः॥ अन्नैर्यथा वृद्धिमेति तदहं वर्णयामि ते

evaṁ bhūtamayaṁ dehaṁ paṁcabhūtasamudbhavaiḥ annairyathā vṛddhimeti tadahaṁ varṇayāmi te

"Thus this body is composed of the elements; how it grows through foods that themselves arise from the five elements, that I shall now describe to you."

Verse 42 (skanda.1.85.42)

तदन्नं पिण्डकवलैर्ग्रासैर्भुक्तं च देहिभिः॥ पूर्वं स्थूलाशये वायुः प्राणः प्रकुरुते द्विधा

tadannaṁ piṇḍakavalairgrāsairbhuktaṁ ca dehibhiḥ pūrvaṁ sthūlāśaye vāyuḥ prāṇaḥ prakurute dvidhā

"That food, eaten by embodied beings in lumps and mouthfuls, is first divided into two by the Prana-wind within the stomach."

Verse 43 (skanda.1.85.43)

संप्रविश्यान्नमध्ये तु पृथगन्नपृथग्जलम्॥ अग्नेरूर्ध्वं जलं स्थाप्य तदन्नं तज्जलोपरि

saṁpraviśyānnamadhye tu pṛthagannapṛthagjalam agnerūrdhvaṁ jalaṁ sthāpya tadannaṁ tajjalopari

"Entering into the midst of the food, it separates the food from the water, placing the water above the fire, and the food above that water."

Verse 44 (skanda.1.85.44)

जलस्याधः स्वयं प्राणः स्थित्वाग्निं धमते शनैः॥ वायुना धम्यमानोग्निरत्युष्णं कुरुते जलम्

jalasyādhaḥ svayaṁ prāṇaḥ sthitvāgniṁ dhamate śanaiḥ vāyunā dhamyamānogniratyuṣṇaṁ kurute jalam

"Prana itself, situated below the water, gently fans the fire; and the fire, kindled by the wind, makes the water intensely hot."

Verse 45 (skanda.1.85.45)

तदन्नमुष्णतोयेन समंतात्पच्यते पुनः॥ द्विधा भवति तत्पक्वं पृथक्किट्टं पृथग्रसम्

tadannamuṣṇatoyena samaṁtātpacyate punaḥ dvidhā bhavati tatpakvaṁ pṛthakkiṭṭaṁ pṛthagrasam

"That food is then cooked all around by the hot water; once cooked, it becomes twofold, separating into waste matter and vital essence."

Verse 46 (skanda.1.85.46)

मलैर्द्वादशभिः किट्टं भिन्नं देहाद्बहिर्व्रजेत्॥ कर्णाक्षिनासिकाजिह्वादताः शिश्नं गुदं नखाः

malairdvādaśabhiḥ kiṭṭaṁ bhinnaṁ dehādbahirvrajet karṇākṣināsikājihvādatāḥ śiśnaṁ gudaṁ nakhāḥ

"The waste matter, divided into twelve impurities, passes out from the body — through the ears, the eyes, the nose, the tongue, the teeth, the genital organ, the anus, the nails,"

Verse 47 (skanda.1.85.47)

रोमकूपाणि चैव स्युर्द्वादशैते मलाश्रयाः॥ हृत्पद्मप्रतिबद्धाश्च सर्वा नाड्यः समंततः

romakūpāṇi caiva syurdvādaśaite malāśrayāḥ hṛtpadmapratibaddhāśca sarvā nāḍyaḥ samaṁtataḥ

"and the pores of the hair — these are the twelve seats where impurity is expelled. All the nadis are joined together at the heart-lotus, spreading out on every side."

Verse 48 (skanda.1.85.48)

तासां मुखेषु तं सूक्ष्मं व्यानः स्थापयते रसम्॥ रसेन तेन ता नाडीः समानः पूरयेत्पुनः

tāsāṁ mukheṣu taṁ sūkṣmaṁ vyānaḥ sthāpayate rasam rasena tena tā nāḍīḥ samānaḥ pūrayetpunaḥ

"At the mouths of these nadis, Vyana deposits that subtle essence; and with that essence, Samana then fills those nadis once again."

