युधिष्ठिर उवाच पितामहं महाप्राज्ञ सर्वशास्त्रविशारद। श्रोतुमिच्छामि मानां संसारविधिमुत्तमम्॥
Yudhishthira said o grandfather, O greatly wise one, conversant with all the scriptures, I wish to know those excellent ordinances by which mortals have to travel through their rounds of rebirth.
केन वृत्तेन राजेन्द्र वर्तमाना नरा भुवि। प्राप्नुवन्त्युत्तमं स्वर्गे कथं च नरकं नृप॥
What is that conduct by following which O king, men succeed in acquiring high heaven and what is that conduct by which one sinks in Hell?
मृतं शरीरमुत्सृज्य काष्ठलोष्टसमं जनाः। प्रयान्त्यमुं लोकमितः को वै ताननुगच्छति॥
When renouncing the dead body that is as inert as a piece of wood or clod of earth people proceed to the other world, what are those which follow them there?
भीष्म उवाच अयमायाति भगवान् बृहस्पतिरुदारधीः। पृच्छैनं सुमहाभागमेतद् गुह्यं सनातनम्॥
Bhishma said Yonder comes the illustrious and highly intelligent Brihaspati. Do you ask his blessed self. The subject is an eternal mystery.
नैतदन्येन शक्यं हि वक्तुं केनचिदद्य वै। वक्ता बृहस्पति समो न ह्यन्यो विद्यते क्वचित्॥
None else is capable of explaining the matter. There is no speaker like Brihaspati.
वैशम्पायन उवाच तयोः संवदतोरेवं पार्थमाङ्गेययोस्तदा। आजगाम विशुद्धद्वात्मा नाकपृष्ठाद् बृहस्पतिः॥
Vaishampayana said While the son of Pritha and the son of Ganga were thus conversing with each other, there came at the spot from the sky the illustrious Brihaspati of purified soul.
ततो राजा समुत्थाय धृतराष्ट्रपुरोगमः। पूजामनुपमा चक्रे सर्वे ते च सभासदः॥
King Yudhishthira, and all others, headed by Dhritarashtra, stood up and received Brihaspati with proper honours. Excellent was the worship they offered to the preceptor of the celestials.
ततो धर्मसुतो राजा भगवन्तं बृहस्पतिम्। उपगम्य यथान्यायं प्रश्न पप्रच्छ तत्त्वतः॥
Then approaching the illustrious Brihaspati, Dharma's royal son, Yudhishthira, asked him the question in proper form, desirous of knowing the truth.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच भगवन् सर्वधर्मज्ञ सर्वशास्त्रविशारद।
Yudhishthira said O illustrious one, you are conversant with all duties and all the scriptures. Do you tell me what is truly the friend of mortal creatures?
मर्त्यस्य कः सहायो वै पिता माता सुतो गुरुः॥ ज्ञातिसम्बन्धिवर्गश्च मित्रवर्गस्तथैव च। मृतं शरीरमुत्सृज्य काष्ठलोष्टसमं जनाः॥
Is the father, or mother, or son, or preceptor, or kinsmen, or relatives, or those called friends, that may be said to truly form the friend of a mortal creature? One goes to the next world, leaving his dead body that is like a piece of wood or a clod of earth. Who is it that follows him there?
बृहस्पतिरुवाच गच्छन्त्यमुत्र लोकं वै क एनमनुगच्छति। एकः प्रसूयते राजन्नेक एव विनश्यति॥
Brihaspati said One is born alone, o king, and one dies alone; one crosses alone the difficulties one meets with, and one alone meets whatever misery falls to his lot.
धर्म:सहायश्च एकस्तरति दुर्गाणि गच्छत्येकस्तु दुर्गतिम्। असहाय: पिता माता तथा भ्राता सुतो गुरुः॥ ज्ञातिसम्बन्धिवर्गश्च मित्रवर्गस्तथैव च। मृतं शरीरमुत्सृज्य काष्ठलोष्टसमं जनाः॥ मुहूर्तमिव रोदित्वा ततो यान्ति पराङ्मुखः।
One has really no companion in these deeds. The father the mother, the brother, the son the preceptor kinsmen, relatives and friends, leaving the dead body as if it were a piece of wood or a clod of earth, after having mourned for only a moment, all turn away from it and mind their own affairs.
तैस्तच्छरीरमुत्सृष्टं धर्म एकोऽनुगच्छति॥ तस्माद् सेवितव्यः सदा नृभिः।
Only virtue follows the body that is thus left by them all. It is therefore, plain, that virtue is the only friend and that virtues only should be sought by all.
प्राणी धर्मसमायुक्तो गच्छेत् स्वर्गगतिं पराम्॥ तथैवाधर्मसंयुक्तो नरकं चोपपद्यते।
A virtuous man would acquire that high end which is formed by Heaven. If sinful he goes to hell.
तस्मान्यायागतैरथैर्धर्मे सेवेत पण्डितः॥ धर्म एको मनुष्याणां सहाय: परिलौकिकः।
Hence, an intelligent man should always seek to acquire virtue through wealth acquired by fair means. Virtue is the one only friend whichcrcatures have in the next world.
