The Hells and the Power of Remembering Vishnu

Verse 1 (vishnu.2.6.1)

पराशर उवाच । ततश् च नरकान् विप्र भुवोऽधः सलिलस्य च । पापिनो येषु पात्यन्ते ताञ् छृणुष्व महामुने

parāśara uvāca tataś ca narakān vipra bhuvo'dhaḥ salilasya ca pāpino yeṣu pātyante tāñ chṛṇuṣva mahāmune

Parashara said: Now, O brahmin, hear from me of the hells lying below the earth and the waters, into which sinners are cast, O great sage.

Verse 2 (vishnu.2.6.2)

रौरवः सूकरो रोधस् तालो विशसनस् तथा । महाज्वालस् तप्तकुम्भो लवणोऽथ विलोहितः

rauravaḥ sūkaro rodhas tālo viśasanas tathā mahājvālas taptakumbho lavaṇo'tha vilohitaḥ

Raurava, Sukara, Rodha, Tala, and likewise Vishasana, Mahajvala, Taptakumbha, Lavana, and Vilohita,

Verse 3 (vishnu.2.6.3)

रुधिराम्भो वैतरणी कृमिशः कृमिभोजनः । असिपत्रवनं कृष्णो लालाभक्षश् च दारुणः

rudhirāmbho vaitaraṇī kṛmiśaḥ kṛmibhojanaḥ asipatravanaṁ kṛṣṇo lālābhakṣaś ca dāruṇaḥ

Rudhirambha, Vaitarani, Krimisha, Krimibhojana, Asipatravana, Krishna, and dreadful Lalabhaksha,

Verse 4 (vishnu.2.6.4)

तथा पूयवहः पापो वह्निज्वालो ह्य् अधःशिराः । संदंशः कृष्णसूत्रश् च तमश् चावीचिर् एव च

tathā pūyavahaḥ pāpo vahnijvālo hy adhaḥśirāḥ saṁdaṁśaḥ kṛṣṇasūtraś ca tamaś cāvīcir eva ca

and likewise Puyavaha, Papa, Vahnijvala, Adhahshiras, Sandamsha, Krishnasutra, Tamas, and Avichi itself,

Verse 5 (vishnu.2.6.5)

श्वभोजनोऽथाप्रतिष्ठो अवीचिश् च तथापरः । इत्य् एवमादयश् चान्ये नरका भृशदारुणाः

śvabhojano'thāpratiṣṭho avīciś ca tathāparaḥ ity evamādayaś cānye narakā bhṛśadāruṇāḥ

Shvabhojana, and then Apratishtha, and another named Avichi — such are these and other exceedingly dreadful hells,

Verse 6 (vishnu.2.6.6)

यमस्य विषये घोराः शस्त्राग्निभयदायिनः । पतन्ति येषु पुरुषाः पापकर्मरतास् तु ये

yamasya viṣaye ghorāḥ śastrāgnibhayadāyinaḥ patanti yeṣu puruṣāḥ pāpakarmaratās tu ye

terrible in Yama's domain, causing the fear of weapons and fire, into which fall those men devoted to sinful deeds.

Verse 7 (vishnu.2.6.7)

कूटसाक्षी तथासम्यक् पक्षपातेन यो वदेत् । यश् चान्यद् अनृतं वक्ति स नरो याति रौरवम्

kūṭasākṣī tathāsamyak pakṣapātena yo vadet yaś cānyad anṛtaṁ vakti sa naro yāti rauravam

A false witness, one who speaks unjustly out of partiality, and one who speaks any other falsehood — such a man goes to Raurava.

Verse 8 (vishnu.2.6.8)

भ्रूणहा गुरुहन्ता च गोघ्नश् च मुनिसत्तम । यान्ति ते नरकं रोधं यश् चोच्छ्वासनिरोधकः

bhrūṇahā guruhantā ca goghnaś ca munisattama yānti te narakaṁ rodhaṁ yaś cocchvāsanirodhakaḥ

One who kills an embryo, one who slays his guru, and one who kills a cow, O best of sages, go to the hell Rodha, as does one who obstructs another's breathing.