Verse 49 (skanda.1.85.49)

ततः प्रयांति संपूर्णास्ताश्च देहं समंततः॥ ततः स नाडिमध्यस्थो रञ्जकेनोष्मणा रसः

tataḥ prayāṁti saṁpūrṇāstāśca dehaṁ samaṁtataḥ tataḥ sa nāḍimadhyastho rañjakenoṣmaṇā rasaḥ

"Then, thus filled, they spread throughout the body on every side; and then that essence, resting within the nadi, through the heat of Rajaka—"

Verse 50 (skanda.1.85.50)

पच्यते पच्यमानस्तु रुधिरत्वं भजेत्पुनः॥ ततस्त्वग्लोमकेशाश्च मांसं स्नायु शिरास्थि च

pacyate pacyamānastu rudhiratvaṁ bhajetpunaḥ tatastvaglomakeśāśca māṁsaṁ snāyu śirāsthi ca

"—is cooked; and once cooked, it takes on the nature of blood. From this, in turn, come skin, body-hair and head-hair, flesh, sinew, veins, and bone,"

Verse 51 (skanda.1.85.51)

नखा मज्जा खवैमल्यं शुक्रवृद्धिः क्रमाद्भवेत्॥ एवं द्वादशधान्नस्य परिणामः प्रकीर्त्यते

nakhā majjā khavaimalyaṁ śukravṛddhiḥ kramādbhavet evaṁ dvādaśadhānnasya pariṇāmaḥ prakīrtyate

"nails, marrow, the impurities of the body's openings, and, finally, the increase of semen. Thus the transformation of food is declared to take place in twelve successive stages."

Verse 52 (skanda.1.85.52)

एवमेतद्विनिष्पन्नं शरीरं पुण्यहेतवे॥ यथैव स्यंदनः शुभ्रो भारसंवाहनाय च

evametadviniṣpannaṁ śarīraṁ puṇyahetave yathaiva syaṁdanaḥ śubhro bhārasaṁvāhanāya ca

"Thus is this body brought into existence for the sake of merit — just as a fine chariot is built for the purpose of bearing loads."

Verse 53 (skanda.1.85.53)

तैलाभ्यंगादिभिर्यत्नैर्बहुभिः पाल्यते न चेत्॥ किं कृत्यं साध्यते तेन यदि भारं वहेन्न हि

tailābhyaṁgādibhiryatnairbahubhiḥ pālyate na cet kiṁ kṛtyaṁ sādhyate tena yadi bhāraṁ vahenna hi

"If it is not cared for through many efforts such as oil-massage and the like, what purpose does it serve, if it cannot even bear its load?"

Verse 54 (skanda.1.85.54)

एवमेतेन देहेन किं कृत्यं भोजनोत्तमैः॥ वर्धितेन न चेत्पुण्यं कुरुते पशुवच्च तत्

evametena dehena kiṁ kṛtyaṁ bhojanottamaiḥ vardhitena na cetpuṇyaṁ kurute paśuvacca tat

"In the same way, of what use is this body, nourished on excellent food, if it performs no meritorious deed — such a body is then no better than an animal's."

Verse 55 (skanda.1.85.55)

भवंति चात्र श्लोकाः॥ यस्मिन्काले च देशे च वयसा यादृशेन च॥ कृतं शुभाशुभं कर्म तत्तथा तेन भुज्यते

bhavaṁti cātra ślokāḥ yasminkāle ca deśe ca vayasā yādṛśena ca kṛtaṁ śubhāśubhaṁ karma tattathā tena bhujyate

"Here there are verses on this: In whatever time, place, and stage of life good or evil karma is performed, that same karma is experienced by the doer accordingly."

Verse 56 (skanda.1.85.56)

तस्मात्सदा शुभं कार्यमविच्छिन्नसुखार्थिभिः॥ विच्छिद्यंतेऽन्यथा भोगा ग्रीष्मे कुसरितो यथा

tasmātsadā śubhaṁ kāryamavicchinnasukhārthibhiḥ vicchidyaṁte'nyathā bhogā grīṣme kusarito yathā

"Therefore, those who desire unbroken happiness should always perform good deeds; otherwise, enjoyments dry up, just as small rivers do in the heat of summer."

