The Account of the Hells

Verse 1 (skanda.5.29.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । तीर्थस्याऽनरकस्यास्य माहात्म्यं शृणु सांप्रतम् । तीर्थे चानरके स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा देवं महेश्वरम् । न पश्येन्नरकं क्वापि यद्यपि ब्रह्महा भवेत्

sanatkumāra uvāca tīrthasyā'narakasyāsya māhātmyaṁ śṛṇu sāṁpratam tīrthe cānarake snātvā dṛṣṭvā devaṁ maheśvaram na paśyennarakaṁ kvāpi yadyapi brahmahā bhavet

Sanatkumāra said: "Now hear the glory of this ford, Anaraka; having bathed at the ford Anaraka and beheld the great god, one never sees hell anywhere, even were he a slayer of a brāhmaṇa."

Verse 2 (skanda.5.29.2)

व्यास उवाच । कियंतो नरकास्तात कस्मिन्स्थाने प्रतिष्ठिताः । पतन्ति केन पापेन पापिनस्तेषु दुःखिताः

vyāsa uvāca kiyaṁto narakāstāta kasminsthāne pratiṣṭhitāḥ patanti kena pāpena pāpinasteṣu duḥkhitāḥ

Vyāsa said: "O father, how many hells are there, and in what place are they established? By what sin do sinners fall into them, suffering there?"

Verse 3 (skanda.5.29.3)

तत्कथं प्राणिनस्तत्र गच्छन्ति पापकारिणः । एतत्सर्वं समाख्याहि यदि तुष्टोऽसि मे प्रभो

tatkathaṁ prāṇinastatra gacchanti pāpakāriṇaḥ etatsarvaṁ samākhyāhi yadi tuṣṭo'si me prabho

"How do sinful beings go there? Declare all this to me, O Lord, if you are pleased with me."

Verse 4 (skanda.5.29.4)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । शृणुष्व नरकान्व्यास तावन्तो यत्र संस्थिताः । न लभ्यंते यथा चैते सत्यमेतद्वदामि ते

sanatkumāra uvāca śṛṇuṣva narakānvyāsa tāvanto yatra saṁsthitāḥ na labhyaṁte yathā caite satyametadvadāmi te

Sanatkumāra said: "Listen, O Vyāsa, to the hells, how many there are and where they are situated, and how they may be avoided — this truth I shall tell you."

Verse 5 (skanda.5.29.5)

पातालनि लयाः सर्वे विख्याता दुःखदाः सदा । पुण्यप्लावेन ते सर्वे तिर्यग्यांति स्वकर्मभिः

pātālani layāḥ sarve vikhyātā duḥkhadāḥ sadā puṇyaplāvena te sarve tiryagyāṁti svakarmabhiḥ

"All the hells have their abode in the netherworld, ever renowned as bringers of suffering. By a flood of merit, beings otherwise destined for them all pass by instead, according to their own deeds."

Verse 6 (skanda.5.29.6)

रौरवः सूकरो रौद्रस्तालो विनशकस्तथा । तप्तकुम्भस्तु तप्तायो महाज्वालस्तथैव च

rauravaḥ sūkaro raudrastālo vinaśakastathā taptakumbhastu taptāyo mahājvālastathaiva ca

"Raurava, Sūkara, Raudra, Tāla, and Vinaśaka likewise; Taptakumbha, Taptāyas, and likewise Mahājvāla --"

Verse 7 (skanda.5.29.7)

कुंभीपाकः क्रकचनस्तथा देवातिदारुणः । कृमिभुक्तिश्च रक्ताख्यो लालाभक्षश्च गंडकः

kuṁbhīpākaḥ krakacanastathā devātidāruṇaḥ kṛmibhuktiśca raktākhyo lālābhakṣaśca gaṁḍakaḥ

"-- Kumbhīpāka, Krakacana, and Devātidāruṇa; Kṛmibhukti, and the one called Rakta, and Lālābhakṣa, and Gaṇḍaka --"