लोभान्मोहादनुक्रोशाद् भयाद् वाप्यबहुश्रुतः॥ नरः करोत्यकार्याणि परार्थं लोभमोहितः।
Moved by cupidity, or stupefaction, or mercy, or fear, one shorn of knowledge is seen to do unfair deeds, for sake of even another, his judgement thus stupefied by cupidity.
धर्मश्चार्थश्च कामश्च त्रितयं जीविते फलम्॥ एतत् त्रयमवाप्तव्ययधर्मपरिवर्जितम्।
Virtue, wealth, and pleasure, these three form the fruit of life. Onc should win these three by means of being free from impropriety and sin.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच श्रुतं भगवतो वाक्यं धर्मयुक्तं परं हितम्॥ शरीरनिचयं ज्ञातुं बुद्धिस्तु मम जायते।
Yudhishthira said I have carefully heard the words spoken by your illustrious self, these words that are fraught with virtue, and that are highly beneficial, I wish now to know of the state of the body (after death.)
मृतं शरीर हि नृणां सूक्ष्ममव्यक्ततां गतम्॥ अचक्षुर्विषयं प्राप्तं कथं धर्मोऽनुगच्छति।
The dead body of man becomes subtile and unmanifest. It becomes invisible. How is it possible for virtue to follow it?
बृहस्पतिरुवाच पृथिवी वायुराकाशमापो ज्योतिर्मनोऽन्तगः॥ बुद्धिरात्मा च सहिता धर्मं पश्यन्ति नित्यदा। प्राणिनामिह सर्वेषां साक्षिभूता निशानिशम्॥ एतैश्च सह धर्मोऽपि तं जीवमनुगच्छति।
Brihaspati said Earth, Wind Ether, Water, Light, mind, Yama (the king of the dead), Understanding, the soul, as also day and Night, all together witness the merits of all living creatures. With these, virtue follows the creature (When dead.)
त्वगस्थिमांसं शुक्रं च शोणितं च महामते॥ शरीरं वर्जयन्त्येते जीवितेन विवर्जितम्
When the body becomes bereft of life, skin, bones flesh, the vital seed, and blood, leave it simultaneously.
ततो धर्मसमायुक्तः प्राप्नुते जीव एव हि॥ ततोऽस्य कर्म पश्यन्ति शुभं वा यदि वाशुभम्। देवताः पञ्चभूतस्थाः किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि॥
Gifted with merit (and demerit) individual soul (after the destruction of this body) comes by another body. After the attainment by individual soul of that body the presiding deities of the five elements once more witness all his deeds, good and bad.
ततो धर्मसमायुक्तः स जीव: सुखमेधते। इहलोके परे चैव किं भूयः कथयामि ते॥
What else do you wish to hear? If gifted with virtue, individual soul enjoys happiness. What other subject, belonging to this or the other world shall I describe to you?
युधिष्ठिर उवाच तद् दर्शितं भगवता यथा धर्मोऽनुगच्छति। एतत् तु ज्ञातमिच्छामि कथं रेतः प्रवर्तते॥
Yudhishthira said Your illustrious self has explained how virtuc follows individual soul. I wish to know how the vital seed is originated.
बृहस्पति रुवाच अन्नमश्नन्ति यद् देवाः शरीरस्था नरेश्वर। पृथिवी वायुराकाशमापो ज्योतिर्मनस्तथा॥ ततस्तृप्तेषु राजेन्द्र तेषु भूतेषु पञ्चसु। मनःषष्ठेषु शुद्धात्मन् रेतः सम्पद्यते महत्॥
Brihaspati said The food that these gods, O king, who live in the body viz Earth, Wind, Ether, Water, Light and Mind, cat, pleases them. When those five elements become pleased, O monarch with Mind numbering as their sixth, their vital seed then becomes generated, O you of purified Soul.
ततो गर्भ: सम्भवति श्लेषात् स्त्रीपुंसयोर्नृप। भूयः किं श्रोतुमिच्छसि॥
When an act of union takes place between male and female, the vital seed comes out and causes conception. I have thus explained to you what you had asked. When else do you wish to hear.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच आख्यातं मे भगवता गर्भः संजायते यथा। यथा जातस्तु पुरुषः प्रपद्यति तदुच्यताम्॥
Yudhishthira said You have, O illustrious one, said how conception takes piace. Do you explain how the individual soul that takes birth, grows.
बृहस्पतिरुवाच एतत् ते सर्वमाख्यातं आसन्नमात्रः पुरुषस्तैर्भूतैरभिभूयते। विप्रयुक्तश्च तैर्भूतैः पुनर्यात्यपरां गतिम्॥ सर्वभूतसमायुक्तः प्राप्नुते जीव एव हि।
Brihaspati said As soon as individual soul enters the vital seed, he becomes overwhelmed by the elements already mentioned. When individual soul become disunited therewith, he is said to attain to the other end (viz., death).