Verse 9 (vishnu.2.6.9)

सुरापो ब्रह्महा हर्ता सुवर्णस्य च सूकरे । प्रयाति नरके यश् च तैः संसर्गम् उपैति वै

surāpo brahmahā hartā suvarṇasya ca sūkare prayāti narake yaś ca taiḥ saṁsargam upaiti vai

A drinker of liquor, a slayer of a brahmin, a thief of gold, and one who consorts with such sinners, goes to the hell Sukara.

Verse 10 (vishnu.2.6.10)

राजन्यवैश्यहा ताले तथैव गुरुतल्पगः । तप्तकुम्भे स्वसागामी हन्ति राजभटांश् च यः

rājanyavaiśyahā tāle tathaiva gurutalpagaḥ taptakumbhe svasāgāmī hanti rājabhaṭāṁś ca yaḥ

A slayer of kshatriyas or vaishyas goes to Tala; likewise one who defiles his guru's bed, one who goes to his own sister, and one who kills the king's soldiers go to Taptakumbha.

Verse 11 (vishnu.2.6.11)

साध्वीविक्रयकृद् बन्धपालः केसरिविक्रयी । तप्तलोहे पतन्त्य् एते यश् च भक्तं परित्यजेत्

sādhvīvikrayakṛd bandhapālaḥ kesarivikrayī taptalohe patanty ete yaś ca bhaktaṁ parityajet

One who sells a virtuous woman, a jailer, a seller of lions, and one who abandons his devoted follower — these fall into Taptaloha (molten metal).

Verse 12 (vishnu.2.6.12)

स्नुषां सुतां चापि गत्वा महाज्वाले निपात्यते । अवमन्ता गुरूणां यो यश् चाक्रोष्टा नराधमः

snuṣāṁ sutāṁ cāpi gatvā mahājvāle nipātyate avamantā gurūṇāṁ yo yaś cākroṣṭā narādhamaḥ

One who goes to his daughter-in-law or his own daughter is cast into Mahajvala; as is the vile man who insults or reviles his elders.

Verse 13 (vishnu.2.6.13)

वेददूषयिता यश् च वेदविक्रयकश् च यः । अगम्यगामी यश् च स्यात् ते यान्ति लवणं द्विज

vedadūṣayitā yaś ca vedavikrayakaś ca yaḥ agamyagāmī yaś ca syāt te yānti lavaṇaṁ dvija

One who corrupts the Vedas, one who sells the Vedas, and one who has forbidden intercourse — these go to the hell Lavana, O twice-born.

Verse 14 (vishnu.2.6.14)

चौरो विमोहे पतति मर्यादादूषकस् तथा

cauro vimohe patati maryādādūṣakas tathā

A thief falls into confusion and torment, as does one who corrupts proper boundaries.

Verse 15 (vishnu.2.6.15)

देवद्विजपितृद्वेष्टा रत्नदूषयिता च यः । स याति कृमिभक्षे वै कृमिशे च दुरिष्टकृत्

devadvijapitṛdveṣṭā ratnadūṣayitā ca yaḥ sa yāti kṛmibhakṣe vai kṛmiśe ca duriṣṭakṛt

One who hates gods, brahmins, or ancestors, and one who spoils gems, goes to Krimibhaksha; and one who performs improper sacrifices goes to Krimisha.

Verse 16 (vishnu.2.6.16)

पितृदेवातिथीन् यस् तु पर्यश्नाति नराधमः । लालाभक्षे स यात्य् उग्रे शरकर्ता च वेधके

pitṛdevātithīn yas tu paryaśnāti narādhamaḥ lālābhakṣe sa yāty ugre śarakartā ca vedhake

The vile man who eats food set aside for ancestors, gods, or guests, goes to the terrible Lalabhaksha; as does the maker of arrows, and the one who pierces with them.

Verse 17 (vishnu.2.6.17)

करोति कर्णिनो यश् च यश् च खड्गादिकृन् नरः । प्रयान्त्य् एते विशसने नरके भृशदारुणे

karoti karṇino yaś ca yaś ca khaḍgādikṛn naraḥ prayānty ete viśasane narake bhṛśadāruṇe

And the man who makes swords and other weapons — these go to the exceedingly dreadful hell Vishasana.

