Description of the Hells: The Account of Yamalachala

Verse 1 (skanda.8.37.1)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततस्ते पितरस्तस्य प्रतिष्ठां स्वसुतं प्रति । सुशर्माणमिति ख्यातं कथयामासुरव्ययाः

sanatkumāra uvāca | tataste pitarastasya pratiṣṭhāṁ svasutaṁ prati | suśarmāṇamiti khyātaṁ kathayāmāsuravyayāḥ

Sanatkumara said: Then those imperishable ancestors told their own son about one of great renown, known by the name Sushrama.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.37.2)

पितर ऊचुः । अयन्ते जनकः पुत्र सुशर्मा लोकविश्रुतः । कथायिष्यति तत्त्वेन यत्त्वया समुदाहृतम्

pitara ūcuḥ | ayante janakaḥ putra suśarmā lokaviśrutaḥ | kathāyiṣyati tattvena yattvayā samudāhṛtam

The ancestors said: O son, this world-renowned Sushrama is our own progenitor; whatever you have asked, he shall relate to you exactly as it is.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.37.3)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । ततः सुशर्मा विप्रर्षे तमामन्त्र्य महामनाः । उवाचेदं महासत्त्वं सुकेशं गणसत्तमम्

sanatkumāra uvāca | tataḥ suśarmā viprarṣe tamāmantrya mahāmanāḥ | uvācedaṁ mahāsattvaṁ sukeśaṁ gaṇasattamam

Sanatkumara said: Then the great-minded sage Sushrama, addressing that most mighty Sukesha, foremost of the ganas, spoke thus.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.37.4)

सुशर्मोवाच । सुकेश न वयं साक्षात् पतिता नरकार्णवे । त्वय्यालम्बितचित्तास्तु पतिष्यामस्त्वया विना

suśarmovāca | sukeśa na vayaṁ sākṣāt patitā narakārṇave | tvayyālambitacittāstu patiṣyāmastvayā vinā

Sushrama said: O Sukesha, we ourselves have not actually fallen into the ocean of hell; yet, our minds fixed upon you alone, we would have fallen without you.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.37.5)

किन्तु तद्यातनाभीताश्चिंतयामस्त्वहर्निशम् । कीदृशास्ते महाघोरा नरकाः श्रुतिदारुणाः

kintu tadyātanābhītāściṁtayāmastvaharniśam | kīdṛśāste mahāghorā narakāḥ śrutidāruṇāḥ

But, fearful of that torment, we think day and night: What are those great and terrible hells like, dreadful even to hear of?

Verse 6 (skanda.8.37.6)

ततस्ते कथयिष्याम यथाप्रज्ञं यथाश्रुतम् । गणेश्वरेश शृणु मे नरका ये प्रकीर्तिताः

tataste kathayiṣyāma yathāprajñaṁ yathāśrutam | gaṇeśvareśa śṛṇu me narakā ye prakīrtitāḥ

Therefore we shall tell you, according to our understanding and what we have heard. O lord of the lords of the ganas, hear from me the hells that have been declared.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.37.7)

दुरासदा महादुर्गाः सर्वप्राणिभयंकराः । प्रथमो नरकस्तत्र विश्रुतो यमलाचलः

durāsadā mahādurgāḥ sarvaprāṇibhayaṁkarāḥ | prathamo narakastatra viśruto yamalācalaḥ

They are difficult to approach, great fortresses, terrifying to all beings. Among them, the first hell, renowned, is Yamalachala.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.37.8)

द्वितीयः शाल्मलो नाम तृतीयः कालसूत्रकः । कुम्भीपाकश्चतुर्थश्च असिपत्रवनोपरः

dvitīyaḥ śālmalo nāma tṛtīyaḥ kālasūtrakaḥ | kumbhīpākaścaturthaśca asipatravanoparaḥ

The second is named Shalmala, the third Kalasutraka; the fourth Kumbhipaka, and after it Asipatravana.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.37.9)

तथा वैतरणी षष्ठः सप्तमश्चाप्ययोघनः । अष्टमः पद्म इत्येव महापद्मस्तथापरः

tathā vaitaraṇī ṣaṣṭhaḥ saptamaścāpyayoghanaḥ | aṣṭamaḥ padma ityeva mahāpadmastathāparaḥ

