उमोवाच किंशील: किंसमाचारः : पुरुषः कैश्च कर्मभिः। स्वर्गं समभिपद्येत सम्प्रदानेन केन वा॥
Uma said By what nature, what conduct, what deeds, and what gifts, does a man succeed in attaining to Heaven.
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच दाता ब्राह्मणसत्कर्ता दीनार्तकृपणादिषु। भक्ष्यभोज्यानपानानां वाससां च प्रदायकः॥ प्रतिश्रयान् सभाः कूपान् प्रपाः पुष्करिणीस्तथा। नैत्यकानि च सर्वाणि किमिच्छकमतीव च।॥ आसनं शयनं यानं गृहं रत्नं धनं तथा। सस्यजातानि सर्वाणि गाः क्षेत्राण्यथ योषितः॥ सुप्रतीतमना नित्यं यः प्रयच्छति मानवः। एवंभूतो नरो देवि देवलोकेऽभिजायते॥
Maheshvara said He who has a liberal disposition, who honours Brahmanas and treats them with hospitality, who makes gifts of food and drink and clothes and other articles of enjoyment to the destitute; the blind and the distressed, who makes gifts of houses erects hall, digs wells, constructs shelters whence pure and cool water is distributed, excavates tanks makes arrangements for the free distributions of gifts every day, gives to all comers what each prays for, who makes gifts of seats and beds and vehicles, wealth, jewels and gems, houses, all kinds of corn, kine, fields and women, he who always makes these gifts with a cheerful heart, becomes a denizen, O goddess, of the celestial region.
तत्रोष्यं सुचिरं कालं भुक्त्वा भोगाननुत्तमान्। सहाप्सरोभिर्मुदितो रमते नन्दनादिषु॥
He lives there for a long time, enjoying various kinds of superior articles. Passing his time happily in the company of the Apsaras, he sports in the garden of Nandana and other delightful regions.
तस्मात् स्वर्गाच्च्युतो लोकान् मानुषेषु प्रजायते। महाभोगकुले देवि धनधान्यसमन्वितः॥
After the exhaustion of his merits he falls down from the celestial region and takes birth in the order of humanity, in a rich family, O goddess, which has a large command of every article of enjoyment.
तत्र कामगुणैः सर्वैः समुपेतो मुदा युतः। महाभोगो महाकोशो धनी भवति मानवः॥
In that life he gets all articles for gratifying his wishes and appetites. Indeed, blessed with the possession of such articles, he gets riches and a wellfilled treasury.
एते देवि महाभागाः प्राणिनो दानशीलिनः। ब्रह्मणा वै पुरा प्रोक्ताः सर्वस्य प्रियदर्शनाः॥
The SelfCreate Brahman himself declared it formerly that it is even such persons, O goddess, who become highly blessed and possessed of liberal dispositions and handsome features.
अपरे मानवा देवि प्रदानकृपणा द्विजैः। याचिता न प्रयच्छन्ति विद्यमानेऽष्यबुद्धयः॥
There are others, O goddess, who are incapable of making gifts, Gifted with small understandings. They cannot make gifts even when solicited by Brahmanas and possessed of immense riches.
दीनान्धकृपणान् दृष्ट्वा भिक्षुकानतिथीनपि। याच्यमाना निवर्तन्ते जिह्वालोभसमन्विताः॥
Seeing the destitute, the blind, the distressed, and mendicants, and even guests arrived at their houses, those persons always filled with the desire of pleasing the organ of taste, turn away, even when expressly solicited by them.
ये न धनानि न वासांसि न भोगान् न च काञ्चनम्। न गावो नानविकृति प्रयच्छन्ति कदाचन॥ अप्रवृत्ताश्च लुब्धा नास्तिका दानवर्जिताः। एवंभूता नरा देवि निरयं यान्त्यबुद्धयः॥
They never make gifts of wealth or dresses, or viands, or gold, or kine, or any kind of food. Those men who are disinclined to relieve the distress of others, who are full of cupidity, who have no faith in the scriptures, and who do not make gifts. Verily, these of little understanding, O goddess, have to sink in Hell.
