The Hell Tamastitama and the Ingrate

Verse 1 (skanda.8.49.1)

सुशर्मोवाच तमस्तमतरं घोरं नरकं शृण्वतः परम्

suśarmovāca tamastamataraṁ ghoraṁ narakaṁ śṛṇvataḥ param

Sushrama said: Now hear of a terrible hell, darker than darkness itself, most dreadful for those who hear of it.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.49.2)

प्रकाशो यत्र नैवास्ति नैव दृष्टिः प्रवर्तते

prakāśo yatra naivāsti naiva dṛṣṭiḥ pravartate

where there is no light whatsoever, and sight does not function at all.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.49.3)

पतन्नेव नरस्तत्र विसंज्ञः क्रियते तदा

patanneva narastatra visaṁjñaḥ kriyate tadā

The man, the very instant he falls there, is at once rendered senseless.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.49.4)

राक्षसैर्विकृताकारैस्तमस्तेन स चोच्यते

rākṣasairvikṛtākāraistamastena sa cocyate

he is assailed by rakshasas of hideous form; and because of that darkness it is called by that name.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.49.5)

तत्रासौ पतितो मूढो वह्निना दह्यते भृशम् । ततोपि वेगादुत्थाय दृष्टिहीनो विचेतनः

tatrāsau patito mūḍho vahninā dahyate bhṛśam | tatopi vegādutthāya dṛṣṭihīno vicetanaḥ

There, having fallen, the deluded one is severely burned by fire; then, though he rises up swiftly, sightless and senseless...

Verse 6 (skanda.8.49.6)

छिद्यते भिद्यते चैव राक्षसैः क्रूरकर्मभिः । तस्मादपि तथैवार्त्तः सोन्यं देशं प्रपद्यते

chidyate bhidyate caiva rākṣasaiḥ krūrakarmabhiḥ | tasmādapi tathaivārttaḥ sonyaṁ deśaṁ prapadyate

he is cut and pierced by the cruel rakshasas; and from there too, equally afflicted, he moves on to another place.

Verse 7 (skanda.8.49.7)

तत्रापि निगृहीतस्तैः पशुमारेण मार्यते

tatrāpi nigṛhītastaiḥ paśumāreṇa māryate

There too, seized by them, he is slaughtered as one slaughters an animal.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.49.8)

ततो भूयश्च कूपेषु क्षिप्तो दुर्गेष्वचेतनः

tato bhūyaśca kūpeṣu kṣipto durgeṣvacetanaḥ

Then again, senseless, he is cast into pits, into impassable places.

Verse 9 (skanda.8.49.9)

निमग्नश्चाग्निकारीष्यां निष्कूजन् सोभिजायते

nimagnaścāgnikārīṣyāṁ niṣkūjan sobhijāyate

and, sunk in the dung-fire, moaning, he takes birth there.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.49.10)

एवं स यातना बह्वीस्त्वनुभूय सुदुःखितः

evaṁ sa yātanā bahvīstvanubhūya suduḥkhitaḥ

Thus, having undergone many torments, in great suffering...

Verse 11 (skanda.8.49.11)

नरकान्तमनुप्राप्य उच्छ्रयेष्वभिपात्यते

narakāntamanuprāpya ucchrayeṣvabhipātyate

...having reached the end of that hell, he is cast down into the Ucchraya realms.

Verse 12 (skanda.8.49.12)

गर्भपातनकारश्च राज्यकामश्च यो भवेत्

garbhapātanakāraśca rājyakāmaśca yo bhavet

and one who causes an abortion, and one who covets a kingdom...

Verse 13 (skanda.8.49.13)

इहैवानर्हमानोसौभृत्यो राजवधे रतः

ihaivānarhamānosaubhṛtyo rājavadhe rataḥ

and that servant, undeservedly honored, who is bent on murdering the king...