The sixth is Vaitarani, the seventh Ayoghana; the eighth is called Padma, and after it Mahapadma.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.37.10)

रौरवो दशमश्चैव महारौरव एव च । द्वादशश्च तमो नाम तमस्तमतरस्तथा

rauravo daśamaścaiva mahāraurava eva ca | dvādaśaśca tamo nāma tamastamatarastathā

The tenth is Raurava, and likewise Maharaurava; the twelfth is named Tamas, and after it Tamastamatara.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.37.11)

एते महान्तो नरका उच्छ्रायाश्च तथापरे । एकैकस्योच्छ्रया ह्यष्टौ नरकास्तेपि कीर्तिताः

ete mahānto narakā ucchrāyāśca tathāpare | ekaikasyocchrayā hyaṣṭau narakāstepi kīrtitāḥ

These are the great hells; and there are, besides these, subsidiary hells called Ucchraya as well. Each has eight such Ucchrayas, and these too are reckoned as hells.

Verse 12 (skanda.8.37.12)

उच्छ्रयेषु सविश्रामा यातना भवतीश्वर । इतरेषु त्वविश्रामो विशेषो ह्येष कीर्तितः

ucchrayeṣu saviśrāmā yātanā bhavatīśvara | itareṣu tvaviśrāmo viśeṣo hyeṣa kīrtitaḥ

O lord, in the Ucchrayas the torment comes with respite, while in the others it is without any respite; this is declared to be their distinguishing feature.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.37.13)

तेषां सततदुःखं तु नॄणां पापेन कर्मणा । भेदः क्षयाच्च पापस्य क्रमस्तेषां प्रवक्ष्यते

teṣāṁ satataduḥkhaṁ tu nṝṇāṁ pāpena karmaṇā | bhedaḥ kṣayācca pāpasya kramasteṣāṁ pravakṣyate

Men suffer unceasing pain in them because of their sinful deeds; the distinction that arises as sin is exhausted, and its sequence, shall now be told.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.37.14)

प्रमाणं तु गणेशेह न शक्यं वक्तुमेकशः । विभुत्वात् कर्मणस्तस्य क्षयादन्तं प्रपश्यति

pramāṇaṁ tu gaṇeśeha na śakyaṁ vaktumekaśaḥ | vibhutvāt karmaṇastasya kṣayādantaṁ prapaśyati

O lord of the ganas, their extent cannot be told in one single account; because of the vastness of that deed, its end is seen only through its exhaustion.

Verse 15 (skanda.8.37.15)

नरके पतितः सर्वो नान्तं तस्य प्रपश्यति । क्षीणपापाः प्रपश्यन्ति यथा तच्छृणु मेव्यय

narake patitaḥ sarvo nāntaṁ tasya prapaśyati | kṣīṇapāpāḥ prapaśyanti yathā tacchṛṇu mevyaya

Whoever falls into hell does not see its end; only those whose sin has been exhausted come to see it. O imperishable one, hear from me how that comes to be.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.37.16)

पतितो नरके घोरे दुष्कृती स्वेन कर्मणा । यात्यमानोतिकरुणं दिशमेकां प्रपद्यते

patito narake ghore duṣkṛtī svena karmaṇā | yātyamānotikaruṇaṁ diśamekāṁ prapadyate

The evildoer, fallen into the terrible hell by his own deed, undergoing torment most piteously, makes his way toward one direction.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.37.17)

स गत्वा शीघ्रमध्वानं बहुयोजनविस्तृतम् । बहूनन्यान् नासाद्य तस्यान्तं विनिवर्तते

sa gatvā śīghramadhvānaṁ bahuyojanavistṛtam | bahūnanyān nāsādya tasyāntaṁ vinivartate

Traveling swiftly along a path stretching many yojanas, encountering much else along the way, yet failing to find its end, he turns back.

Verse 18 (skanda.8.37.18)

विनिवृत्य ततो भूयो यात्यमानो विचेतनः । अन्या दिशं पुनर्गत्वा तथैव विनिवर्तते

vinivṛtya tato bhūyo yātyamāno vicetanaḥ | anyā diśaṁ punargatvā tathaiva vinivartate

Turning back from there, tormented once more, senseless, he goes again toward another direction and likewise returns.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.37.19)

एवं सर्वा दिशो गत्वा ह्यन्तमप्राप्य दुःखितः । यात्यते करुणं तत्र न कश्चिदिह विद्यते

evaṁ sarvā diśo gatvā hyantamaprāpya duḥkhitaḥ | yātyate karuṇaṁ tatra na kaścidiha vidyate

Thus, having gone in every direction and yet found no end, he suffers, undergoing torment piteously there; no one at all comes to his aid.