Verse 18 (vishnu.2.6.18)

असत्प्रतिग्रहीता तु नरके यात्य् अधोमुखे । अयाज्ययाजकस् तत्र तथा नक्षत्रसूचकः

asatpratigrahītā tu narake yāty adhomukhe ayājyayājakas tatra tathā nakṣatrasūcakaḥ

One who accepts improper gifts goes to the face-down hell; there too go one who performs sacrifices for the unworthy, and one who foretells ill omens from the stars.

Verse 19 (vishnu.2.6.19)

वेगी पूयवहं चैको याति मिष्टान्नभुङ् नरः

vegī pūyavahaṁ caiko yāti miṣṭānnabhuṅ naraḥ

A reckless man, and one who eats sweet food alone without sharing, goes to Puyavaha.

Verse 20 (vishnu.2.6.20)

लाक्षामांसरसानां च तिलानां लवणस्य च । विक्रेता ब्राह्मणो याति तम् एव नरकं द्विज

lākṣāmāṁsarasānāṁ ca tilānāṁ lavaṇasya ca vikretā brāhmaṇo yāti tam eva narakaṁ dvija

A brahmin who sells lac, meat-broth, sesame, and salt goes to that same hell, O twice-born.

Verse 21 (vishnu.2.6.21)

मार्जारकुक्कुटच्छागश्ववराहविहंगमान् । पोषयन् नरकं याति तम् एव द्विजसत्तम

mārjārakukkuṭacchāgaśvavarāhavihaṁgamān poṣayan narakaṁ yāti tam eva dvijasattama

One who raises cats, cocks, goats, dogs, pigs, or birds for slaughter or sale also goes to that same hell, O best of the twice-born.

Verse 22 (vishnu.2.6.22)

रङ्गोपजीवी कैवर्तः कुण्डाशी गरदस् तथा । सूची माहिषिकश् चैव पर्वगामी च यो द्विजः

raṅgopajīvī kaivartaḥ kuṇḍāśī garadas tathā sūcī māhiṣikaś caiva parvagāmī ca yo dvijaḥ

One who lives off the stage, a fisherman, one who eats from a common begging-pot, a poisoner, a tailor, a buffalo-keeper, and a brahmin who improperly travels on sacred days,

Verse 23 (vishnu.2.6.23)

अगारदाही मित्रघ्नः शाकुनिर् ग्रामयाजकः । रुधिरान्धे पतन्त्य् एते सोमं विक्रीणते च ये

agāradāhī mitraghnaḥ śākunir grāmayājakaḥ rudhirāndhe patanty ete somaṁ vikrīṇate ca ye

one who burns down a house, one who betrays a friend, a fowler, and one who officiates sacrifices for a whole village — these fall into Rudhirandha, as do those who sell Soma.

Verse 24 (vishnu.2.6.24)

मधुहा ग्रामहन्ता च याति वैतरणीं नरः

madhuhā grāmahantā ca yāti vaitaraṇīṁ naraḥ

One who steals honey and one who destroys a village goes to Vaitarani.

Verse 25 (vishnu.2.6.25)

धनयौवनमत्तास् तु मर्यादाभेदिनो हि ये । ते कृष्णे यान्त्य् अशौचाश् च कुहकाजीविनश् च ये

dhanayauvanamattās tu maryādābhedino hi ye te kṛṣṇe yānty aśaucāś ca kuhakājīvinaś ca ye

Those intoxicated with wealth and youth who break proper bounds go to Krishna hell, as do those who are impure and those who live by deception.

Verse 26 (vishnu.2.6.26)

असिपत्रवनं याति वनच्छेदी वृथैव यः । औरभ्रिको मृगव्याधो वह्निज्वाले पतन्ति वै

asipatravanaṁ yāti vanacchedī vṛthaiva yaḥ aurabhriko mṛgavyādho vahnijvāle patanti vai

One who needlessly cuts down a forest goes to Asipatravana; one who herds sheep for slaughter and a hunter of deer fall into Vahnijvala.

Verse 27 (vishnu.2.6.27)

यान्त्य् एते द्विज तत्रैव यश् चापाकेषु वह्निदः

yānty ete dvija tatraiva yaś cāpākeṣu vahnidaḥ

These, O twice-born, go there likewise, as does one who sets fire to another's standing, unharvested crops.