Verse 14 (skanda.8.49.14)

अनाचार्यश्च यः कर्म आचार्याणां प्रपद्यते

anācāryaśca yaḥ karma ācāryāṇāṁ prapadyate

and one who, though not qualified as a teacher, takes up the function of teachers...

Verse 15 (skanda.8.49.15)

शास्त्रविद्यौषधीनां च गदानामगदैः सह । यो विनाशयिता कश्चिद्यः प्रशंसति दानवान्

śāstravidyauṣadhīnāṁ ca gadānāmagadaiḥ saha | yo vināśayitā kaścidyaḥ praśaṁsati dānavān

and whoever is a destroyer of scriptures, of learning, of medicinal herbs, of remedies together with their antidotes; and whoever praises the danavas...

Verse 16 (skanda.8.49.16)

उपदेशं च यो द्वेषादाचार्यो न प्रयच्छति । स याति नरकं घोरं दुस्तरं तं तमोमयम्

upadeśaṁ ca yo dveṣādācāryo na prayacchati | sa yāti narakaṁ ghoraṁ dustaraṁ taṁ tamomayam

and the teacher who, out of spite, withholds his teaching — he goes to that terrible, impassable hell of utter darkness.

Verse 17 (skanda.8.49.17)

कृतघ्नं तु समादाय नारकाः सर्व एव ते । यमं प्रणम्य ब्रुवते सह तैर्यमकिङ्करैः

kṛtaghnaṁ tu samādāya nārakāḥ sarva eva te | yamaṁ praṇamya bruvate saha tairyamakiṅkaraiḥ

But having seized the ingrate, all those guardians of hell, bowing before Yama, along with Yama's own attendants, speak thus...

Verse 18 (skanda.8.49.18)

भगवन्न वयं शक्ताः पापस्यास्य विनाशने

bhagavanna vayaṁ śaktāḥ pāpasyāsya vināśane

'O lord, we are not able to destroy this man's sin.'

Verse 19 (skanda.8.49.19)

उपायमन्यं पश्येह प्रसादं कुरु नः प्रभो

upāyamanyaṁ paśyeha prasādaṁ kuru naḥ prabho

'Consider some other means here, O lord; show us your favor.'

Verse 20 (skanda.8.49.20)

स एवमुक्तो भगवान् यमः प्रेताधिपस्तदा

sa evamukto bhagavān yamaḥ pretādhipastadā

Thus addressed, the lord Yama, ruler of the departed spirits, then...

Verse 21 (skanda.8.49.21)

सर्वधर्मार्थकुशलान् पृच्छति स्मर्षिसत्तमान्

sarvadharmārthakuśalān pṛcchati smarṣisattamān

...he asked the foremost sages, skilled in every matter of dharma.

Verse 22 (skanda.8.49.22)

भगवन्तः कथं त्वस्य कृतघ्नस्य दुरात्मनः । निष्कृतिः सुमहाघोराद् भवेत् पापस्य कर्मणः

bhagavantaḥ kathaṁ tvasya kṛtaghnasya durātmanaḥ | niṣkṛtiḥ sumahāghorād bhavet pāpasya karmaṇaḥ

'O venerable sages, how might there be expiation for this evil-souled ingrate, for so exceedingly terrible a sinful act?'

Verse 23 (skanda.8.49.23)

ततस्ते ऋषयस्सर्वे दृष्ट्वा दीर्घेण चक्षुषा । यमं धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठमिदं वै ब्रुवते वचः

tataste ṛṣayassarve dṛṣṭvā dīrgheṇa cakṣuṣā | yamaṁ dharmabhṛtāṁ śreṣṭhamidaṁ vai bruvate vacaḥ

Then all those sages, having reflected with far-seeing insight, spoke this word to Yama, foremost among the upholders of dharma...