Verse 57 (skanda.1.85.57)

यस्मात्पापेन दुःखानि तीव्राणि सुबहून्यपि॥ तस्मात्पापं न कर्तव्यमात्मपीडाकरं हि तत्

yasmātpāpena duḥkhāni tīvrāṇi subahūnyapi tasmātpāpaṁ na kartavyamātmapīḍākaraṁ hi tat

"Since sin gives rise to intense and manifold sufferings, sin should never be committed, for it brings torment upon the self alone."

Verse 58 (skanda.1.85.58)

एवं ते वर्णितः साधो प्रश्नोऽयं शक्तितो मया॥ यथा संजायते प्राणी यथा शृणु प्रलीयते

evaṁ te varṇitaḥ sādho praśno'yaṁ śaktito mayā yathā saṁjāyate prāṇī yathā śṛṇu pralīyate

"Thus, O good man, I have answered your question to the best of my ability — how a living being comes into existence. Now hear how it perishes."

Verse 59 (skanda.1.85.59)

आयुष्ये कर्मणि क्षीणे संप्राप्ते मरणे नृणाम्॥ स्वकर्मवशगो देही कृष्यते यमकिंकरैः

āyuṣye karmaṇi kṣīṇe saṁprāpte maraṇe nṛṇām svakarmavaśago dehī kṛṣyate yamakiṁkaraiḥ

"When the karma allotted to a man's lifespan is spent and death arrives, the embodied soul, subject to its own deeds, is dragged away by the servants of Yama."

Verse 60 (skanda.1.85.60)

पंचतन्मात्रसहितः समनोबुद्ध्यहंकृतिः॥ पुण्यपापमयैः पाशैर्बद्धो जीवस्त्यजे द्वपुः

paṁcatanmātrasahitaḥ samanobuddhyahaṁkṛtiḥ puṇyapāpamayaiḥ pāśairbaddho jīvastyaje dvapuḥ

"Accompanied by the five subtle elements and endowed with mind, intellect, and ego, and bound by the nooses of its merit and sin, the soul thus abandons the body."

Verse 61 (skanda.1.85.61)

शीर्ष्णश्च सप्तभिश्छिद्रैर्निर्गच्छेत्पुण्यकर्मणाम्॥ अधश्च पापिनां यांति योगिनां ब्रह्मरंध्रतः

śīrṣṇaśca saptabhiśchidrairnirgacchetpuṇyakarmaṇām adhaśca pāpināṁ yāṁti yogināṁ brahmaraṁdhrataḥ

"For men of meritorious deeds, the soul departs through the seven openings of the head; for sinners, it departs from below; and for yogis, it departs through the Brahmarandhra, the crown aperture."

Verse 62 (skanda.1.85.62)

तत्क्षणात्सोऽथ गृह्णाति शारीरं चातिवाहिकम्॥ अंगुष्ठपर्वमात्रं तु स्वप्राणैरेव निर्मितम्

tatkṣaṇātso'tha gṛhṇāti śārīraṁ cātivāhikam aṁguṣṭhaparvamātraṁ tu svaprāṇaireva nirmitam

"At that very instant, it assumes a subtle, ativahika body, the size of a thumb's joint, made from its own vital breaths."

Verse 63 (skanda.1.85.63)

ततस्तस्मिन्स्थितं जीवं देहे यमभटास्तदा॥ बद्ध्वा नयंति मार्गेण याम्येनाति यथाबलम्

tatastasminsthitaṁ jīvaṁ dehe yamabhaṭāstadā baddhvā nayaṁti mārgeṇa yāmyenāti yathābalam

"Then the servants of Yama bind the soul dwelling within that subtle body, and forcibly lead it along the southern path, using their full strength."

Verse 64 (skanda.1.85.64)

तप्तांबरीषतुल्येन अयोगुडनिभेन च॥ प्रतप्तसिकतेनापि ताम्रपात्रनिभेन च

taptāṁbarīṣatulyena ayoguḍanibhena ca prataptasikatenāpi tāmrapātranibhena ca

"That path is like a heated cauldron, like a red-hot ball of iron, like scorching sand, and like a burning copper vessel."