ततोऽस्य कर्म पश्यन्ति शुभं वा यदि वाशुभम्। देवताः पञ्चभूतस्था: किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि॥
Gifted with these elements, the individual soul comes by a body. The deities that preside over those elements, witness all his deeds, good and bad. What else do you wish to hear.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच त्वगस्थिमांसमुत्सृज्य तैश्च भूतैर्विवर्जितः। जीवःस भगवन् क्वस्थः सुखदुःखे समश्नुते॥
Yudhishthira said Living off skin, bone and flesh, and becoming destitute of all those elements, in what does individual soul reside, O illustrious one, for enjoying and suffering happiness and imisery?
बृहस्पतिरुवाच जीवः कर्मसमायुक्तः शीघ्रं रेतस्त्वमागतः। स्त्रीणां पुष्पं समासाद्य सूते काले भारत॥
Brihaspati said Endued with all his acts, individual soul quickly enters the vital seed, and availing of the menstrual flow of women, takes birth in time, O Bharata.
यमस्य पुरुषैः क्लेशं यमस्य पुरुषैर्वधम्। दुःखं संसारचक्रं च नरः क्लेशं स विन्दति॥
After birth individual soul receives woe and death from the messengers of Yama. Indeed, he goes through misery and a painful round of rebirth.
इहलोके च स प्राणी जन्मप्रभृति पार्थिव। सुकृतं कर्म वै भुक्ते धर्मस्य फलमाश्रितः॥
Endued with life, O king, individual soul in this world, from the moment of his birth, enjoys and suffers his own (pristine deeds), depending upon virtue (and its reverse).
यदि धर्म यथाशक्ति जन्मप्रभृति सेवते। ततः स पुरुषो भूत्वा सेवते नित्यदा सुखम्॥
If individual soul according to the best of his power, follows virtue from the day of his birth, he them succeeds in enjoying uninterruptedly, when reborn, happiness.
अथान्तरा तु धर्मस्पाप्यधर्ममुपसेवते। सुखस्यानन्तरं दुःखं स जीवोऽप्यधिगच्छति॥
If, on the other hand, without following virtue without interruption, he acts sinfully, he reaps happiness at first as the reward of his virtue and suffers misery after that.
अधर्मेण समायुक्तो यमस्य विषयं गतः। महद् दुःखं समासाद्य तिर्यग्योनौ प्रजायते॥
Endued with sin, individual soul has to go the dominions of Yama and suffering great misery there he has to take birth in an intermediate order of being.
कर्मणा येन येनेह यस्यां योनौ प्रजायते। जीवो मोहसमायुक्तस्तन्मे निगदतः शृणु॥ यदेतदुच्यते शास्त्रे सेतिहासे च च्छन्दसि। यमस्य विषयं घोरं मया लोकः प्रपद्यते॥
Listen to me as I tell you, what the different acts are by doing which individuals soul, Stupefied by folly, has to take birth in different orders of being, as declared in the Vedas, the scriptures, and the histories, Mortals have to go to the dreadful regions of Yama.
इह स्थानानि पुण्यानि देवतुल्यानि भूपते। तिर्यग्योन्यतिरिक्तानि गतिमन्ति च सर्वशः॥
There are, again, places in those regions that are worse than those which are occupied by animals and birds. In those regions, O king there are places which are fraught with every merit and which are worthy on that account of being the habitations of the very celestials.
यमस्य भवने दिव्ये ब्रह्मलोकसमे गुणैः। कर्मभिर्नियतैर्बद्धो जन्तुर्दुःखान्युपाश्नुते॥
Creatures, fettered by their deeds, suffer various kinds of misery. Indeed, there are places of these kinds in the abode of Yama which is equal to the region of Brahman himself in merits.
येन येन तु भावेन कर्मणा पुरुषो गतिम्। प्रयाति परुषां घोरां तत्ते वक्ष्याम्यत: परम्॥
If a twice born person having studied the four Vedas, becomes stupefied by folly and accepts a gift from a fallen man, he has then 10 take birth in the order of asses.
अधीत्य चतुरो वेदान् द्विजो मोहसमन्वितः। पतितात् प्रतिगृह्याथ खरयोनौ प्रजायते॥
I shall after this tell you what those acts and dispositions are on account of which a person acquires an end that is fraught with great misery and terror.
खरो जीवति वर्षाणि दस पञ्च च भारत। खरो मृतो बलीवर्दः सप्त वर्षाणि जीवति॥
He has to live as an ass for fifteen years, Shaking off his assinine form, he has next to take birth as an ox and which state he has to live for seven years.
बलीवर्दो मृतश्चापि जायते ब्रह्मराक्षसः। ब्रह्मरक्षश्च मासांस्त्रीस्ततो जायति ब्राह्मणः॥
Throwing off his bovine forın, he has next to take birth as a Rakshasa of the twice born order. Living as a Rakshasa of the twice born order for three months, he then regains his status of a Brahmana.