Verse 8 (skanda.5.29.8)

अधोमुखश्चास्थिभंगो यंत्रपीडनकस्तथा । संदंशो रुधिरांगश्च श्वभोज्यश्च कुभोजनः

adhomukhaścāsthibhaṁgo yaṁtrapīḍanakastathā saṁdaṁśo rudhirāṁgaśca śvabhojyaśca kubhojanaḥ

"-- Adhomukha, Asthibhaṅga, and likewise Yantrapīḍanaka; Sandaṃśa, and Rudhirāṅga, and Śvabhojya, and Kubhojana --"

Verse 9 (skanda.5.29.9)

इत्येवमादयः सर्वे नरका भृशदारुणाः । यमस्य विषये संति स्तुता हि भयदायिनः

ityevamādayaḥ sarve narakā bhṛśadāruṇāḥ yamasya viṣaye saṁti stutā hi bhayadāyinaḥ

"-- these and others like them, all exceedingly terrible hells, exist in the domain of Yama, spoken of as bringers of fear."

Verse 10 (skanda.5.29.10)

पतंति पुरुषास्तेषु पापकर्मरताश्च ये । पतिताश्च प्रपच्यंते नराः कर्मानुरूपतः

pataṁti puruṣāsteṣu pāpakarmaratāśca ye patitāśca prapacyaṁte narāḥ karmānurūpataḥ

"Men devoted to sinful deeds fall into them; and, having fallen, men are tormented according to their deeds."

Verse 11 (skanda.5.29.11)

यातनाभिर्विचित्राभी रौद्रकर्म क्षयाद्भृशम् । सुगाढं हस्तयोर्बद्धास्तप्तशृंखलया नराः

yātanābhirvicitrābhī raudrakarma kṣayādbhṛśam sugāḍhaṁ hastayorbaddhāstaptaśṛṁkhalayā narāḥ

"With varied torments, exceedingly, for the exhaustion of their terrible deeds — men bound tightly at the hands with red-hot chains --"

Verse 12 (skanda.5.29.12)

महावृक्षाग्रशृंगेषु लंब्यंते यमकिंकरैः । शोचंतः स्वानि कर्माणि तूष्णीं तिष्ठंति निश्चलाः

mahāvṛkṣāgraśṛṁgeṣu laṁbyaṁte yamakiṁkaraiḥ śocaṁtaḥ svāni karmāṇi tūṣṇīṁ tiṣṭhaṁti niścalāḥ

"-- are hung by the servants of Yama from the topmost points of great trees; grieving over their own deeds, they remain silent and motionless."

Verse 13 (skanda.5.29.13)

अग्निवर्णैः शंकुभिश्च लोहदंडैः सकंटकैः । हन्यंते किंकरैर्घोरैः समंतात्पापकारिणः

agnivarṇaiḥ śaṁkubhiśca lohadaṁḍaiḥ sakaṁṭakaiḥ hanyaṁte kiṁkarairghoraiḥ samaṁtātpāpakāriṇaḥ

"With fire-coloured spikes, and with iron rods set with thorns, sinners are struck on every side by the terrible servants of Yama."

Verse 14 (skanda.5.29.14)

तत्तत्क्षणात्प्रदीप्तेन वह्निना च विशेषतः । समंततः प्रक्षिप्यंते कृत्ताश्च जर्जरीकृताः

tattatkṣaṇātpradīptena vahninā ca viśeṣataḥ samaṁtataḥ prakṣipyaṁte kṛttāśca jarjarīkṛtāḥ

"Each moment, especially by blazing fire, they are cast about on every side, cut apart and shattered."

Verse 15 (skanda.5.29.15)

कूटसाक्षी तथाऽसम्यक्पक्षपातेन यो वदेत् । यश्चान्यदनृतं ब्रूयात्स नरो याति रौरवम्

kūṭasākṣī tathā'samyakpakṣapātena yo vadet yaścānyadanṛtaṁ brūyātsa naro yāti rauravam

"A false witness, and he who speaks improperly out of partiality, and he who speaks any other falsehood — that man goes to Raurava."