Verse 28 (vishnu.2.6.28)

व्रतेषु लोपको यश् च स्वाश्रमाद् विच्युतश् च यः । संदंशयातनामध्ये पततस् ताव् उभाव् अपि

vrateṣu lopako yaś ca svāśramād vicyutaś ca yaḥ saṁdaṁśayātanāmadhye patatas tāv ubhāv api

One who breaks his vows, and one who has fallen from his own religious order — both of these fall into the torment of Sandamsha, the pincers.

Verse 29 (vishnu.2.6.29)

दिवा स्वप्नेषु स्कन्दन्ते ये नरा ब्रह्मचारिणः । पुत्रैर् अध्यापिता ये च ते पतन्ति श्वभोजने

divā svapneṣu skandante ye narā brahmacāriṇaḥ putrair adhyāpitā ye ca te patanti śvabhojane

Those brahmacharins who fall from their vow through emission by day, and those who are taught by their own sons in reversal of proper order, fall into Shvabhojana.

Verse 30 (vishnu.2.6.30)

एते चान्ये च नरकाः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः । येषु दुष्कृतकर्माणः पच्यन्ते यातनागताः

ete cānye ca narakāḥ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ yeṣu duṣkṛtakarmāṇaḥ pacyante yātanāgatāḥ

These and hundreds upon thousands of other hells exist, in which evildoers, undergoing torment, are cooked.

Verse 31 (vishnu.2.6.31)

तथैव पापान्य् एतानि तथान्यानि सहस्रशः । भुज्यन्ते यानि पुरुषैर् नरकान्तरगोचरैः

tathaiva pāpāny etāni tathānyāni sahasraśaḥ bhujyante yāni puruṣair narakāntaragocaraiḥ

Likewise these sins, and thousands of others, are experienced by men who dwell within the hells.

Verse 32 (vishnu.2.6.32)

वर्णाश्रमविरुद्धं च कर्म कुर्वन्ति ये नराः । कर्मणा मनसा वाचा निरयेषु पतन्ति ते

varṇāśramaviruddhaṁ ca karma kurvanti ye narāḥ karmaṇā manasā vācā nirayeṣu patanti te

Those men who perform acts contrary to their caste and stage of life, in deed, in mind, or in speech, fall into the hells.

Verse 33 (vishnu.2.6.33)

अधःशिरोभिर् दृश्यन्ते नारकैर् दिवि देवताः । देवाश् चाधोमुखान् सर्वान् अधः पश्यन्ति नारकान्

adhaḥśirobhir dṛśyante nārakair divi devatāḥ devāś cādhomukhān sarvān adhaḥ paśyanti nārakān

The hell-dwellers see the gods in the sky as if hanging head-down, and the gods, looking down, likewise see all the hell-dwellers with their faces turned down.

Verse 34 (vishnu.2.6.34)

स्थावराः कृमयोऽब्जाश् च पक्षिणः पशवो नराः । धार्मिकास् त्रिदशास् तद्वन् मोक्षिणश् च यथाक्रमम्

sthāvarāḥ kṛmayo'bjāś ca pakṣiṇaḥ paśavo narāḥ dhārmikās tridaśās tadvan mokṣiṇaś ca yathākramam

Immobile beings, worms, aquatic creatures, birds, beasts, men, the righteous, the gods, and those who attain liberation — each in this order,

Verse 35 (vishnu.2.6.35)

सहस्रभागप्रथमा द्वितीयानुक्रमास् तथा । सर्वे ह्य् एते महाभाग यावन् मुक्तिसमाश्रयाः

sahasrabhāgaprathamā dvitīyānukramās tathā sarve hy ete mahābhāga yāvan muktisamāśrayāḥ

each preceding class, O greatly fortunate one, is a thousandfold greater than the next, all the way up to those who take refuge in liberation.

Verse 36 (vishnu.2.6.36)

यावन्तो जन्तवः स्वर्गे तावन्तो नरकौकसः । पापकृद् याति नरकं प्रायश्चित्तपराङ्मुखः

yāvanto jantavaḥ svarge tāvanto narakaukasaḥ pāpakṛd yāti narakaṁ prāyaścittaparāṅmukhaḥ

As many creatures as there are in heaven, so many too are the dwellers in hell; the sinner who turns away from expiation goes to hell.