पतितं याजयित्वा तु कृतियोनौ प्रजायते। तत्र जीवति वर्षाणि दश पञ्च च भारत॥
A Brahmana, by officiating at the sacrifice of a degraded person, has to take birth as a vile worm. In this form he has to live for fifteen years, O Bharata.
कृमिभावाद् विमुक्तस्तु ततो जायति गर्दभः। गर्दभः पञ्च वर्षाणि पञ्च वर्षाणि सूकरः॥
Freed from his worm birth, he is next born as an ass. As an ass he has to live for five years, and then as a hog, in which state also he has to reinain for as many years.
कुक्कुटः पञ्च वर्षाणि पञ्च वर्षाणि जम्बुकः। श्रा वर्षमेकं भवति ततो जायति मानवः॥
After that he is born as a cock, and living for five years in that form, he is born as a jackal and lives for as many years in that state. He is then born as a dog, and living thus for a ycar he regains his manhood.
उपाध्यायस्य यः पापं शिष्यः कुर्यादबुद्धिमान्। स जीव इह संसारांस्त्रीनाप्नोति न संशयः॥
That foolish disciple who offends his preceptor by injuring him, has certainly to undergo three changes in this world.
प्राश्वा भवति राजेन्द्र ततः क्रव्यात्ततः खरः। ततः प्रेतः परिक्लिष्टः पश्चाज्जायति ब्राह्मणः॥
Such a person, o king, has in the first instance to become a dog. He has then to become a beast of prey, and then an ass. Living his assinine form he has to wander for sometime in great, misery as a spirit. After the expiration of that time, he is born as a Brahmana.
मनसापि गुरोर्भार्यां यः शिष्यो याति पापकृत्। स उग्रान् प्रैति संसारानधर्मेणेह चेतसा॥
That sinful disciple who even in thought knows the wife of his preceptor, has, on account of such a sinful heart, to undergo many dreadful shapes in this world.
वयोनौ तु स सम्भूतस्त्रीणि वर्षाणि जीवति। तत्रापि निधनं प्राप्तः कृमियोनौ प्रजायते॥
First taking birth in the canine order he has to live for three years. Throwing off the canine forin when death comes, he is born as a vile vermin.
कृमिभावमनुप्राप्तो वर्षमेकं तु जीवति। ततस्तु निधनं प्राप्तो ब्रह्मयोनौ प्रजायते॥
In this form he has to live for a year. Renouncing that form he succeeds in regaining his status as a human being of the twice born order.
यदि पुत्रसमं शिष्यं गुरुर्हन्यादकारणे। आत्मनः कामकारेण सोऽपि हिंस्रः प्रजायते॥
If the preceptor kills, without reason, his disciple who is even as a son to him, he has on account of such a wilful deed of sin on his part, to take birth as a beast of prey.
पितरं मातरं चैव यस्तु पुत्रोऽवमन्यते। सोऽपि राजन् मृतो जन्तुः पूर्वं जायेत गर्दभः॥
That son who disregards his father and mother, O king, is born after renouncing his human form as an ass.
गर्दभत्वं तु सम्प्राप्य दशवर्षाणि जीवति। संवत्सरं तु कुम्भीरस्ततो जायेत मानवः॥
Assuming the assinine form he has to live for ten years. After that he is born as a crocodile, in which form he has to live for a year. After that he regains the human forin.
पुत्रस्य मातापितरौ यस्य रुष्टावुभावपि। गुर्वपध्यानतः सोऽपि मृतो जायति गर्दभः॥
That son with whom his parents become angry has on account of his evil thoughts towards them, to take birth as an ass.
खरो जीवति मासांस्तु दश श्वा च चतुर्दश। बिडालः सप्तमासांस्तु ततो जायति मानवः॥
As an ass he has to live for ten months. He is next born as a dog and has to remain as such for fourteen months. After that he is born as a cat and living in that form for seven months he regains his human form.
मातापितरावाश्य सारिकः सम्प्रजायते। ताडयित्वा तु तावेव जायते कच्छपो नृप॥
Having spoken ill of parents one is born as a Sarika. Striking them one is born, O king as a tortoise.
कच्छपो दश वर्षाणि त्रीणि वर्षाणि शल्यकः। व्यालो भूत्वा च षण्मासांस्ततो जायति मानुषः॥
Living as a tortoise for ten years, he is born as a porcupine. After that he has to take birth as a snake, and living for six months in that form he regains human form.
भर्तृपिण्डमुपाश्नन् यो राजद्विष्टानि सेवते। सोऽपि मोहसमापन्नो मृतो जायति वानरः॥
That man who, while living upon the food that his royal master supplies, commits deeds injurious to the interests of his master, stupefied by folly, has, after death, to take birth as a monkey.
वानरो दश वर्षाणि पञ्च वर्षाणि मूषिकः। श्वाथ भूत्वा तु षण्मा सांस्ततो जायति मानुषः॥
For ten years he has to live as a monkey, and after that for five years as a mouse. After that he is born as a dog, and living in that form for six months he succeeds in regaining his human form.