ते वै मनुष्यतां यान्ति यदा कालस्य पर्ययात्। धनरिक्ते कुले जन्म लभन्ते स्वल्पबुद्धयः॥
In course of time, when their sufferings in Hell, terminate they take birth in the order of humanity, in poor families.
क्षुत्पिपासापरीताश्च सर्वलोकबहिष्कृताः। निराशाः सर्वभोगेम्यो जीवन्त्यधर्मजीविकाम्॥
Always suffering from hunger and thirst, excluded from all decent society, hopeless of ever enjoying all goodly things, they lead wretched lives.
अल्पभोगकुले जाता अल्पभोगरता नराः। अनेन कर्मणा देवि भवन्त्यधनिनो नराः॥
Born in families which are destitute of all articles of enjoyment, these men never succeed in enjoying the goodly things of Earth. Indeed, O goddess, it is through deeds that persons become wretched and poor.
अपरे स्तम्भिनो नित्यं मानिनः पापतो रताः। आसनार्हस्य ये पीठं न प्रयच्छन्त्यचेतसः॥
There are others who are arrogant and proud for the possession of riches. Those senseless wretches never offer seats to worthy persons.
मार्गार्हस्य च ये मार्गं न यच्छन्त्यल्पबुद्धयः। पाद्यार्हस्य च ये पाद्यं न ददत्यल्पबुद्धयः॥
Gifted with little understanding, they do not give way to them who deserve such an honour. Nor do they give water for washing the feet to persons to whom it should be given.
अार्हान् न च सत्कारैरर्चयन्ति यथाविधि। अर्ध्यमाचमनीयं वा न यच्छन्त्यल्पबुद्धयः॥
Indeed, they do not honour, according to the ordinance, with gifts of the Arghya, such persons as deserve to be honoured therewith. They do not offer water for washing the mouth to such as deserve to have that honour.
गुरुं चाभिगतं प्रेम्णा गुरुवन्न बुभूषते। अभिमानप्रवृत्तेन लोभेन समवस्थिताः॥ सम्मान्यांश्चावमन्यन्ते वृद्धान् परिभवन्ति च। एवंविधा नरा देवि. सर्वे निरयगामिनः॥
They do not treat their very preceptors, when the latter arrive at their houses, in the manner in which preceptors should be treated. Living in cupidity and pride, they refuse to treat their elders and aged men with love and affection, even insulting those who deserve to be honoured and asserting their superiority over them without showing reverence and humility. Such men, O goddess, sink in Hell.
ते वै यदि नरास्तस्मान्निरयादुत्तरन्ति वै। वर्षपूगैस्ततो जन्म लभन्ते कुत्सिते कुले॥
When their sufferings terminate after many years, they rise from Hell and take birth as men, in low and wretched families.
श्वपाकपुल्कसादीनां कुत्सितानामचेतसाम्। कुलेषु तेषु जायन्ते गुरुवृद्धापचायिनः॥
Indeed, they who humiliate their preceptors and seniors, have to take birth in such castes as those of Svapakas and Pukkasas who are greatly vile and bereft of intelligence.
न स्तम्भी न च मानी यो देवताद्विजपूजकः। लोकपूज्यो नमस्कर्ता प्रश्रितो मधुरं वचः॥ सर्ववर्णप्रियकरः सर्वभूतहितः सदा। अद्वेषी सुमुखः श्लक्ष्णः स्निग्धवाणीप्रदः सदा॥ स्वागतेनैव सर्वेषां भूतानामविहिंसकः। यथार्हसत्क्रियापूर्वमर्चयन्नवतिष्ठति॥ मार्गार्हाय ददन्मार्गं गुरुं गुरुवदर्चयन्। अतिथिप्रग्रहरतस्तथाभ्यागतपूजकः॥ एवंभूतो नरो देवि स्वर्गतिं प्रतिपद्यते। ततो मानुषतां प्राप्य विशिष्टकुलजो भवेत्॥
He who is not arrogant or filled with pride, who is a worshipper of the deities and Brahmanas, who enjoys the esteem of the world, wiro bows to every one who deserves his reverence, who utters smooth and sweet words, who benefits persons of all castes, who is always devoted to the behoof of all beings, who does not feel hatred for anybody, who is sweet tongued, who is an utterer of sweet and cooling words, who gives way to one who deserves to have way, who worships his preceptors in the manner in which preceptors deserve to be adored, who welcomes all crcatures with proper courtesy, who does not bear ill will towards any creature, who lives, adoring elders and guests with such honors as they deserve, who is ever bent upon having as many guests as possible, and who adores all who honour his house with their presence, succeeds, O goddess, in ascending to Heaven. Upon the exhaustion of his merit, he is born as a man in a high and respectable family.