Verse 20 (skanda.8.37.20)

यातनान्ते त्वकरुणं पापस्यान्ते ततः पुनः । प्रपश्यते परिमितं परिच्छिन्नं च सर्वशः

yātanānte tvakaruṇaṁ pāpasyānte tataḥ punaḥ | prapaśyate parimitaṁ paricchinnaṁ ca sarvaśaḥ

At the very end of that torment, most mercilessly, and finally when his sin too is exhausted, he then sees it as measured and wholly bounded.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.37.21)

द्वारेण महता युक्तं ततस्तस्माद्विमुच्यते । एवं हि नरकास्सर्वे ह्यनन्ताश्चाक्षयाव्ययाः

dvāreṇa mahatā yuktaṁ tatastasmādvimucyate | evaṁ hi narakāssarve hyanantāścākṣayāvyayāḥ

Endowed with a great gateway, he is then released from it. Thus indeed are all the hells endless, imperishable, and undecaying.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.37.22)

न तेषां परिसंख्यानं योजनैस्संविधीयते । येन कालेन तु पुनर्जन्तुः पतति दुःखितः

na teṣāṁ parisaṁkhyānaṁ yojanaissaṁvidhīyate | yena kālena tu punarjantuḥ patati duḥkhitaḥ

Their measure cannot be reckoned in yojanas. Rather, the time during which the suffering creature falls again.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.37.23)

यथा चैतच्छृणु विभो कथ्यमानं मयानघ । कृत्वा पापानि कर्माणि क्षयान्ते दुष्टचेतनः

yathā caitacchṛṇu vibho kathyamānaṁ mayānagha | kṛtvā pāpāni karmāṇi kṣayānte duṣṭacetanaḥ

O sinless one, hear this as it is now told by me. Having committed sinful deeds, at the end, that one of wicked mind.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.37.24)

व्याध्याधियुक्तः क्लेशेन त्यजति स्वान्तनून् ततः । यमदूतैर्महापाशैर्बद्ध्वा दुःखसमीरितः

vyādhyādhiyuktaḥ kleśena tyajati svāntanūn tataḥ | yamadūtairmahāpāśairbaddhvā duḥkhasamīritaḥ

Beset with disease and mental anguish, he casts off his body amid suffering; then, driven by pain, he is bound with mighty nooses by the messengers of Yama.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.37.25)

विषमेण पथा देव नीयते विकृताकृतिः । अयोमयैः कण्टकैश्च विध्यमानस्ततस्ततः

viṣameṇa pathā deva nīyate vikṛtākṛtiḥ | ayomayaiḥ kaṇṭakaiśca vidhyamānastatastataḥ

O God, his form distorted, he is led along a rugged path, pierced here and there by thorns of iron.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.37.26)

केशमज्जास्थिपंकैश्च दिह्यमानस्समन्ततः । विषमेषु च गर्तेषु प्रपतन्भिद्यते पुनः

keśamajjāsthipaṁkaiśca dihyamānassamantataḥ | viṣameṣu ca garteṣu prapatanbhidyate punaḥ

Smeared all over with the mire of hair, marrow, and bone, falling into rugged pits, he is again pierced.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.37.27)

क्वचिच्चोपलवर्षेण महता सन्निकीर्यते । तत्र भिन्नशिरोजानुपादबाहूरूबन्धनः

kvaciccopalavarṣeṇa mahatā sannikīryate | tatra bhinnaśirojānupādabāhūrūbandhanaḥ

In one place he is overwhelmed by a great shower of stones, where his head, knees, feet, arms, and thighs are bound fast and shattered.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.37.28)

कृष्यते यमदूतैश्च पुनः कण्टकिभिर्द्रुमैः । यात्यते भिद्यते चैव वल्लीभिश्चावबद्ध्यते

kṛṣyate yamadūtaiśca punaḥ kaṇṭakibhirdrumaiḥ | yātyate bhidyate caiva vallībhiścāvabaddhyate