न्यासापहर्ता तु नरो यमस्य विषयं गतः। संसाराणां शतं गत्वा कृमियोनौ प्रजायते॥
That man who misappropriates what is deposited with him in trust, has to undergo a hundred births. He at last takes birth as a vile worm.
तत्र जीवति वर्षाणि दश पञ्च च भारत। दुष्कृतस्य क्षयं कृत्वा ततो जायति मानुषः॥
In that order he has to live for fifteen years, O Bharata. Upon the exhaustion of his sin in this way, he succeeds in regaining his human form.
असूयको नरश्चापि मृतो जायति शार्ङ्गकः। विश्वासहर्ता तु नरो मीनो जायति दुर्मतिः॥
That man who has malice towards others, has, after death, to take birth as a sharngaka. That wicked man who becomes guilty of breach of trust has to take birth as a fish.
भूत्वा मीनोऽष्ट वर्षाणि मृतो जायति भारत। मृगस्तु चतुरो मासांस्ततश्छागः प्रजायते॥
Living as a fish for eight years he is born, O Bharata, as a deer. Living as a deer for four months he is next born as a goat.
छागस्तु निधनं प्राप्य पूर्ण संवत्सरे ततः। कीटः संजायते जन्तुस्ततो जायति मानुषः॥
After the expiration of a full year, he renounces his goatish body, and is then born as a worm. After that he succeeds in regaining his human form.
धान्यान् यवास्तिलान् माषान् कुलत्थान् सर्षपांश्चणान् कलापानथ मुद्गांश्च गोधूमानतसींस्तथा॥ सस्यस्यान्यस्य हर्ता च मोहाज्जन्तुरचेतनः। स जायते महाराज मूषिको निरपत्रपः॥
That shameless insensate man who, through stupefaction, steals paddy, barley sesame, Masha, Kulattha, oil seeds, oats Kalaya, Mudga, wheat, Atasi, and other kinds of corn, is born as a mouse.
ततः प्रेत्य महाराज मृतो जायति सूकरः। सूकरो जातमात्रस्तु रोगेण म्रियते नृप।॥
After leading the life for sometime, he is next born as a hog. As soon as he is born as a hog he has to die of diseasc.
श्वा ततो जायते पूढः कर्मणा तेन पार्थिव। भूत्वा श्वा पञ्च वर्षाणि ततो जायति मानवः॥
On account of his sin, that foolish man has next to take birth as a dog, O king. Living as a dog for five years, he then regains his human form.
परदाराभिमर्श तु कृत्वा जायति वै वृकः। श्वा शृगालस्ततो गृध्रो व्याल:कंको बकस्तथा॥
Having committed an act of adultery with the wife of another man, one is born as a wolf. After that he has to assume the forms of a dog and jacka! and vulture. He has next to take birth as a snake and then as a Kanka (a bird of prey) and then as a crane.
भ्रातुर्भार्यो तु पापात्मा यो धर्षयति मोहितः। पुस्कोकिलत्वमाप्नोति सोऽपि संवत्सरं नृप॥
That sinful wight who out of foolishness, knows his brother's wife, has to take birth as a male Coel and to live in that form for a whole year, O king.
सखिभार्यां गुरोर्भार्यां राजभार्यां तथैव च। प्रधर्षयित्वा कामाया मृतो जायति सूकरः॥
He who, through lust, knows the wife of a friend, or the wife of preceptor, or the wife of his king, has after death to take the form of a hog.
सूकरः पञ्च वर्षाणि दश वर्षाणि श्वाविधः। बिडालः पञ्च वर्षाणि दश वर्षाणि कुक्कुटः॥
He has to live in this form for five years and then to assume that of a wolf for ten years. For the next five years he has to live as a cat and then for the next ten years as a cock.
पिपीलकस्तु मासांस्त्रीन् कीट:स्यान्मासमेव तु। एतानासाद्य संसारान् कृमियोनौ प्रजायते॥ तत्र जीवति मासांस्तु कृमियोनौ चतुर्दश। ततोऽधर्मक्षयं कृत्वा पुनर्जायति मानवः॥
He is next born as an ant, for three months and then as a worm for a month. Having undergone these births, he has next to live as a vile worm for fourteen years. When his sin becomes exhausted by such punishment, he at last regains the human form.
उपस्थिते विवाहे तु यज्ञे दानेऽपि वा विभो। मोहात् करोति यो विघ्नं स मृतो जायते कृमिः॥
When a marriage is about to take place a sacrifice or an act of gifts is about to be made, O you of great power the man who puts in any impediment has to take birth in his next life as a vile worm.
कृमिर्जीवति वर्षाणि दश पञ्च च भारत। अधर्मस्य क्षयं कृत्वा ततो जायति मानवः॥
Assuming such a form he has to live, O Bharata, for fifteen years. When his sin is exhausted by such suffering, he regains the human form.