Verse 16 (skanda.5.29.16)

सुरापो ब्रह्महा हर्ता सुवर्णस्य च सूचकः । प्रयांति नरकांश्चैव तैः संसर्गमुपैति यः

surāpo brahmahā hartā suvarṇasya ca sūcakaḥ prayāṁti narakāṁścaiva taiḥ saṁsargamupaiti yaḥ

"The drinker of liquor, the slayer of a brāhmaṇa, the thief of gold, and the informer of such a theft — all these go to the hells, as does he who associates with them."

Verse 17 (skanda.5.29.17)

भ्रूणहा गुरुहंता च गोघ्नश्च मुनिसत्तम । यांत्येते नरकं रौद्रं ये च विश्वासघातकाः

bhrūṇahā guruhaṁtā ca goghnaśca munisattama yāṁtyete narakaṁ raudraṁ ye ca viśvāsaghātakāḥ

"O best of sages, the killer of an embryo, the slayer of a teacher, and the killer of a cow — these go to a terrible hell, as do those who betray trust."

Verse 18 (skanda.5.29.18)

तप्तलोष्ठेषु पच्यंते यस्तु भक्तं परित्यजेत् । स्नुषां सुतां च यो गच्छेन्महा ज्वाले स पात्यते

taptaloṣṭheṣu pacyaṁte yastu bhaktaṁ parityajet snuṣāṁ sutāṁ ca yo gacchenmahā jvāle sa pātyate

"They are cooked upon red-hot lumps of iron -- whoever abandons a devotee; and whoever approaches his daughter-in-law or his own daughter is cast into Mahājvāla."

Verse 19 (skanda.5.29.19)

कुंभीपाके प्रयात्येव पादैरूर्ध्वैरधोमुखः । करोति कर्म वै नित्यं यश्च गां प्रतिषेधयेत्

kuṁbhīpāke prayātyeva pādairūrdhvairadhomukhaḥ karoti karma vai nityaṁ yaśca gāṁ pratiṣedhayet

"He goes to Kumbhīpāka, head-down with feet upward, who habitually does forbidden deeds, and whoever prevents the proper use of a cow."

Verse 20 (skanda.5.29.20)

स्वामिद्रोही च यो रौद्रस्तप्तकुंभे स पात्यते । देवदूषयिता यश्च वेदविक्रयिकस्तथा

svāmidrohī ca yo raudrastaptakuṁbhe sa pātyate devadūṣayitā yaśca vedavikrayikastathā

"He who is treacherous to his master, that terrible one, is cast into Taptakumbha; and he who defiles the gods, and likewise he who sells the Vedas --"

Verse 21 (skanda.5.29.21)

परस्त्रीगामिनो ये च यांति क्रकचने तु ते । चौरोऽतिदारुणे याति मर्यादाभेदकस्तथा

parastrīgāmino ye ca yāṁti krakacane tu te cauro'tidāruṇe yāti maryādābhedakastathā

"-- those who go with other men's wives go to Krakacana. The thief goes to the hell Atidāruṇa, and likewise the transgressor of established boundaries."

Verse 22 (skanda.5.29.22)

देवद्विजपितृद्वेष्टा रत्नदूषयिता च यः । स याति कृमिभक्षे वै रक्ताख्ये च पतंति ते

devadvijapitṛdveṣṭā ratnadūṣayitā ca yaḥ sa yāti kṛmibhakṣe vai raktākhye ca pataṁti te

"He who hates gods, brāhmaṇas, and ancestors, and he who tampers with jewels — he goes to Kṛmibhakṣa, and they fall into the hell called Rakta."

