The Cycle of Transmigration

Verse 1 (skanda.8.50.1)

अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि संसारपरिवर्तनम् । यथा वै नरकात्तीर्णाः संसरन्ति समासतः

ataḥ paraṁ pravakṣyāmi saṁsāraparivartanam | yathā vai narakāttīrṇāḥ saṁsaranti samāsataḥ

Now I shall further declare the round of transmigration — how those who have passed beyond hell wander through the cycle of rebirth, in brief.

Verse 2 (skanda.8.50.2)

प्रथमे नरके प्रोक्ता ये मया पापकर्मिणः । शेषेण कर्मणा ते तु जायन्ते कृमियोनिषु

prathame narake proktā ye mayā pāpakarmiṇaḥ | śeṣeṇa karmaṇā te tu jāyante kṛmiyoniṣu

Those sinners whom I described as going to the first hell are born, by their residual karma, in the wombs of worms.

Verse 3 (skanda.8.50.3)

कृमियोनौ परावृत्ताः सहस्राणां शतं समाः

kṛmiyonau parāvṛttāḥ sahasrāṇāṁ śataṁ samāḥ

they revolve in the womb of worms for a hundred thousand years.

Verse 4 (skanda.8.50.4)

ततः पुनर्मर्कटास्ते जायन्तेथ तरक्षवः

tataḥ punarmarkaṭāste jāyantetha tarakṣavaḥ

then they are born again as monkeys, and after that as hyenas.

Verse 5 (skanda.8.50.5)

तत्र तावत् परावृत्ता जायन्ते गोषु ते यदा

tatra tāvat parāvṛttā jāyante goṣu te yadā

having wandered there for that same span, they are then born among cattle.

Verse 6 (skanda.8.50.6)

तदा तत्र शतेनैव जन्मनां शेषतस्ततः

tadā tatra śatenaiva janmanāṁ śeṣatastataḥ

then there, owing to the remaining karma, for a hundred births...

Verse 7 (skanda.8.50.7)

मानुषेषूपजायन्ते तावदेव न संशयः

mānuṣeṣūpajāyante tāvadeva na saṁśayaḥ

...they are born among humans for that same span — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 8 (skanda.8.50.8)

तत्र ते कुर्वते भूयो यदि किंचिन्न किल्बिषम्

tatra te kurvate bhūyo yadi kiṁcinna kilbiṣam

If, there, they commit no sin whatsoever again...

Verse 9 (skanda.8.50.9)

ततो विशुद्धां जातिं ते लभन्ते पुनरेव तु

tato viśuddhāṁ jātiṁ te labhante punareva tu

then they obtain a wholly purified birth once again.

Verse 10 (skanda.8.50.10)

न च भूयोपि ते घोरं संसारं प्राप्नुवन्ति वै

na ca bhūyopi te ghoraṁ saṁsāraṁ prāpnuvanti vai

and they do not again fall into this terrible round of transmigration.

Verse 11 (skanda.8.50.11)

द्वितीये ये मया प्रोक्तास्ते मुक्ताः शेषकर्मणा । कृमिकीटेषु जायन्ते सहस्राणां शतानि षट्

dvitīye ye mayā proktāste muktāḥ śeṣakarmaṇā | kṛmikīṭeṣu jāyante sahasrāṇāṁ śatāni ṣaṭ

Those whom I described as going to the second hell, released from it by residual karma, are born among worms and insects for six hundred thousand years.

Verse 12 (skanda.8.50.12)

तथा शतसहस्रं च शतानां ते पुनर्गताः । मत्स्ययोनौ प्रसूयन्ते तावदेव न संशयः

tathā śatasahasraṁ ca śatānāṁ te punargatāḥ | matsyayonau prasūyante tāvadeva na saṁśayaḥ

and then, for a hundred-thousand hundreds more, they pass on and are born in the womb of fish for that same span — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 13 (skanda.8.50.13)

ततो व्याघ्राश्च ऋक्षाश्च ततो गोत्वमवाप्यते । मानुषेषूपपद्यन्ते कुत्सिताः स्वेन कर्मणा

tato vyāghrāśca ṛkṣāśca tato gotvamavāpyate | mānuṣeṣūpapadyante kutsitāḥ svena karmaṇā

then as tigers and bears, then they attain the state of cattle; finally they are born among humans, but as despised ones, owing to their own karma.