Verse 65 (skanda.1.85.65)

षडशीतिसहस्राणि योजनानां महीतलात्॥ कृष्यमाणो यमपुरीं नीयते पापकृद्भटैः

ṣaḍaśītisahasrāṇi yojanānāṁ mahītalāt kṛṣyamāṇo yamapurīṁ nīyate pāpakṛdbhaṭaiḥ

"Dragged a distance of eighty-six thousand yojanas from the surface of the earth, the doer of evil is led by these soldiers to the city of Yama."

Verse 66 (skanda.1.85.66)

क्वचिच्छीतं महादुर्गमन्धकारं क्वचिन्महत्॥ अग्निसंस्पर्शवदनैः काककाकोलजंबुकैः

kvacicchītaṁ mahādurgamandhakāraṁ kvacinmahat agnisaṁsparśavadanaiḥ kākakākolajaṁbukaiḥ

"In one place there is bitter cold, in another a vast and impassable darkness; and by crows, ravens, and jackals, whose very touch of mouth is like fire—"

Verse 67 (skanda.1.85.67)

मक्षिकादंशमशकैर्भक्ष्यते सर्पवृश्चिकैः॥ भक्ष्यमाणोऽपि तैर्जंतुः क्रंदते म्रियते न हि

makṣikādaṁśamaśakairbhakṣyate sarpavṛścikaiḥ bhakṣyamāṇo'pi tairjaṁtuḥ kraṁdate mriyate na hi

"—and by flies, biting insects, gnats, serpents, and scorpions he is devoured; even while being devoured by these, the being cries out in pain, yet does not die."

Verse 68 (skanda.1.85.68)

क्वचिच्च भक्ष्यते घोरै राक्षसैः कृष्यतेऽस्यते॥ दह्यमानोतिघोरेण सैकतेन च नीयते

kvacicca bhakṣyate ghorai rākṣasaiḥ kṛṣyate'syate dahyamānotighoreṇa saikatena ca nīyate

"In another place he is devoured by terrible rakshasas, dragged about and hurled down; and, scorched by the fiercely burning sand, he is driven onward still."

Verse 69 (skanda.1.85.69)

मुहूतैर्दशभिर्याति तं मार्गमतिदुस्तरम्॥ तं कालं सुमहद्वेत्ति पुरुषो वर्षसंमितम्

muhūtairdaśabhiryāti taṁ mārgamatidustaram taṁ kālaṁ sumahadvetti puruṣo varṣasaṁmitam

"He traverses that most arduous path in ten muhurtas; yet that man experiences that span of time as immensely long, equal to years."

Verse 70 (skanda.1.85.70)

तार्यते च नदीं घोरां पूयशोणितवाहिनीम्॥ नदीं वैतरणीं नाम केशशैवलशाद्वलाम्

tāryate ca nadīṁ ghorāṁ pūyaśoṇitavāhinīm nadīṁ vaitaraṇīṁ nāma keśaśaivalaśādvalām

"And he is made to cross that dreadful river, flowing with pus and blood — the river called Vaitarani, whose moss and weeds are made of hair."

Verse 71 (skanda.1.85.71)

ततो यमस्य पुरतः स्थाप्यते यमकिंकरैः॥ पापी महाभयं पश्येत्कालांतकमुखैर्वृतम्

tato yamasya purataḥ sthāpyate yamakiṁkaraiḥ pāpī mahābhayaṁ paśyetkālāṁtakamukhairvṛtam

"Then he is set by Yama's servants before Yama himself; the sinner beholds there a scene of great terror, surrounded on all sides by faces like the devouring mouth of Time."

Verse 72 (skanda.1.85.72)

पुण्यकर्मा सौम्यरूपं धर्मराजं तदा किल॥ मनुष्या एव गच्छंति यमलोकेन चापरे

puṇyakarmā saumyarūpaṁ dharmarājaṁ tadā kila manuṣyā eva gacchaṁti yamalokena cāpare

"But the doer of merit beholds Dharmaraja at that time in a gentle, benign form; indeed, it is humans alone who go thus, while other creatures pass through Yama's realm by another way."

Verse 73 (skanda.1.85.73)

मरणानंतरं तेषां जंतूनां योनिपूरणम्॥ तथाहि प्रेता मनुजाः श्रूयंते नान्यजंतवः

maraṇānaṁtaraṁ teṣāṁ jaṁtūnāṁ yonipūraṇam tathāhi pretā manujāḥ śrūyaṁte nānyajaṁtavaḥ

"For other creatures, a new womb is entered immediately after death; for it is humans alone who are spoken of as pretas, ghosts — not other beings."