He is dragged by Yama's messengers, again entangled among thorny trees, is tormented, pierced, and bound fast by creepers.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.37.29)

एवं बहुविधाकारैर्दुःखदैः पथिभिः प्रभो । नीयमानो वशः क्लेशान् प्राप्नोति यमसादनम्

evaṁ bahuvidhākārairduḥkhadaiḥ pathibhiḥ prabho | nīyamāno vaśaḥ kleśān prāpnoti yamasādanam

O Lord, thus led along many kinds of painful paths, subdued and enduring afflictions, he arrives at last at the abode of Yama.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.37.30)

स ततो यममप्राप्य दूरादेव यमाज्ञया । चित्रगुप्तमुपागम्य श्राव्यते कर्म यत्कृतम्

sa tato yamamaprāpya dūrādeva yamājñayā | citraguptamupāgamya śrāvyate karma yatkṛtam

There, without reaching Yama himself, but by Yama's own command, from a distance, he is brought before Chitragupta, where whatever deeds he has done are read out to him.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.37.31)

सोमोग्निर्वरुणो वायुः सूर्यश्चेति तदा नरम् । साक्षिणस्तत्र जन्तूनां ब्रुवते यत् कृताकृतम्

somognirvaruṇo vāyuḥ sūryaśceti tadā naram | sākṣiṇastatra jantūnāṁ bruvate yat kṛtākṛtam

Then Soma, Agni, Varuna, Vayu, and Surya, becoming witnesses there of that man's deeds, declare whatever he has done or left undone.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.37.32)

उक्तो विभावितश्चैव चित्रगुप्तेन चोषितः । नरके पात्यते आर्त्त ऊर्ध्वपादो ह्यधःशिराः

ukto vibhāvitaścaiva citraguptena coṣitaḥ | narake pātyate ārtta ūrdhvapādo hyadhaḥśirāḥ

Thus declared, examined, and reprimanded by Chitragupta, that suffering being is cast into hell, feet upward and head hanging down.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.37.33)

तोमरैश्चातितीक्षणाग्रैश्शरैश्चाथ परश्वधैः । भिन्दिपालैर्मुद्गरैश्च अतिभिर्दीर्घवेधनैः

tomaraiścātitīkṣaṇāgraiśśaraiścātha paraśvadhaiḥ | bhindipālairmudgaraiśca atibhirdīrghavedhanaiḥ

With extremely sharp-tipped javelins, with arrows, with axes, with short spears and clubs, and with arrows that pierce deep.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.37.34)

परिघैः करपत्रैश्च वज्रैष्टंकैर्हलोपलैः । कीलैश्च मुशलैश्चैव क्षारपिष्टेन चैव हि

parighaiḥ karapatraiśca vajraiṣṭaṁkairhalopalaiḥ | kīlaiśca muśalaiścaiva kṣārapiṣṭena caiva hi

With iron bars, saws, thunderbolts, chisels, ploughshares and stones, with spikes and pestles, and with caustic powder as well.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.37.35)

प्रदीप्तैश्चायुधैर्घोरैरग्निवर्षेण चाप्युत । हन्यमानो दिवारात्रं विनदन् करुणं बहु

pradīptaiścāyudhairghorairagnivarṣeṇa cāpyuta | hanyamāno divārātraṁ vinadan karuṇaṁ bahu

Struck too by blazing, terrible weapons and by a rain of fire, beaten day and night, he wails most piteously.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.37.36)

वर्षाणां तु सहस्रेण नरकं प्राप्नुते शुभम् । स तत्र पतितो भूयो यात्यमानः सुदुःखितः

varṣāṇāṁ tu sahasreṇa narakaṁ prāpnute śubham | sa tatra patito bhūyo yātyamānaḥ suduḥkhitaḥ

After a thousand years, he reaches the hell itself; fallen there once more, greatly afflicted, he undergoes torment again.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.37.37)

वर्षकोटिमविश्रान्तं निरयान्तं प्रपद्यते । महानरकमुक्तश्च उच्छ्रयान्तरमाश्रितः

varṣakoṭimaviśrāntaṁ nirayāntaṁ prapadyate | mahānarakamuktaśca ucchrayāntaramāśritaḥ

For ten million years, without respite, he reaches the end of that hell. Freed from the great hell, he then comes to rest in one of the subsidiary Ucchrayas.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.37.38)

शीतेन वायुना स्पृष्टः सुखं तत्र स विन्दति । स तं विश्राममासाद्य विस्मृतो यातनां तदा

śītena vāyunā spṛṣṭaḥ sukhaṁ tatra sa vindati | sa taṁ viśrāmamāsādya vismṛto yātanāṁ tadā

Touched there by a cool breeze, he finds happiness; attaining that respite, he then forgets his torment.