Verse 14 (skanda.8.50.14)

तृतीये त्वथ ये प्रोक्ता मया दुष्कृतकारिणः । ते मुक्ताः कर्मणस्तस्माच्छेषेण समवेष्टिताः

tṛtīye tvatha ye proktā mayā duṣkṛtakāriṇaḥ | te muktāḥ karmaṇastasmāccheṣeṇa samaveṣṭitāḥ

And those evildoers whom I described as going to the third hell, though freed from that hell, remain wrapped in their residual karma...

Verse 15 (skanda.8.50.15)

कृमिकीटेषु जायन्ते सहस्राणां शतानि षट् । तथैव दश चान्यानि पक्षिणस्तावदेव च

kṛmikīṭeṣu jāyante sahasrāṇāṁ śatāni ṣaṭ | tathaiva daśa cānyāni pakṣiṇastāvadeva ca

...they are born among worms and insects for six hundred thousand years, and likewise for ten hundred-thousand more, as birds, for that same span.

Verse 16 (skanda.8.50.16)

ततः सिंहाश्च सर्पाश्च गावः पश्चाच्च मानुषाः । चतुर्थे त्वथ ये प्रोक्ता मया दुष्कृतकारिणः

tataḥ siṁhāśca sarpāśca gāvaḥ paścācca mānuṣāḥ | caturthe tvatha ye proktā mayā duṣkṛtakāriṇaḥ

then as lions and serpents, afterward as cattle, and then as humans. Now, as for those evildoers whom I described as going to the fourth hell...

Verse 17 (skanda.8.50.17)

ते सर्वे शेषवन्तस्तु जायन्ते कृमियोनिषु । सहस्राणां शतान्यष्टौ तथा चान्यानि षोडश

te sarve śeṣavantastu jāyante kṛmiyoniṣu | sahasrāṇāṁ śatānyaṣṭau tathā cānyāni ṣoḍaśa

all of them, still burdened with residual karma, are born in the wombs of worms — for eight hundred thousand years, and then sixteen hundred thousand more...

Verse 18 (skanda.8.50.18)

योनीनां हि तथा भूयो जायन्ते ते ततो मृगाः । मृगभावाद्विनिर्मुक्ता जायन्ते च पुनः खराः

yonīnāṁ hi tathā bhūyo jāyante te tato mṛgāḥ | mṛgabhāvādvinirmuktā jāyante ca punaḥ kharāḥ

...and other such wombs; then they are born as deer, and, freed from the state of a deer, they are born again as donkeys.

Verse 19 (skanda.8.50.19)

ततोजा गवयाश्चापि गावो मानुषतां ततः । पंचमे ये मया प्रोक्तास्तेपि शेषेण कर्मणा

tatojā gavayāścāpi gāvo mānuṣatāṁ tataḥ | paṁcame ye mayā proktāstepi śeṣeṇa karmaṇā

then as goats and as wild oxen, then as cattle, and then as humans. And those whom I described as going to the fifth hell, they too, through their residual karma...

Verse 20 (skanda.8.50.20)

कृमिकीटेषु जायन्ते जन्मनां कोटिमेव हि । हस्तियोनौ च तावद्धि उष्ट्रेष्वश्वेषु चैव हि

kṛmikīṭeṣu jāyante janmanāṁ koṭimeva hi | hastiyonau ca tāvaddhi uṣṭreṣvaśveṣu caiva hi

they are born among worms and insects for a full ten million births, and for that same span among elephants, camels, and horses.