Verse 23 (skanda.5.29.23)

पितृदेवगुरूणां च सपर्यां न करोति यः । लालाभक्षे स यात्युग्रे कूटकर्म करोति यः

pitṛdevagurūṇāṁ ca saparyāṁ na karoti yaḥ lālābhakṣe sa yātyugre kūṭakarma karoti yaḥ

"He who does not perform the worship due to ancestors, gods, and teachers goes to the terrible Lālābhakṣa, as does he who commits deceitful acts."

Verse 24 (skanda.5.29.24)

अंत्यजेभ्यो ग्रहीता च नरके यात्यधोमुखे । अस्थिभंगे प्रयात्येव एको मिष्टान्नभुङ्नरः

aṁtyajebhyo grahītā ca narake yātyadhomukhe asthibhaṁge prayātyeva eko miṣṭānnabhuṅnaraḥ

"He who accepts gifts from outcastes goes to the hell Adhomukha; the man who eats sweet food alone, without sharing, goes to Asthibhaṅga."

Verse 25 (skanda.5.29.25)

कृतघ्नः पिशुनः क्रूरः कूटमानी विडंबकः । यंत्रपीडनके याति परगुह्यप्रकाशकः

kṛtaghnaḥ piśunaḥ krūraḥ kūṭamānī viḍaṁbakaḥ yaṁtrapīḍanake yāti paraguhyaprakāśakaḥ

"The ungrateful man, the slanderer, the cruel one, the falsely proud, the mocker, and he who reveals another's secret go to Yantrapīḍana."

Verse 26 (skanda.5.29.26)

लाक्षामांसरसानां च तिलानां रसकस्य च । विक्रयी ब्राह्मणो याति श्वदंशे नात्र संशयः

lākṣāmāṁsarasānāṁ ca tilānāṁ rasakasya ca vikrayī brāhmaṇo yāti śvadaṁśe nātra saṁśayaḥ

"A brāhmaṇa who sells lac, meat, liquors, sesame, or salty rasaka goes to Śvadaṃśa — of this there is no doubt."

Verse 27 (skanda.5.29.27)

मधुहा ग्रामहंता च याति वैतरणीं नरः । वर्णाश्रमविरुद्धं च कर्म कुर्वंति ये नराः

madhuhā grāmahaṁtā ca yāti vaitaraṇīṁ naraḥ varṇāśramaviruddhaṁ ca karma kurvaṁti ye narāḥ

"The killer of a mendicant guest and the destroyer of a village go to Vaitaraṇī; and those men who perform deeds contrary to their caste and stage of life --"

Verse 28 (skanda.5.29.28)

कर्मणा मनसा वाचा महानद्यां प्रयांति ते । गुरूणामवमंता च शास्त्रदूषयिता च यः

karmaṇā manasā vācā mahānadyāṁ prayāṁti te gurūṇāmavamaṁtā ca śāstradūṣayitā ca yaḥ

"-- in deed, mind, and speech, go to the Great River. He who disrespects his teachers, and he who corrupts the scriptures --"

Verse 29 (skanda.5.29.29)

असिपत्रे प्रयात्येव तथा पर्वविलंघकः । धनयौवनमत्ता ये मर्यादाभेदिनो नराः

asipatre prayātyeva tathā parvavilaṁghakaḥ dhanayauvanamattā ye maryādābhedino narāḥ

"-- go to Asipatra, as does he who transgresses the observances of sacred days. Those men intoxicated with wealth and youth, transgressors of proper bounds --"

Verse 30 (skanda.5.29.30)

ते यांति नरके घोरे कृष्णसूत्रेऽतिदारुणे । असंस्कृतश्च यो विप्रो वृषलीं सेवते तु वै

te yāṁti narake ghore kṛṣṇasūtre'tidāruṇe asaṁskṛtaśca yo vipro vṛṣalīṁ sevate tu vai

"-- go to the terrible, most dreadful hell Kṛṣṇasūtra. And the brāhmaṇa who, uninitiated into the sacraments, consorts with a low-caste woman --"