Verse 37 (vishnu.2.6.37)

पापानाम् अनुरूपाणि प्रायश्चित्तानि यद् यथा । तथा तथैव संस्मृत्य प्रोक्तानि परमर्षिभिः

pāpānām anurūpāṇi prāyaścittāni yad yathā tathā tathaiva saṁsmṛtya proktāni paramarṣibhiḥ

The expiations appropriate to each sin, according to its kind, have been declared by the great sages, having duly considered them.

Verse 38 (vishnu.2.6.38)

पापे गुरूणि गुरुणि स्वल्पान्य् अल्पे च तद्विदः । प्रायश्चित्तानि मैत्रेय जगुः स्वायंभुवादयः

pāpe gurūṇi guruṇi svalpāny alpe ca tadvidaḥ prāyaścittāni maitreya jaguḥ svāyaṁbhuvādayaḥ

For grave sin, grave expiation; for light sin, light — knowing this, Svayambhuva and the other sages, O Maitreya, have declared these expiations.

Verse 39 (vishnu.2.6.39)

प्रायश्चित्तान्य् अशेषाणि तपःकर्मात्मकानि वै । यानि तेषाम् अशेषाणां कृष्णानुस्मरणं परम्

prāyaścittāny aśeṣāṇi tapaḥkarmātmakāni vai yāni teṣām aśeṣāṇāṁ kṛṣṇānusmaraṇaṁ param

Countless expiations exist, consisting of austerity and ritual acts, but of all of them, the remembrance of Krishna is the supreme one.

Verse 40 (vishnu.2.6.40)

कृते पापेऽनुतापो वै यस्य पुंसः प्रजायते । प्रायश्चित्तं तु तस्यैकं हरिसंस्मरणं परम्

kṛte pāpe'nutāpo vai yasya puṁsaḥ prajāyate prāyaścittaṁ tu tasyaikaṁ harisaṁsmaraṇaṁ param

For that man in whom remorse arises after committing sin, the remembrance of Hari alone is the one supreme expiation.

Verse 41 (vishnu.2.6.41)

प्रातर् निशि तथा संध्यामध्याह्नादिषु संस्मरन् । नारायणम् अवाप्नोति सद्यः पापक्षयं नरः

prātar niśi tathā saṁdhyāmadhyāhnādiṣu saṁsmaran nārāyaṇam avāpnoti sadyaḥ pāpakṣayaṁ naraḥ

Remembering Narayana in the morning, at night, and at the twilight junctures and at midday, a man attains the immediate destruction of sin.

Verse 42 (vishnu.2.6.42)

विष्णुसंस्मरणात् क्षीणसमस्तक्लेशसंचयः । मुक्तिं प्रयाति स्वर्गाप्तिस् तस्य विघ्नोऽनुमीयते

viṣṇusaṁsmaraṇāt kṣīṇasamastakleśasaṁcayaḥ muktiṁ prayāti svargāptis tasya vighno'numīyate

Through the remembrance of Vishnu, all accumulated afflictions are destroyed; he attains liberation — the attainment of heaven is, for him, reckoned merely an obstacle.

Verse 43 (vishnu.2.6.43)

वासुदेवे मनो यस्य जपहोमार्चनादिषु । तस्यान्तरायो मैत्रेय देवेन्द्रत्वादिकं फलम्

vāsudeve mano yasya japahomārcanādiṣu tasyāntarāyo maitreya devendratvādikaṁ phalam

For one whose mind is fixed on Vasudeva through japa, oblation, and worship, O Maitreya, even the fruit of Indra's own status is merely an obstacle.

Verse 44 (vishnu.2.6.44)

क्व नाकपृष्ठगमनं पुनरावृत्तिलक्षणम् । क्व जपो वासुदेवेति मुक्तिबीजम् अनुत्तमम्

kva nākapṛṣṭhagamanaṁ punarāvṛttilakṣaṇam kva japo vāsudeveti muktibījam anuttamam

What is the attainment of heaven, marked by inevitable return to rebirth, compared to the japa of 'Vasudeva' — the unsurpassed seed of liberation!