Verse 21 (skanda.8.50.21)

ततो गोत्वं समासाद्य मानुष्यं प्राप्नुवन्ति ते । षष्ठाच्चैव विनिर्मुक्तास्ततः शेषेण कर्मणा

tato gotvaṁ samāsādya mānuṣyaṁ prāpnuvanti te | ṣaṣṭhāccaiva vinirmuktāstataḥ śeṣeṇa karmaṇā

then, having attained the state of cattle, they reach the human condition. And those freed from the sixth hell, then, by their residual karma...

Verse 22 (skanda.8.50.22)

जायन्ते कृमिकीटेषु जन्मनां द्विगुणेन हि । कोटिमेकां ततो यूका ततो मत्स्योथ सूकरः

jāyante kṛmikīṭeṣu janmanāṁ dviguṇena hi | koṭimekāṁ tato yūkā tato matsyotha sūkaraḥ

...are born among worms and insects for double that number of births — a full twenty million; then as lice, then as fish, and then as swine.

Verse 23 (skanda.8.50.23)

महिषत्वं ततः प्राप्य गोत्वाज्जायेत मानुषः

mahiṣatvaṁ tataḥ prāpya gotvājjāyeta mānuṣaḥ

then, having attained the state of a buffalo, and from there the state of cattle, he is born as a human.

Verse 24 (skanda.8.50.24)

मानुषत्वे कुत्सितश्च व्याधितश्चैव जायते

mānuṣatve kutsitaśca vyādhitaścaiva jāyate

In that human state he is born despised and afflicted with disease.

Verse 25 (skanda.8.50.25)

सप्तमाच्च विनिर्मुक्तः कृमिकीटेषु जायते । कोटीत्रयं तावदेव वृक्षत्वमधिगच्छति

saptamācca vinirmuktaḥ kṛmikīṭeṣu jāyate | koṭītrayaṁ tāvadeva vṛkṣatvamadhigacchati

And one freed from the seventh hell is born among worms and insects for three crore births, and for that same span he attains the state of a tree.

Verse 26 (skanda.8.50.26)

ततो लता ततो गुल्मस्ततो हस्ती प्रजायते

tato latā tato gulmastato hastī prajāyate

then as a creeper, then as a shrub, then he is born as an elephant.

Verse 27 (skanda.8.50.27)

गोत्वं च समनुप्राप्य जायते मानुषस्ततः

gotvaṁ ca samanuprāpya jāyate mānuṣastataḥ

and having then attained the state of cattle, he is born a human.

Verse 28 (skanda.8.50.28)

अष्टमाच्च विनिर्मुक्तो बद्धः शेषेण कर्मणा । जायते कृमिकीटेषु द्वे कोट्यौ द्विगुणे च सः

aṣṭamācca vinirmukto baddhaḥ śeṣeṇa karmaṇā | jāyate kṛmikīṭeṣu dve koṭyau dviguṇe ca saḥ

And one freed from the eighth hell, still bound by residual karma, is born among worms and insects for two crore births, and then for double that span again.

Verse 29 (skanda.8.50.29)

ततश्चोषधिभावेन वीरुत्सु च कुशेषु च । ततो गोत्वाद्विनिर्मुक्तो जायते कुत्सितो नरः

tataścoṣadhibhāvena vīrutsu ca kuśeṣu ca | tato gotvādvinirmukto jāyate kutsito naraḥ

then in the form of a medicinal herb, among creepers, and among kusha-grasses; then, freed from the state of cattle, he is born a despised man.

Verse 30 (skanda.8.50.30)

नवमादपि चोत्तीर्णो बद्धः शेषेण कर्मणा । जायते कृमिकीटेषु पञ्चकोटीस्ततः खगः

navamādapi cottīrṇo baddhaḥ śeṣeṇa karmaṇā | jāyate kṛmikīṭeṣu pañcakoṭīstataḥ khagaḥ

And one who has passed beyond even the ninth hell, still bound by residual karma, is born among worms and insects for five crore births; then as a bird.