पूर्वं दत्त्वा तु यः कन्यां द्वितीये दातुमिच्छति। सोऽपि राजन् मृतो जन्तुः कृमियोनौ प्रजायते॥
Having once bestowed his daughter in marriage upon a person, he who seeks to bestow her again upon a second husband, is compelled, O king, to take birth among vile worms.
तत्र जीवति वर्षाणि त्रयोदश युधिष्ठिर। अधर्मसंक्षये युक्तस्ततो जायति मानवः॥
Assuming such a form, O Yudhishthira, he has to live for thirteen years. Upon the exhaustion of his sin by such sufferance, he regains the human form.
देवकार्यमकृत्वा तु पितृकार्यमथापि वा। अनिर्वाप्य समश्चन् वै मृतो जायति वायसः॥
He who eats without having performed the rites in honour of the celestials or those in honour of the departed Manes or without having offered (even) oblations of water to both the Rishis and the departed Manes has to take birth as a crow.
वायसः शतवर्षाणि ततो जायति कुक्कुटः। जायते व्यालकश्चापि मासं तस्मात् तु मानुषः॥
Living as a crow for a hundred years, he next assumes the forin of a cock. His next change is that of a snake for a month. After this he regains the human form.
ज्येष्ठं पितृसमं चापि भ्रातरं योऽवमन्यते। सोऽपि मृत्युमुपागम्य क्रौञ्चयोनौ प्रजायते॥
He who disregards his eldest brother who is like a father, has, after death, to take birth as a crane.
क्रौञ्चो जीवति वर्षे तु ततो जायति चीरकः। ततो निधनमापन्नो मानुषत्वमुपाश्नुते॥
Having assumed that form he has to live in it for two years. Renouncing that form at the conclusion of that period, he regains the human forin.
वृषलो ब्राह्मणीं गत्वा कृमियोनौ प्रजायते। ततः सम्प्राप्य निधनं जायते सूकरः पुनः॥
That Shudra who knows a Brahmani woman has after death, to take birth as hog.
सूकरो जातमात्रस्तु रोगेण म्रियते नृप। श्वा ततो जायते मूढः कर्मणा तेन पार्थिव॥
As soon as he takes birth in that order he dies of disease, O king. The wretch has next to take birth as a dog, O king, on account of that sinful deed.
श्वा भूत्वा कृतकर्माऽसौ जायते मानुषस्ततः। तत्रापत्यं समुत्पाद्य मृतो जायति मूषिकः॥
Renouncing his canine form he regains, upon the exhaustion of his sin, the human form. The Shudra who begets offspring upon a Brahmani woman, leaving off his human form, is born again as a mouse. man
कृतघ्नस्तु मृतो राजन् यमस्य विषयं गतः। यमस्य पुरुषैः क्रुद्धैर्वधं प्राप्नोति दारुणम्॥
The who becomes guilty of ingratitude, O king, has to go to the regions of Yama and there to suffer very painful and severe treatment at the hands of the emissaries, provoked to fury of the grim king of the dead.
दण्डं समुन्दरं शूलमग्निकुम्भं च दारुणम्। असिपत्रवनं घोरवालुकं कूटशाल्मलीम्॥ एताश्चान्याश्च बह्वीश्च यमस्य विषयं गतः। यातनाः प्राप्य तत्रोग्रास्ततो वध्यति भारत॥
Clubs with heavy hammers and mallets sharppointed lances heated jars, dreadful sword blades heated sands, thorny Shalmalisthese and many other engines of torture such a man has to suffer in the regions of Yama, O Bharata,
ततो हतः कृतघ्नः स तत्रोग्रैर्भरतर्षभ। संसारचक्रमासाद्य कृमियोनौ प्रजायते॥
O chief of Bharata's race, having suffered such dreadful treatment in the regions of the grim king of the dead, the ungrateful person has to return to this world and take birth among vile vermin.
कृमिर्भवति वर्षाणि दश पञ्च च भारत। ततो गर्भं समासाद्य तत्रैव म्रियते शिशुः॥
He has to live as a vile vermin for a period of fifteen years, O Bharata. He has then to enter the womb and dic prematurely before birth.
ततो गर्भशतैर्जन्तुर्बहुभिः सम्प्रद्यते। संसारांश्च बहून् गत्वा ततस्तिर्यक्षु जायते॥
After this that person has to enter the womb a hundred times successively. Indeed, having undergone a hundred rebirths, he at last is born as a creature in some interinediate order between man and inanimate nature.
ततो दुःखमनुप्राप्य बहु वर्षगणानिह। अपुनर्भवसंयुक्तस्तत: कूर्मः प्रजायते॥
Having suffered misery for a great many years, he has to take birth as hairless tortoise.
दधि हत्वा बकश्चापि प्लवो मत्स्यानसंस्कृतान्। चोरयित्वा तु दुर्बुद्धिर्मधु दंशः प्रजायते॥
A person who steals curds is born as a crane. One becomes a monkey by stealing raw fish. That intelligent man who steals honey, is born as a gadfly.