Verse 24 (skanda.8.49.24)

ब्रह्मघ्ने च सुरापे च चोरे भग्नव्रते तथा । निष्कृतिर्विहिता सद्भिः कृतघ्ने नास्ति निष्कृतिः

brahmaghne ca surāpe ca core bhagnavrate tathā | niṣkṛtirvihitā sadbhiḥ kṛtaghne nāsti niṣkṛtiḥ

'For the slayer of a brahmin, for the drinker of liquor, for the thief, and likewise for the breaker of vows, expiation has been prescribed by the virtuous; but for the ingrate there is no expiation.'

Verse 25 (skanda.8.49.25)

ततः स भगवान्देवो मार्तण्डतनयो वरः । नारकेभ्यो ददात्याज्ञां सर्वे यूयमिमं नरम्

tataḥ sa bhagavāndevo mārtaṇḍatanayo varaḥ | nārakebhyo dadātyājñāṁ sarve yūyamimaṁ naram

Then that blessed lord, the excellent son of Martanda (Yama), gave this command to the guardians of hell: 'All of you, take this man...'

Verse 26 (skanda.8.49.26)

शोधयिष्यथ गच्छध्वं नैका ह्यस्य गतिः स्मृता

śodhayiṣyatha gacchadhvaṁ naikā hyasya gatiḥ smṛtā

'...purify him. Go, for no single fixed fate has been ordained for him.'

Verse 27 (skanda.8.49.27)

ततस्ते तस्य वचनान्नारकाः पापकर्मिणम्

tataste tasya vacanānnārakāḥ pāpakarmiṇam

Then, at his command, the guardians of hell took hold of that sinner...

Verse 28 (skanda.8.49.28)

सर्वेष्वेवानुपूर्व्येण यातयन्त्यतिदारुणाः

sarveṣvevānupūrvyeṇa yātayantyatidāruṇāḥ

...and those most cruel guardians torment him in every hell, one after the other, in due order.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.49.29)

भर्तृपिण्डापहर्ता च पितृपिण्डापहारकः

bhartṛpiṇḍāpahartā ca pitṛpiṇḍāpahārakaḥ

And one who steals the food due to his master, and one who steals the funeral offering due to his ancestors...

Verse 30 (skanda.8.49.30)

तस्माद् गृहीत्वा विद्याञ्च दक्षिणां यो न यच्छति

tasmād gṛhītvā vidyāñca dakṣiṇāṁ yo na yacchati

and one who, having received learning from a teacher, fails to give him the customary fee...

Verse 31 (skanda.8.49.31)

पुष्टश्च यस्तं नान्वेति यश्च तं घातयेन्नरः । कृतस्य दोषं वदति सकामं न करोति च

puṣṭaśca yastaṁ nānveti yaśca taṁ ghātayennaraḥ | kṛtasya doṣaṁ vadati sakāmaṁ na karoti ca

and he who, though nourished by another, does not remain loyal to him; the man who would even kill his benefactor; who finds fault with a good deed done for him, and who deliberately fails to return it...

Verse 32 (skanda.8.49.32)

न स्मरेच्च कृतं यस्तु आश्रमान् यश्च दूषयेत् । न पुष्णाति तथा वाहानाश्रिताँश्चोपकारिणः

na smarecca kṛtaṁ yastu āśramān yaśca dūṣayet | na puṣṇāti tathā vāhānāśritā~ścopakāriṇaḥ

and he who does not remember a favor done to him, and he who defiles hermitages; likewise one who fails to provide for his animals, his dependents, and his benefactors...

Verse 33 (skanda.8.49.33)

भृत्यांश्च कर्मनिरताँस्तथैव हितकारिणः । भार्यां कर्मकराणां च नर्माणि वदते च यः

bhṛtyāṁśca karmaniratā~stathaiva hitakāriṇaḥ | bhāryāṁ karmakarāṇāṁ ca narmāṇi vadate ca yaḥ

...nor his servants who are devoted to their duties and those who act in his welfare; and he who speaks mocking or lewd words to the wife of his laborers...