Verse 74 (skanda.1.85.74)

धार्मिकः पूज्यते तत्र पापः पाशगलो भवेत्॥ धार्मिकश्च यथा याति तं मार्गं शृणु वच्मि ते

dhārmikaḥ pūjyate tatra pāpaḥ pāśagalo bhavet dhārmikaśca yathā yāti taṁ mārgaṁ śṛṇu vacmi te

"There the righteous man is honored, while the sinner goes with a noose about his neck. Now hear the path by which the righteous man travels — I shall tell it to you."

Verse 75 (skanda.1.85.75)

आरामद्रुमदातारः फलपुष्पवता पथा॥ छायया च सुखं यांति तथा ये च्छत्रदा नराः

ārāmadrumadātāraḥ phalapuṣpavatā pathā chāyayā ca sukhaṁ yāṁti tathā ye cchatradā narāḥ

"Those who gave trees and groves travel happily along a path rich with fruit, flowers, and shade; and likewise those who gave umbrellas travel in comfort, shaded from the sun."

Verse 76 (skanda.1.85.76)

उपानहप्रदा यानैर्वितृषाः पूर्तधर्मिणः॥ विमानैर्यानदा यांति तथा शय्यासनप्रदाः

upānahapradā yānairvitṛṣāḥ pūrtadharmiṇaḥ vimānairyānadā yāṁti tathā śayyāsanapradāḥ

"Those who gave sandals travel by vehicle, free of thirst, through the merit of such public works; those who gave vehicles travel by celestial cars, and so too do those who gave beds and seats."

Verse 77 (skanda.1.85.77)

भक्ष्यभोज्यैस्तथा तृप्ता यांति भोजनदायिन॥ दीपप्रदाः प्रकाशेन गोप्रदास्तां नदीं सुखम्

bhakṣyabhojyaistathā tṛptā yāṁti bhojanadāyina dīpapradāḥ prakāśena gopradāstāṁ nadīṁ sukham

"Those who gave food travel satisfied with fine foods and delicacies; those who gave lamps travel by their own light; and those who gave cows cross that river in comfort."

Verse 78 (skanda.1.85.78)

श्रीसूर्यं श्रीमहादेवं भक्ता ये पुरुषोत्तमम्॥ जन्मप्रभृति ते यांति पूज्यमाना यमानुगैः

śrīsūryaṁ śrīmahādevaṁ bhaktā ye puruṣottamam janmaprabhṛti te yāṁti pūjyamānā yamānugaiḥ

"Those devotees of glorious Surya, glorious Mahadeva, and the Supreme Person, Vishnu, travel this path from birth onward, honored all the while by Yama's own attendants."

Verse 79 (skanda.1.85.79)

महीं गां कांचनं लोहं तिलान्कार्पासमेव च॥ लवणं सप्तधान्यं च दत्त्वा याति सुखं नरः

mahīṁ gāṁ kāṁcanaṁ lohaṁ tilānkārpāsameva ca lavaṇaṁ saptadhānyaṁ ca dattvā yāti sukhaṁ naraḥ

"By the gift of land, a cow, gold, iron, sesame, cotton, salt, and the seven grains, a man travels this path in happiness."

Verse 80 (skanda.1.85.80)

तेषां तत्र गतानां च पापिनां पुण्यकर्मिणाम्॥ चित्रगुप्तः प्रेतपाय निरूपयति वै ततः

teṣāṁ tatra gatānāṁ ca pāpināṁ puṇyakarmiṇām citraguptaḥ pretapāya nirūpayati vai tataḥ

"Then, of those who have arrived there, both sinners and doers of merit, Chitragupta determines the fate due to the departed soul, the preta."

Verse 81 (skanda.1.85.81)

प्रेतलोके स वसति ततः संवत्सरं नरः॥ वत्सरेण च तेनास्य शरीरमभिजायते

pretaloke sa vasati tataḥ saṁvatsaraṁ naraḥ vatsareṇa ca tenāsya śarīramabhijāyate

"That man then dwells in the realm of the pretas for a full year; and by the completion of that year, a body is formed for him there."