Verse 39 (skanda.8.37.39)

मुहूर्त्तमाहृते स्वप्ने राक्षसेनापकृष्यते । स तेन कृष्यमाणश्च भूयो दुःखशुचार्दितः

muhūrttamāhṛte svapne rākṣasenāpakṛṣyate | sa tena kṛṣyamāṇaśca bhūyo duḥkhaśucārditaḥ

But in that brief, dream-like moment, a rakshasa drags him away; dragged by that demon, he is again afflicted with grief and sorrow.

Verse 40 (skanda.8.37.40)

करुणं बहुधातीव प्रविलप्यावतिष्ठते । ततो भूयः समाकृष्य यातनायां स राक्षसः

karuṇaṁ bahudhātīva pravilapyāvatiṣṭhate | tato bhūyaḥ samākṛṣya yātanāyāṁ sa rākṣasaḥ

He stands there, wailing most piteously again and again. Then that rakshasa drags him back once more into torment.

Verse 41 (skanda.8.37.41)

यातयत्येव तं जन्तुं सविश्रामं सचेतसम् । तत्र वर्षसहस्रं वै यातितः पुनरेव सः

yātayatyeva taṁ jantuṁ saviśrāmaṁ sacetasam | tatra varṣasahasraṁ vai yātitaḥ punareva saḥ

He tortures that being once again, who had grown conscious through his respite; there he is tormented once more for a thousand years.

Verse 42 (skanda.8.37.42)

अन्यस्मिन्नुच्छ्रये घोरे यात्यते तावदेव हि । एवं स उच्छ्रयान् प्राप्य अष्टौ पापेन कर्मणा

anyasminnucchraye ghore yātyate tāvadeva hi | evaṁ sa ucchrayān prāpya aṣṭau pāpena karmaṇā

Then in another dreadful Ucchraya he is tormented for just as long. Thus, because of his sinful deed, he passes through all eight Ucchrayas.

Verse 43 (skanda.8.37.43)

संसारे कृमिकीटादिजन्तुः संप्रतिपद्यते । ये तु गच्छन्ति तान् घोरान् नरकान् पुरुषाधमाः

saṁsāre kṛmikīṭādijantuḥ saṁpratipadyate | ye tu gacchanti tān ghorān narakān puruṣādhamāḥ

Then, in the round of rebirth, he takes the form of a worm, an insect, and the like. Now, as for those base men who go to those dreadful hells.

Verse 44 (skanda.8.37.44)

तानहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि तव पुत्र समासतः । प्रथमो यो मया प्रोक्तो नरको यमलाचलः

tānahaṁ saṁpravakṣyāmi tava putra samāsataḥ | prathamo yo mayā prokto narako yamalācalaḥ

O son, I shall now tell you about them in brief. The first hell I have spoken of is Yamalachala.

Verse 45 (skanda.8.37.45)

यात्यन्ते तत्र पुरुषा महानिरयगामिनः । पर्वतौ द्वौ महासत्वसिंहव्याघ्रसमाकुलौ

yātyante tatra puruṣā mahānirayagāminaḥ | parvatau dvau mahāsatvasiṁhavyāghrasamākulau

There, men bound for the great hell suffer torment. There are two mountains there, thronged with mighty lions and tigers.

Verse 46 (skanda.8.37.46)

शरभेभसमाकीर्णौ बहुसर्पसमाकुलौ । पक्षिभिर्विविधाकारैः पुरुषैश्चोद्यतायुधैः

śarabhebhasamākīrṇau bahusarpasamākulau | pakṣibhirvividhākāraiḥ puruṣaiścodyatāyudhaiḥ

Thronged with sharabhas and elephants, teeming with many serpents, filled with birds of varied form and with men bearing raised weapons.