Verse 31 (skanda.5.29.31)

वृषलीमिथुनो यश्च पततस्तावुभावपि । उच्छिष्टा ये स्पृशंतीह गावोऽग्निं जननीं द्विजान्

vṛṣalīmithuno yaśca patatastāvubhāvapi ucchiṣṭā ye spṛśaṁtīha gāvo'gniṁ jananīṁ dvijān

"-- and he who has union with a low-caste woman, both of them fall into hell. Those who, while still bearing the impurity of leftover food, touch a cow, fire, their mother, or a brāhmaṇa --"

Verse 32 (skanda.5.29.32)

ते पच्यंते कुभोज्ये च मित्र द्वेषी विशेषतः । पंक्तिभेदे दिवास्वप्रे ये नरोऽब्रह्मचारिणः

te pacyaṁte kubhojye ca mitra dveṣī viśeṣataḥ paṁktibhede divāsvapre ye naro'brahmacāriṇaḥ

"-- are cooked in Kubhojya, and especially the one who hates a friend. Those men who breach the seating-row at a meal fall into Divāsvapna, as do those who fail to keep chastity --"

Verse 33 (skanda.5.29.33)

पुत्रैरध्यापिता ये तै ते पतंति श्वभोजने । एते चान्ये च नरकाः शतशोऽ थ सहस्रशः

putrairadhyāpitā ye tai te pataṁti śvabhojane ete cānye ca narakāḥ śataśo' tha sahasraśaḥ

"-- and those who are taught the Veda by their own sons fall into Śvabhojana. These and other hells, in the hundreds and thousands --"

Verse 34 (skanda.5.29.34)

तत्र दुष्कृतकर्माणः पच्यंते यातनागताः । नृणां स्वर्गाश्च यावंतस्तावंतो निरयास्तथा

tatra duṣkṛtakarmāṇaḥ pacyaṁte yātanāgatāḥ nṛṇāṁ svargāśca yāvaṁtastāvaṁto nirayāstathā

"-- there, those of evil deeds are cooked, having gone to torment. As many as are the heavens for men, so many likewise are the hells."

Verse 35 (skanda.5.29.35)

पापं कृत्वा तु बहुलं प्रायश्चित्तपराङ्मुखाः । कृते पापे च वै तापो यस्य पुंसः प्रजायते

pāpaṁ kṛtvā tu bahulaṁ prāyaścittaparāṅmukhāḥ kṛte pāpe ca vai tāpo yasya puṁsaḥ prajāyate

"But even having committed abundant sin, for those not turned away from expiation — for that man in whom, once sin has been committed, remorse arises --"

Verse 36 (skanda.5.29.36)

प्रायश्चित्तं तु तस्यैकं शिवसंस्मरणं परम् । तस्मादहर्निशं शंभुं संस्मरन्पुरुषोत्तमः

prāyaścittaṁ tu tasyaikaṁ śivasaṁsmaraṇaṁ param tasmādaharniśaṁ śaṁbhuṁ saṁsmaranpuruṣottamaḥ

"-- for him there is one supreme expiation alone: the remembrance of Śiva. Therefore, the best of men, remembering Śambhu day and night --"

Verse 37 (skanda.5.29.37)

न याति नरकं शुद्धः संक्षीणाखिलपातकः । कार्तिकस्यासिते पक्षे कृष्णा या च चतुर्दशी । तस्यां दीपः प्रदातव्यो देवदेवस्य चाग्रतः

na yāti narakaṁ śuddhaḥ saṁkṣīṇākhilapātakaḥ kārtikasyāsite pakṣe kṛṣṇā yā ca caturdaśī tasyāṁ dīpaḥ pradātavyo devadevasya cāgrataḥ

"-- does not go to hell, being pure, all his sins utterly consumed. On the dark fourteenth of the dark fortnight of Kārtika, a lamp should be offered before the God of gods."