Verse 82 (skanda.1.85.82)

सोदकुम्भमथान्नाद्यं बांधवैर्यत्प्रदीयते॥ दिनेदिने स तद्भुक्त्वा तेन वृद्धिं प्रयाति च

sodakumbhamathānnādyaṁ bāṁdhavairyatpradīyate dinedine sa tadbhuktvā tena vṛddhiṁ prayāti ca

"Whatever water-filled vessel and food his kinsmen offer him day by day, by partaking of that he grows toward his new body."

Verse 83 (skanda.1.85.83)

पूर्वदत्तमथान्नाद्यं प्राप्नोति स्वयमेव च॥ स्वयं येन न दत्तं च तथा दाता न विद्यते

pūrvadattamathānnādyaṁ prāpnoti svayameva ca svayaṁ yena na dattaṁ ca tathā dātā na vidyate

"He receives of himself even the food offered earlier; but for one who himself gave nothing in life, and for whom no one now offers, no such gift comes."

Verse 84 (skanda.1.85.84)

न चाप्युदकदातासौ क्षुत्तृड्भ्यामतिपीड्यते॥ बांधवैस्तूदकं दत्तं नदीभूत्वोपतिष्ठति

na cāpyudakadātāsau kṣuttṛḍbhyāmatipīḍyate bāṁdhavaistūdakaṁ dattaṁ nadībhūtvopatiṣṭhati

"One who has given water in his lifetime is not tormented by hunger and thirst; the water offered by his kinsmen becomes, for him, a river, ever flowing at hand."

Verse 85 (skanda.1.85.85)

मासिमासि च यच्छ्राद्धं षोडशश्राद्धपूर्वकम्॥ अत्र न क्रियते यस्य प्रेतत्वात्स न मुच्यते

māsimāsi ca yacchrāddhaṁ ṣoḍaśaśrāddhapūrvakam atra na kriyate yasya pretatvātsa na mucyate

"For whom the monthly shraddha, along with the preceding sixteen shraddhas, is not performed here on earth, that soul is not released from its state as a preta."

Verse 86 (skanda.1.85.86)

मानुषेण दिनेनैव प्रेतलोके दिनं स्मृतम्॥ तस्माद्दिनेदिने देयं प्रेतायान्नं च वत्सरम्

mānuṣeṇa dinenaiva pretaloke dinaṁ smṛtam tasmāddinedine deyaṁ pretāyānnaṁ ca vatsaram

"A single human day is reckoned as a single day in the world of the pretas; therefore food should be offered to the preta day after day, for a full year."

Verse 87 (skanda.1.85.87)

तं च स्माशानिकानाम गणा याम्या भयावहाः॥ शीतवातातपोपेतं तत्र रक्षंति पापिनम्

taṁ ca smāśānikānāma gaṇā yāmyā bhayāvahāḥ śītavātātapopetaṁ tatra rakṣaṁti pāpinam

"And there, dreadful bands of Yama's cremation-ground attendants keep watch over the sinner, exposed as he is to cold, wind, and heat."

Verse 88 (skanda.1.85.88)

यथेह बन्धने कश्चिद्रक्ष्यते विषमैर्नरैः॥ प्रेतपिंडा न दीयंते षोडशश्राद्धपूर्वकाः

yatheha bandhane kaścidrakṣyate viṣamairnaraiḥ pretapiṁḍā na dīyaṁte ṣoḍaśaśrāddhapūrvakāḥ

"Just as here on earth a prisoner is kept under guard by harsh men — so it is with one for whom the preta-offerings, preceded by the sixteen shraddhas, are not given."

Verse 89 (skanda.1.85.89)

यस्य तस्य न मोक्षोऽस्ति प्रेतत्वाद्वै युगैरपि॥ ततः सपिण्डीकरणे बांधवैः सुकृते नरः

yasya tasya na mokṣo'sti pretatvādvai yugairapi tataḥ sapiṇḍīkaraṇe bāṁdhavaiḥ sukṛte naraḥ

"For such a one there is no release from the state of a preta even after ages pass. Then, when the rite of sapindikarana is duly performed by his kinsmen, the man—"

Verse 90 (skanda.1.85.90)

पूर्णे संवत्सरे देहं संपूर्णं प्रतिपद्यते॥ पापात्मा घोररूपं तु धार्मिको दिव्यमुत्तमम्

pūrṇe saṁvatsare dehaṁ saṁpūrṇaṁ pratipadyate pāpātmā ghorarūpaṁ tu dhārmiko divyamuttamam

"—upon the completion of the year attains a complete body; the sinful soul attains a horrific form, while the righteous soul attains a supreme, divine form."