फलं वा मूलकं हृत्वा अपूपं वा पिपीलिकाः। चोरयित्वा च निष्पावं जायते हलगोलकः॥
By stealing fruits or roots or cakes, one becomes an ant. By stealing Nishpava, one becomes a Halagolaka.
पायसं चोरयित्वा तु तित्तिरित्वमवाप्नुते। हृत्वा पिष्टमयं पूपं कुम्भोलूकः प्रजायते॥
By stealing Payasa, one becomes, in his next birth, a Tittiri bird. By stealing cakes, one becomes a screechowl.
अयो हत्वा तु दुर्बुद्धिर्वायसो जायते नरः। कांस्यं हत्वा तु दुर्बुद्धिरेरितो जायते नरः॥
That littlewitted man who steals iron has to take birth as a cow. That man who steals white brass, is born as a bird of the Harita spccies.
राजतं भाजनं हृत्वा कपोतः सम्प्रजायते। हृत्वा तु काञ्चनं भाण्डं कृमियोनौ प्रजायते॥
By stealing a silver vessel, one becomes a pigeon. By stealing a golden vessel, one has to take birth as a vile veriin.
पत्रोर्णं चोरयित्वा तु कृकलत्वं निगच्छति। कौशिकं तु ततो हत्वा नरो जायति वर्तकः॥
By stealing a piece of silken cloth, one becomes a Krikara. By stealing a piece of cloth made of red silk, one becomes a Vartaka.
अंशुकं चोरयित्वा तु शुको जायति मानवः। चोरयित्वा दुकूलं तु मृतो हंसः प्रजायते॥
By stealing a picce of muslin, one becomes a parrot. By stealing a piece of cloth that is of fine texture one becomes a swan after renouncing his human body.
क्रौञ्चः कासिकं हृत्वा मृतो जायति मानवः। चोरयित्वा नरः पटें त्वाविकं चैव भारत॥ क्षौमं च वस्त्रमादाय शशो जन्तुः प्रजायते। वर्णान् हृत्वा तु पुरुषो मृतो जायति बर्हिणः॥
By stealing a piece of cotton cloth, one becomes a Krauncha bird after renouncing his human body, and O Bharata, stealing a shoulder sheet of cloth, garment made of sheep wool and a piece of linen, one is born as a hare. By stealing different sorts of colouring matter, one is born as a peacock.
हृत्वा रक्तानि वस्त्राणि जायते जीवजीवकः। वर्णकादींस्तथा गन्धांश्चोरयित्वेह मानवः॥ छुच्छन्दरित्वमाप्नोति राजञ्लोभपरायणः। तत्र जीवति वर्षाणि ततो दश च पञ्च च॥
By stealing a piece of red cloth one is born as a bird of the Jivajivaka species. By stealing unguents (such as sandalpaste) and perfumes in this world, the avaricious man, O king, is born as a mole. Assuming the form of a mole one has to live in it for fifteen years.
अधर्मस्य क्षयं गत्वा ततो जायति मानुषः। चोरयित्वा पयश्चापि बलाका सम्प्रजायते॥
After the exhaustion of his sin by such suffering he regains the human form. By stealing milk, one becomes a crane.
यस्तु चोरयते तैलं नरो मोहसमन्वितः। सोऽपि राजन् मृतो जन्तुस्तैलपायी प्रजायते॥
That inan, king, who through stupefaction of the understanding, steals oil, is born, after renouncing this body, as an animal who lives upon oil as his form.
अशस्त्रं पुरुषं हत्वा सशस्त्र: पुरुषाधमः। अर्थार्थी यदि वा वैरी स मृतो जायते खरः॥
That wretch who, himself wellarmed, kills another while that other is unarined, for getting his riches or out of hostile feelings, has, after renouncing his human body, to take birth as an ass.
खरो जीवति वर्षे द्वे ततः शस्त्रेण वध्यते। स मृतो मृगयोनौ तु नित्योद्विग्नोऽभिजायते॥
Assuming that assinine form, he has to live for a period of two years and then he is killed by a weapon, Renouncing his assinine body, he has to take birth, in his next life, as a deer always anxious (for fear of being killed.)
अधर्मस्य क्षयं कृत्वा मृगो वध्यति शस्त्रेण गते संवत्सरे तु सः। हतो मृगस्ततो मीनः सोऽपि जालेन बध्यते॥ मासे चतुर्थे सम्प्राप्ते श्वापदः सम्प्रजायते। श्वापदो दश वर्षाणि द्वीपी वर्षाणि पञ्च च॥
Upon the expiration of a year from the time of his birth as a deer, he is killed by a weapon. Thus renouncing his form of a deer, he next takes birth as a fish and dies on account of being dragged up in a net, on the expiration of the fourth month. He has next to take birth as a beasts of prey. He has to live in that form, for ten years and then he takes birth as a bird in which form he has to live for five years.
ततस्तु निधनं प्राप्तः कालपर्यायचोदितः। ततो जायति मानुषः॥
Actuated by the change that is occasioned by time, he then renounces that form and, his sin having been exhausted, he regains the human form.