Verse 34 (skanda.8.49.34)

न दत्तं न हुतं किञ्चिदमुष्मिन्निति यो वदेत् । सर्वाँस्तानृषिभिः सार्धं कृतघ्नानब्रवीन्मनुः

na dattaṁ na hutaṁ kiñcidamuṣminniti yo vadet | sarvā~stānṛṣibhiḥ sārdhaṁ kṛtaghnānabravīnmanuḥ

and he who says, 'Nothing at all is given, nothing offered, in that other world' — all these, Manu, together with the sages, declared to be ingrates.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.49.35)

कृतघ्नश्च शठश्चैव नास्तिकोछिन्नसंशयः । एतान् सर्वेभिगच्छन्ति य एते कीर्तिता मया

kṛtaghnaśca śaṭhaścaiva nāstikochinnasaṁśayaḥ | etān sarvebhigacchanti ya ete kīrtitā mayā

The ingrate, the deceitful, and the confirmed atheist whose doubt has been settled into denial — all those whom I have named here go to it.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.49.36)

जनेता चोपनेता च यश्च विद्यां प्रयच्छति । भयत्रातान्नदाता च पंचैते पितरः स्मृताः

janetā copanetā ca yaśca vidyāṁ prayacchati | bhayatrātānnadātā ca paṁcaite pitaraḥ smṛtāḥ

He who begets, he who performs one's initiation, he who imparts learning, he who protects from danger, and he who gives food — these five are known as 'fathers.'

Verse 37 (skanda.8.49.37)

यस्तेषान्दोषवक्ता च अभ्यसूयक एव च । तथा द्रोहप्रवृत्तश्च सन्त्यजेत्तान्नराधमान्

yasteṣāndoṣavaktā ca abhyasūyaka eva ca | tathā drohapravṛttaśca santyajettānnarādhamān

Whoever speaks ill of these, or bears envy toward them, and likewise one who is inclined toward treachery against them — such vile men should be shunned.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.49.38)

मित्रध्रुग् यश्च दुष्टात्मा तस्य रन्ध्रावकीर्तनः । कृतोपकारिणे पूर्वँ न करोति प्रियं च यः

mitradhrug yaśca duṣṭātmā tasya randhrāvakīrtanaḥ | kṛtopakāriṇe pūrva~ na karoti priyaṁ ca yaḥ

and the evil-souled betrayer of a friend; he who exposes another's hidden faults; and he who, having previously received a favor, fails to act kindly in return...

Verse 39 (skanda.8.49.39)

एते सर्वे नरा दुष्टाः सर्व एवाशुभे रताः । नरकान् संप्रपद्यन्ते बद्धाः पापेन कर्मणा

ete sarve narā duṣṭāḥ sarva evāśubhe ratāḥ | narakān saṁprapadyante baddhāḥ pāpena karmaṇā

All these are wicked men, every one devoted to what is inauspicious; bound by their sinful deeds, they go down to the hells.

Verse 40 (skanda.8.49.40)

एते सर्वे मया प्रोक्ता महानिरयगामिनः । उच्छ्रयानेव गच्छन्ति येन्ये पापकृतो जनाः

ete sarve mayā proktā mahānirayagāminaḥ | ucchrayāneva gacchanti yenye pāpakṛto janāḥ

All these, as I have declared, are bound for the great hell; while other sinful people go only to the Ucchraya realms.

Verse 41 (skanda.8.49.41)

य इमं तामसं घोरं शृणुयाद्वा पठेत वा । अधर्मश्च निवर्तेत स गच्छेद् ब्रह्मणः पदम्

ya imaṁ tāmasaṁ ghoraṁ śṛṇuyādvā paṭheta vā | adharmaśca nivarteta sa gacched brahmaṇaḥ padam

Whoever hears or recites this terrible account of Tama — his unrighteousness shall depart, and he shall attain to the realm of Brahma.