Verse 47 (skanda.8.37.47)

वृक्षैरपर्ण्णैस्संयुक्तौ सूचीभिर्वज्रकण्टकैः । तयोरन्तरमेकं वै समं सूचीभिरावृतम्

vṛkṣairaparṇṇaissaṁyuktau sūcībhirvajrakaṇṭakaiḥ | tayorantaramekaṁ vai samaṁ sūcībhirāvṛtam

Set with leafless trees and needle-sharp thorns hard as adamant. Between those two mountains lies a level space, covered over with needles.

Verse 48 (skanda.8.37.48)

ऊर्ध्वाभिर्वज्रतुण्डाभिरभेद्याभिस्तथैव च । अन्यतः पुरुषैर्घोरैः शस्त्रपाणिभिरावृतौ

ūrdhvābhirvajratuṇḍābhirabhedyābhistathaiva ca | anyataḥ puruṣairghoraiḥ śastrapāṇibhirāvṛtau

Standing upright, with tips hard as adamant, and impenetrable. On the other side, those two mountains are surrounded by dreadful men, weapons in hand.

Verse 49 (skanda.8.37.49)

प्राकारेण च लौहेन समन्तात् परिवारितौ । आकाशे चापि लौहेन तौ जालेन समावृतौ

prākāreṇa ca lauhena samantāt parivāritau | ākāśe cāpi lauhena tau jālena samāvṛtau

They are surrounded on every side by a wall of iron, and even overhead are covered by a net of iron.

Verse 50 (skanda.8.37.50)

यात्यन्ते तत्र पुरुषा ये वै स्त्रियमनिच्छतीम् । आक्रमन्ति परक्यां वै कन्यादूषक एव च

yātyante tatra puruṣā ye vai striyamanicchatīm | ākramanti parakyāṁ vai kanyādūṣaka eva ca

There suffer torment those men who violate an unwilling woman, or another man's wife, and those who violate a maiden.

Verse 51 (skanda.8.37.51)

न्यासापहारकश्चैव तथा मांसापहारकः । रसापहारकश्चैव यश्चापि परदूषकः

nyāsāpahārakaścaiva tathā māṁsāpahārakaḥ | rasāpahārakaścaiva yaścāpi paradūṣakaḥ

One who steals a deposit entrusted to him, one who steals meat, one who steals sap or juice, and one who corrupts others.

Verse 52 (skanda.8.37.52)

इन्द्रियग्रामघाती च मिथ्यालिङ्गी तथैव च । मृगश्वापदहन्ता च पृष्ठमांसाशिनश्च ये

indriyagrāmaghātī ca mithyāliṅgī tathaiva ca | mṛgaśvāpadahantā ca pṛṣṭhamāṁsāśinaśca ye

One who mutilates the array of the senses, one who wears a false religious guise, one who slays deer and beasts of prey, and those who eat the flesh from an animal's back.

Verse 53 (skanda.8.37.53)

वृथामांसाशिनो ये च हिंसां ये च प्रकुर्वते । एते नराधमाः पुत्र गच्छन्ति यमलाचलम्

vṛthāmāṁsāśino ye ca hiṁsāṁ ye ca prakurvate | ete narādhamāḥ putra gacchanti yamalācalam

Those who eat meat needlessly, and those who commit violence -- O son, all these base men go to Yamalachala.

Verse 54 (skanda.8.37.54)

यमलेषु च जातेषु यो न कुर्यान्नराधमः । प्रायश्चित्तमशुद्धात्मा स च तं प्रतिपद्यते

yamaleṣu ca jāteṣu yo na kuryānnarādhamaḥ | prāyaścittamaśuddhātmā sa ca taṁ pratipadyate

And that base, impure-souled man who fails to perform the prescribed penance when twins are born, he too attains that same hell.

Verse 55 (skanda.8.37.55)

स प्रसन्नो यथोक्तैस्तैः पुरुषैः समभिद्रुतः । आयुधैश्छिद्यमानश्च पर्वतं तं प्रपद्यते

sa prasanno yathoktaistaiḥ puruṣaiḥ samabhidrutaḥ | āyudhaiśchidyamānaśca parvataṁ taṁ prapadyate

He, pursued eagerly by those aforesaid men, and being cut by their weapons, arrives at that mountain.