स्त्रियं हत्वा तु दुर्बुद्धिर्यमस्य विषयं गतः। बहून् क्लेशान् समासाद्य संसारांश्चैव विंशतिम्॥११७
That man of little understanding who slays a woman has to go to the regions of Yama and to suffer various kinds of pain and misery. He then has to pass through full twentyone transformations.
ततः पश्चान्महाराज कृमियोनौ प्रजायते। कृमिर्विंशतिवर्षाणि भूत्वा जायति मानुषः॥
After that, О king, he has to take birth as a vile vermin. Living as a vermin for twenty years, he regains the human form.
भोजनं चोरयित्वा तु मक्षिका जायते नरः। मक्षिकासंघवशगो बहून् मासान् भवत्युता। ११९ ।। ततः पापक्षयं कृत्वा मानुषत्वमवाप्नुते। धान्यं हत्वा तु पुरुषो लोमशः सम्प्रजायते॥
By stealing food, one has to take birth as a bee. Living for many months in the company of other bees, his sin become exhausted and he regains the human form. By stealing paddy, one becomes a cat.
तथा पिण्याकसम्मिश्रमशनं चोरयेन्नरः। स जायते बभ्रुसमो दारुणो मूषिको नरः॥
That man who steals food mixed with sesame cakes is in his next birth born as a mouse large or small according to the largeness or smallness of the quantity stolen.
दशन् वै मानुषान्नित्यं पापात्मा स विशाम्पते। घृतं हृत्वा तु दुर्बुद्धिः काकमद्गुः प्रजायते॥
He bites human beings every day and, therefore, becomes sinful and passes through a varied round of rebirths. That foolish man who steals clarified butter has to take birth as a gallinule.
मत्स्यमांसमथो हृत्वा काको जायति दुर्मतिः। लवणं चोरयित्वा तु चिरिकाकः प्रजायते॥
That wicked man who steals fish has to take birth as a crow. By stealing salt one has to take birth as an imitating parrot.
विश्वासेन तु निक्षिप्तं यो विनिहोति मानवः। स गतायुर्नरस्तात मत्स्ययोनौ प्रजायते॥
That man who misappropriates trust property, has to suffer a diminution in the period of his life and dying has to take birth ainong fishes.
मत्स्ययोनिमनुप्राप्य मृतो जायति मानुषः। मानुषत्वमनुप्राप्य क्षीणायुरुपपद्यते॥
Having lived for sometime as a fish, he dies and regains the human form. Regaining, however, the human form he becomes short lived.
पापानि तु नराः कृत्वा तिर्यग् जायन्ति भारत। न चात्मनः प्रमाणं ते धर्मे जानन्ति किंचन॥
Indeed having perpetrated sins, O Bharata, one has to take birth in an order intermediate between that of humanity and vegetables. Those people do not know the principles of virtue who take their own hearts for their guide.
ये पापानि नराः कृत्वा निरस्यन्ति व्रतैः सदा। सुखदुःखसमायुक्ता व्यथितास्ते भवन्त्युत॥
Those men who commit various sinful deeds, and then scck to expiate them by continuous vows and observances of piety, enjoy happiness and suffer misery and live in great anxiety of heart.
असंवासाः प्रजायन्ते म्लेच्छाश्चापि न संशयः। नराः पापसमाचारा लोभमोहसमन्विताः॥
Those sinful men who yield to the influence of cupidity and stupefaction, are surely born as Mlechchhas who are uriworthy of being associated with.
वर्जयन्ति च पापानि जन्मप्रभृति ये नराः। अरोगा रूपवन्तस्ते धनिनश्च भवन्त्युत॥
Those men, on the other hand, who abstain from sin all their lives, become free from disease of every sort gifted with beauty of form, and possessed of riches.
स्त्रियोऽप्येतेन कल्पेन कृत्वा पापमवाप्नुयुः। एतेषामेव जन्तूनां भार्यात्वमुपयान्ति ताः॥
Women also when they act in this way attain to births of the same kind. Indeed, they have to take births as the males of the animals I have mentioned.
परस्वहरणे दोषाः सर्व एव प्रकीर्तिताः। एतद्धि लेशमात्रेण कथितं ते मयाऽनद्य॥
I have told you all the faults of the misappropriation of others' properties. I have described to you very briefly the subject, O sinless one.
अपरस्मिन् कथायोगे भूयः श्रोष्यसि भारत। एतन्मया महाराज ब्रह्मणो वदतः पुरा॥ सुरर्षीणां श्रुतं मध्ये पृष्टश्चापि यथातथम्। मयापि तच्च कार्थेन यथावदनुवर्णितम्। एतच्छुत्वा महाराज धर्मे कुरु मनः सदा॥
In connection with some other subject, O Bharata, you will again hear of those faults. I heard all this O king, Formerly from Bhrahman himself, and I asked all about it in a proper way, when he described it in the midst of the celestial Rishis. I have told you truly and in detail all that you had asked me. Having listened to all this,.o king, do you always set your heart on virtue.