Verse 31 (skanda.8.50.31)

ततो मत्स्यश्च तावद्वै तावदेव सरीसृपः । श्वा ततस्तावदेवाथ ततो भवति किन्नरः

tato matsyaśca tāvadvai tāvadeva sarīsṛpaḥ | śvā tatastāvadevātha tato bhavati kinnaraḥ

then as a fish for that same span, likewise as a reptile, then as a dog for that same span; and then he becomes a Kinnara.

Verse 32 (skanda.8.50.32)

किन्नरत्वाद्विनिर्मुक्तस्ततो गोषूपजायते

kinnaratvādvinirmuktastato goṣūpajāyate

freed from the state of a Kinnara, he is then born among cattle.

Verse 33 (skanda.8.50.33)

ततो गोयोनिनिर्मुक्तो मानुषेषूपजायते

tato goyoninirmukto mānuṣeṣūpajāyate

then, freed from the womb of a cow, he is born among humans.

Verse 34 (skanda.8.50.34)

दशमादपि चोत्तीर्णः षट् कोटीर्जन्मनां कृमिः । शेषेण कर्मणा जातस्ततो भवति वानरः

daśamādapi cottīrṇaḥ ṣaṭ koṭīrjanmanāṁ kṛmiḥ | śeṣeṇa karmaṇā jātastato bhavati vānaraḥ

And one who has passed beyond even the tenth hell is born, by residual karma, as a worm for six crore births; then he becomes a monkey.

Verse 35 (skanda.8.50.35)

वानरस्तावदेवेह तावदेव च कुक्कुटः । तावदेव च काकस्तु जीवंजीवक एव च

vānarastāvadeveha tāvadeva ca kukkuṭaḥ | tāvadeva ca kākastu jīvaṁjīvaka eva ca

as a monkey for that same span, likewise as a cock, likewise as a crow, and as a jivanjivaka bird.

Verse 36 (skanda.8.50.36)

वृक्षदारकमार्जारपिपिलीकाश्च जायते

vṛkṣadārakamārjārapipilīkāśca jāyate

he is born as a tree, a sapling-creature, a cat, and an ant.

Verse 37 (skanda.8.50.37)

ततो गोषु प्रजातोसौ मानुषेषूपजायते

tato goṣu prajātosau mānuṣeṣūpajāyate

then, having been born among cattle, he is born among humans.

Verse 38 (skanda.8.50.38)

महारौरवनिर्मुक्तः सप्तकोटीः सुदुःखितः । जन्मनां कृमिकीटेषु जातो मत्स्यत्वमश्नुते

mahārauravanirmuktaḥ saptakoṭīḥ suduḥkhitaḥ | janmanāṁ kṛmikīṭeṣu jāto matsyatvamaśnute

One freed from Maharaurava, greatly suffering, having been born among worms and insects for seven crore births, then attains the state of a fish.

Verse 39 (skanda.8.50.39)

ततः श्वा गर्दभश्चैव भैनाशीशुक एव च । ततो भवति गौश्चापि ततः षण्ढश्च मानुषे

tataḥ śvā gardabhaścaiva bhaināśīśuka eva ca | tato bhavati gauścāpi tataḥ ṣaṇḍhaśca mānuṣe

then a dog, and a donkey, and a carrion-eating bird, and a parrot; then he becomes a cow as well; then, among humans, he is born a eunuch.

Verse 40 (skanda.8.50.40)

तमोनरकनिर्मुक्तस्त्वष्ष्टकोटीः सुदुःखितः । जन्मनां प्राप्नुते जन्तुर्विष्ठायां कृमियोनिषु

tamonarakanirmuktastvaṣṣṭakoṭīḥ suduḥkhitaḥ | janmanāṁ prāpnute janturviṣṭhāyāṁ kṛmiyoniṣu

The creature freed from the hell of Tama, in great suffering, attains eight crore births in the wombs of worms living in filth.