Verse 91 (skanda.1.85.91)

ततः स नरकं याति स्वर्गं वा स्वेन कर्मणा॥ रौरवाद्याश्च नरकाः पातालतलसंस्थिताः

tataḥ sa narakaṁ yāti svargaṁ vā svena karmaṇā rauravādyāśca narakāḥ pātālatalasaṁsthitāḥ

"Then, by his own karma, he goes either to hell or to heaven; the hells, beginning with Raurava, are situated at the base of Patala."

Verse 92 (skanda.1.85.92)

सुराद्याः सत्यपर्यंताः स्वर्लोकस्योर्ध्वमाश्रिताः॥ इतिहासपुराणेषु वेदस्मृतिषु यच्छुतम्

surādyāḥ satyaparyaṁtāḥ svarlokasyordhvamāśritāḥ itihāsapurāṇeṣu vedasmṛtiṣu yacchutam

"The heavens, from Suraloka up to Satyaloka, are situated above Svarloka. What has been heard of in the Itihasas and Puranas, and in the Vedas and Smritis—"

Verse 93 (skanda.1.85.93)

पुण्यं तेन भवेत्स्वर्गो नरकस्तद्विपर्ययात्॥ तत्रापि कालवसति कर्मणामनुरूपतः

puṇyaṁ tena bhavetsvargo narakastadviparyayāt tatrāpi kālavasati karmaṇāmanurūpataḥ

"—by that, namely merit, heaven results, and by its opposite, hell. Even there, the length of one's stay corresponds to the nature of one's deeds."

Verse 94 (skanda.1.85.94)

अर्वाक्सपिंडीकरणं यस्य वर्षाच्च वा कृतम्॥ प्रेतत्वमपि तस्यापि प्रोक्तं संवत्सरं धुवम्

arvāksapiṁḍīkaraṇaṁ yasya varṣācca vā kṛtam pretatvamapi tasyāpi proktaṁ saṁvatsaraṁ dhuvam

"For one whose sapindikarana is performed before the year is out, or exactly at its completion, his state as a preta is still declared, without fail, to last a full year."

Verse 95 (skanda.1.85.95)

यैरिष्टं च त्रिभिर्मेधैरर्चितं वा सुरत्रयम्॥ प्रेतलोकं न ते यांति तथा ये समरे हताः

yairiṣṭaṁ ca tribhirmedhairarcitaṁ vā suratrayam pretalokaṁ na te yāṁti tathā ye samare hatāḥ

"Those who have performed sacrifice through the three great rites, or who have worshipped the three gods, do not go to the world of the pretas; nor do those slain in battle."

Verse 96 (skanda.1.85.96)

शुद्धेन पुण्येन दिवं च शुद्धां पापेन शुद्धेन तथा तमोंधम्॥ मिश्रेण स्वर्गं नरकं च याति देहस्तथैवास्य भवेच्च तादृक्

śuddhena puṇyena divaṁ ca śuddhāṁ pāpena śuddhena tathā tamoṁdham miśreṇa svargaṁ narakaṁ ca yāti dehastathaivāsya bhavecca tādṛk

"By pure merit alone, one attains a pure heaven; by pure sin alone, blind darkness; and by a mixture of both, one goes to a mixture of heaven and hell — and his body too becomes of that same mixed nature."

Verse 97 (skanda.1.85.97)

प्रश्नत्रयं चेति तव प्रणीतमुत्पत्तिमृत्यू परलोकवासः॥ यथा गुरुर्मे समुदाजहार किं भूय इच्छत्युत तद्वदामि

praśnatrayaṁ ceti tava praṇītamutpattimṛtyū paralokavāsaḥ yathā gururme samudājahāra kiṁ bhūya icchatyuta tadvadāmi

"Thus have your three questions been answered — on birth, on death, and on dwelling in the other world — even as my own guru once declared them to me. What more do you wish to hear? Tell me, and I shall speak of that too."