Verse 56 (skanda.8.37.56)

तत्र व्याघ्रैश्च कुपितैः शरभैश्च तरक्षुभिः । सर्पैर्विडालैः पतगैरयस्तुण्डैश्च भक्ष्यते

tatra vyāghraiśca kupitaiḥ śarabhaiśca tarakṣubhiḥ | sarpairviḍālaiḥ patagairayastuṇḍaiśca bhakṣyate

There he is devoured by enraged tigers, sharabhas, hyenas, serpents, cats, and birds with beaks of iron.

Verse 57 (skanda.8.37.57)

तैर्भक्ष्यमाणो यदि च वृक्षं समधिरोहति । तत्र तैः कण्टकैस्तीक्ष्णैर्भिद्यते पक्षिभिश्च ह

tairbhakṣyamāṇo yadi ca vṛkṣaṁ samadhirohati | tatra taiḥ kaṇṭakaistīkṣṇairbhidyate pakṣibhiśca ha

Being devoured by them, should he climb a tree, there too he is pierced by its sharp thorns and by the birds.

Verse 58 (skanda.8.37.58)

अथ चेत् कन्दरां तस्य गुहां वा यातुमिच्छति । तत्रापि ह्यग्निना दग्धो दुःखार्त्तो विनिवर्तते

atha cet kandarāṁ tasya guhāṁ vā yātumicchati | tatrāpi hyagninā dagdho duḥkhārtto vinivartate

Should he then wish to enter its ravine or cave, there too, burnt by fire, tormented with pain, he turns back.

Verse 59 (skanda.8.37.59)

अथ चेदन्तरं घोरं तयोः संप्रतिप्रद्यते । तत्र सूचीभिरुग्राभिः पादयोर्भिद्यते नरः

atha cedantaraṁ ghoraṁ tayoḥ saṁpratipradyate | tatra sūcībhirugrābhiḥ pādayorbhidyate naraḥ

Should he then enter the terrible space between those two mountains, there his feet are pierced through by sharp needles.

Verse 60 (skanda.8.37.60)

भिन्नञ्च तं समालक्ष्य ह्यशक्तमपसर्पणे । समागमम्याचलौ क्षिप्रं पीडयेतामतीव हि

bhinnañca taṁ samālakṣya hyaśaktamapasarpaṇe | samāgamamyācalau kṣipraṁ pīḍayetāmatīva hi

Seeing him thus pierced and unable to move away, those two mountains swiftly come together and crush him most severely.

Verse 61 (skanda.8.37.61)

पीड्यमानोचलाभ्यां स यन्त्रेणेक्षुवदातुरः । करुणं क्रन्दमानस्तु यातनां तां समश्नुते

pīḍyamānocalābhyāṁ sa yantreṇekṣuvadāturaḥ | karuṇaṁ krandamānastu yātanāṁ tāṁ samaśnute

Crushed between those two mountains as a stalk of sugarcane in a press, tormented, wailing piteously, he undergoes that torment.

Verse 62 (skanda.8.37.62)

भक्षितस्याथ भिन्नस्य विलुप्तस्य च पक्षिभिः । दग्धस्य च नवं भूयः शरीरमभिजायते

bhakṣitasyātha bhinnasya viluptasya ca pakṣibhiḥ | dagdhasya ca navaṁ bhūyaḥ śarīramabhijāyate

For him who has thus been devoured, pierced, torn apart by birds, and burnt, a new body is once more brought into being.

Verse 63 (skanda.8.37.63)

एवं स यात्यमानो वै बहूनब्दान् सुःदुखितः । द्वारं लब्ध्वा विनिर्यात उच्छ्रायेषु निपात्यते

evaṁ sa yātyamāno vai bahūnabdān suḥdukhitaḥ | dvāraṁ labdhvā viniryāta ucchrāyeṣu nipātyate

Thus, greatly afflicted, he undergoes torment for many years; then, finding the gateway, he departs, and is cast down into the Ucchrayas.

Verse 64 (skanda.8.37.64)

यमलाचलमेतमुग्रवेगं बहुधापापसमेतकर्मयोगम् । शृणुयाद्य अभीक्ष्णशोतिवेगं स न यात्येव तमुग्रपापयोगम्

yamalācalametamugravegaṁ bahudhāpāpasametakarmayogam | śṛṇuyādya abhīkṣṇaśotivegaṁ sa na yātyeva tamugrapāpayogam

Whoever repeatedly hears this account of Yamalachala, of fierce force, bound up with the fruits of manifold sins, that person never goes to that hell of terrible, sinful bondage.