Verse 41 (skanda.8.50.41)

ततः श्वा जायते भूयश्चक्राह्वश्च पुनः पुनः

tataḥ śvā jāyate bhūyaścakrāhvaśca punaḥ punaḥ

then he is born again and again as a dog, and as a chakravaka bird.

Verse 42 (skanda.8.50.42)

ततो मण्डूकतां प्राप्य जायते मृगपक्षिषु

tato maṇḍūkatāṁ prāpya jāyate mṛgapakṣiṣu

then, having attained the state of a frog, he is born among deer and birds.

Verse 43 (skanda.8.50.43)

जायते किन्नरश्चापि द्वीपी शरभ एव च । ततो गोत्वं समासाद्य मानुषत्वमवाप्नुते

jāyate kinnaraścāpi dvīpī śarabha eva ca | tato gotvaṁ samāsādya mānuṣatvamavāpnute

He is born also as a Kinnara, as a leopard, and as a Sharabha; then, having attained the state of cattle, he attains the human condition.

Verse 44 (skanda.8.50.44)

तमोनरकनिर्मुक्तः शेषेणैव हि कर्मणा । जायते कृमिकीटेषु नवकोटिः स जन्मनाम्

tamonarakanirmuktaḥ śeṣeṇaiva hi karmaṇā | jāyate kṛmikīṭeṣu navakoṭiḥ sa janmanām

One freed from the hell of Tama, by his residual karma alone, is born among worms and insects for nine crore births.

Verse 45 (skanda.8.50.45)

ततो भवति काकश्च भासश्चैव ततः परम्

tato bhavati kākaśca bhāsaścaiva tataḥ param

then he becomes a crow, and after that a bhasa (a bird of prey).

Verse 46 (skanda.8.50.46)

वान्ताशी च ततः पक्षी उलूकश्च ततः पुनः

vāntāśī ca tataḥ pakṣī ulūkaśca tataḥ punaḥ

then a bird that eats vomit, and then again an owl.

Verse 47 (skanda.8.50.47)

पुनर्वृक्षश्च गुल्मश्च ततो भवति वै मृगः । ततो गौर्मनुजश्चापि गर्भस्थः स विपद्यते

punarvṛkṣaśca gulmaśca tato bhavati vai mṛgaḥ | tato gaurmanujaścāpi garbhasthaḥ sa vipadyate

again a tree, and a shrub; then he becomes a deer; then a cow, and then, as a human, he perishes even while still in the womb.

Verse 48 (skanda.8.50.48)

पुनःपुनर्जायमानः सहस्राणां शतं समाः

punaḥpunarjāyamānaḥ sahasrāṇāṁ śataṁ samāḥ

being born again and again, for a hundred thousand years...

Verse 49 (skanda.8.50.49)

व्याधितः कुत्सितश्चैव जायते च पुनः पुनः

vyādhitaḥ kutsitaścaiva jāyate ca punaḥ punaḥ

...he is born again and again, afflicted with disease and despised.

Verse 50 (skanda.8.50.50)

यस्तु सर्वानिमान् प्राप्य नरकानिह जायते । स योनिषु समस्तासु सर्वसंसारमश्नुते

yastu sarvānimān prāpya narakāniha jāyate | sa yoniṣu samastāsu sarvasaṁsāramaśnute

But he who, having undergone all these hells, is born here again, experiences the whole round of transmigration, through every kind of womb.

Verse 51 (skanda.8.50.51)

यदि मानुषतां याति कदाचित् कालपर्ययात् । तत्रापि कुत्सितां योनिं भूयो भूयः प्रपद्यते

yadi mānuṣatāṁ yāti kadācit kālaparyayāt | tatrāpi kutsitāṁ yoniṁ bhūyo bhūyaḥ prapadyate

If, in the course of time, he ever attains the human state, even there he falls again and again into a despised birth.

Verse 52 (skanda.8.50.52)

अनिष्टः सर्वभूतानां दुःखितो व्याधितस्तथा

aniṣṭaḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ duḥkhito vyādhitastathā

unwelcome to all beings, sorrowful, and likewise afflicted with disease.