Verse 45 (vishnu.2.6.45)

तस्माद् अहर्निशं विष्णुं संस्मरन् पुरुषो मुने । न याति नरकं शुद्धः संक्षीणाखिलपातकः

tasmād aharniśaṁ viṣṇuṁ saṁsmaran puruṣo mune na yāti narakaṁ śuddhaḥ saṁkṣīṇākhilapātakaḥ

Therefore, O sage, the man who remembers Vishnu day and night, becoming pure with all his sins destroyed, does not go to hell.

Verse 46 (vishnu.2.6.46)

मनःप्रीतिकरः स्वर्गो नरकस् तद्विपर्ययः । नरकस्वर्गसंज्ञे वै पापपुण्ये द्विजोत्तम

manaḥprītikaraḥ svargo narakas tadviparyayaḥ narakasvargasaṁjñe vai pāpapuṇye dvijottama

That which gladdens the mind is heaven; its opposite is hell; O best of the twice-born, 'hell' and 'heaven' are indeed but names for sin and merit.

Verse 47 (vishnu.2.6.47)

वस्त्व् एकम् एव दुःखाय सुखायेर्ष्योद्भवाय च । कोपाय च यतस् तस्माद् वस्तु वस्त्वात्मकं कुतः

vastv ekam eva duḥkhāya sukhāyerṣyodbhavāya ca kopāya ca yatas tasmād vastu vastvātmakaṁ kutaḥ

One and the same object becomes a cause of sorrow, of joy, of the birth of envy, and of anger — how then could any object have an inherent nature of its own?

Verse 48 (vishnu.2.6.48)

तद् एव प्रीतये भूत्वा पुनर् दुःखाय जायते । तद् एव कोपाय यतः प्रसादाय च जायते

tad eva prītaye bhūtvā punar duḥkhāya jāyate tad eva kopāya yataḥ prasādāya ca jāyate

That very thing which becomes a source of delight is born again as a source of sorrow; that same thing which is a cause of anger becomes also a cause of favor.

Verse 49 (vishnu.2.6.49)

तस्माद् दुःखात्मकं नास्ति न च किंचित् सुखात्मकम् । मनसः परिणामोऽयं सुखदुःखादिलक्षणः

tasmād duḥkhātmakaṁ nāsti na ca kiṁcit sukhātmakam manasaḥ pariṇāmo'yaṁ sukhaduḥkhādilakṣaṇaḥ

Therefore nothing is by nature sorrow, nor is anything by nature joy; pleasure, pain, and the rest are merely transformations of the mind.

Verse 50 (vishnu.2.6.50)

ज्ञानम् एव परं ब्रह्म ज्ञानं बन्धाय चेष्यते । ज्ञानात्मकम् इदं विश्वं न ज्ञानाद् विद्यते परम्

jñānam eva paraṁ brahma jñānaṁ bandhāya ceṣyate jñānātmakam idaṁ viśvaṁ na jñānād vidyate param

Knowledge alone is the supreme Brahman, and yet knowledge itself is also held to be the cause of bondage; this entire universe consists of knowledge; there is nothing higher than knowledge.

Verse 51 (vishnu.2.6.51)

विद्याविद्येति मैत्रेय ज्ञानम् एवोपधारय

vidyāvidyeti maitreya jñānam evopadhāraya

O Maitreya, understand both vidya and avidya, knowledge and ignorance, as forms of knowledge itself.

Verse 52 (vishnu.2.6.52)

एवम् एतन् मयाख्यातं भवतो मण्डलं भुवः । पातालानि च सर्वाणि तथैव नरका द्विज

evam etan mayākhyātaṁ bhavato maṇḍalaṁ bhuvaḥ pātālāni ca sarvāṇi tathaiva narakā dvija

Thus, O twice-born, I have told you of this entire circle of the earth, of all the Patalas, and likewise of all the hells.

Verse 53 (vishnu.2.6.53)

समुद्राः पर्वताश् चैव द्वीपा वर्षाणि निम्नगाः । संक्षेपात् सर्वम् आख्यातं किं भूयः श्रोतुम् इच्छसि

samudrāḥ parvatāś caiva dvīpā varṣāṇi nimnagāḥ saṁkṣepāt sarvam ākhyātaṁ kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotum icchasi

The oceans, mountains, continents, regions, and rivers — all this has been told in brief; what more do you wish to hear?