Verse 53 (skanda.8.50.53)

विकृतं रूपमाप्नोति कर्मणा स्वेन दूषितः

vikṛtaṁ rūpamāpnoti karmaṇā svena dūṣitaḥ

marred by his own karma, he obtains a deformed body.

Verse 54 (skanda.8.50.54)

देवब्राह्मणविद्वेष्टा सर्वव्रतबहिष्कृतः । सर्वधर्मविनिर्मुक्तः साध्वाचारविवर्जितः

devabrāhmaṇavidveṣṭā sarvavratabahiṣkṛtaḥ | sarvadharmavinirmuktaḥ sādhvācāravivarjitaḥ

He becomes a hater of gods and brahmins, excluded from all sacred vows, devoid of all dharma, and bereft of righteous conduct...

Verse 55 (skanda.8.50.55)

निर्नमस्कारदुश्शीलः किम्भक्षो ब्रह्मनिन्दकः । न तीर्थदेवायतनः स्वधास्वस्तिविवर्जितः । अकीर्तनीयो लोकानां जायते स्वेन कर्मणा

nirnamaskāraduśśīlaḥ kimbhakṣo brahmanindakaḥ | na tīrthadevāyatanaḥ svadhāsvastivivarjitaḥ | akīrtanīyo lokānāṁ jāyate svena karmaṇā

without reverence, of evil conduct, ever asking 'what shall I eat', a reviler of the sacred; without regard for holy fords or temples, deprived of ancestral offerings and of well-being — unmentionable among people, he is born thus through his own karma.

Verse 56 (skanda.8.50.56)

सुशर्मोवाच एतत्ते कथितं सर्वं समासात् पुत्र सर्वशः

suśarmovāca etatte kathitaṁ sarvaṁ samāsāt putra sarvaśaḥ

Sushrama said: All this, O son, has been told to you in brief, in every respect.

Verse 57 (skanda.8.50.57)

नरकाणां सतत्त्वं च क्रमभेदो यथामति

narakāṇāṁ satattvaṁ ca kramabhedo yathāmati

the true nature of the hells, and the distinctions in their order, to the best of my understanding.

Verse 58 (skanda.8.50.58)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। । य इमं शृणुयाद् युक्तः सदा पर्वसु पर्वसु । श्रावयेद्वा द्विजान् सम्यक् सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते

sanatkumāra uvāca| | ya imaṁ śṛṇuyād yuktaḥ sadā parvasu parvasu | śrāvayedvā dvijān samyak sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate

Sanatkumara said: Whoever, with focused mind, always hears this on every sacred occasion, or duly recites it for brahmins to hear, is freed from all sins.

Verse 59 (skanda.8.50.59)

धन्यं यश स्यमायुष्यं स्वर्ग्यं सर्वार्थसाधकम् । श्रव्यं च पठितव्यं च सततं भूतिमिच्छता

dhanyaṁ yaśa syamāyuṣyaṁ svargyaṁ sarvārthasādhakam | śravyaṁ ca paṭhitavyaṁ ca satataṁ bhūtimicchatā

This account is auspicious, glorious, life-giving, heaven-bestowing, and accomplishes every aim; one who desires prosperity should ever hear it and recite it.

Verse 60 (skanda.8.50.60)

इदं तु सर्वार्थसुखावहं ध्रुवं महानुभावं सुगतिप्रदं शुभम् । सदैव विप्रेण समाहितात्मना अधीत्य धार्यं श्रुतिसम्मितं ध्रुवम्

idaṁ tu sarvārthasukhāvahaṁ dhruvaṁ mahānubhāvaṁ sugatipradaṁ śubham | sadaiva vipreṇa samāhitātmanā adhītya dhāryaṁ śrutisammitaṁ dhruvam

This teaching, which surely brings happiness in every aim, of great majesty, auspicious, and bestowing a good destiny, should always be studied and held fast by the brahmin with a composed mind, being indeed as authoritative as the Veda itself.