तत्रासौ विपुलैर्भोगैः सर्वरत्नसमायुतः। यथार्हदाता चाहेषु धर्मचर्यापरो भवेत्॥
In that life he gets all articles of enjoyment in profusion and jewels and gems and every kind of riches in abundance. He gives to worthy persons what they deserve. He performs every duty and every act of virtuc.
सम्मतः सर्वभूतानां सर्वलोकनमस्कृतः। स्वकर्मफलमाप्नोति स्वयमेव नरः सदा॥
Honoured of all creatures and receiving their respect, he obtains the fruits of his own deeds.
उदात्तकुलजातीय उदात्ताभिजनः सदा। एष धर्मो मया प्रोक्तो विधात्रा स्वयमीरितः॥
Even such a person acquires a high birth in this world. This that I have recited to you, was said by the Ordainer (Brahman) himself formerly.
यस्तु रौद्रसमाचारः सर्वसत्त्वभयंकरः। हस्ताभ्यां यदि वा पद्भ्यां रज्ज्वा दण्डेन वा पुनः।। लोष्टैः स्तम्भैरायुधैर्वा जन्तून् बाधति शोभने। हिंसार्थं निकृतिप्रज्ञः प्रोद्वेजयति चैव ह॥ उपक्रामति जन्तूंश्च उद्वेगजननः सदा। एवंशीलसमाचारो निरयं प्रतिपद्यते॥
That man who is fierce in conduct, who creates terror in all creatures, who injures other beings with hands or feet or cords or sticks, or brickbats or clods of hard clay, or other means of wounding and paining, O beautiful lady, who practises various kinds of deceit for killing living creatures or vexing them, who chases animals and causes them to tremble in fear, indeed, that man, who acts thus, is certain to sink in Hell.
स वै मनुष्यतां गच्छेद् यदि कालस्य पर्ययात्। बह्वाबाधपरिक्लिष्टे जायते सोऽधमे कुले॥
If in course of time he is born as man in a low and wretched family which meets with obstacles of every kind on every side.
लोकद्वेष्योऽधमः पुंसां स्वयं कर्मफलैः कृतैः। एष देवि मनुष्येषु बोद्धव्यो ज्ञातिबन्धुषु॥
He is hated by all. A wretch among men, he becomes so for his own deeds.
अपरः सर्वभूतानि दयावाननुपश्यति। मैत्रदृष्टिः पितृसमो निर्वैरो नियतेन्द्रियः॥ नोवैजयति भूतानि न विघातयते तथा। हस्तपादैः सुनियतैर्विश्वास्यः सर्वजन्तुषु॥
Another, who is possessed of mercy, casts his (beings) eye on all creatures. Gifted with a friendly vision, treating all creatures as if he were their father, shorn of every hostile feeling, with all his passions under complete restraint, he never vexes any creature and never fills them with fear by means of his hands or feet which are always under his control. He inspires the confidence of all beings.
न रज्ज्वा न च दण्डेन न लोष्टैर्नायुधेन च। उद्वेजयति भूतानि श्लक्ष्णकर्मा दयापरः॥
He never afflicts any creature with either cords or clubs or brickbats or clods of hard earth or weapons of any sort. His deeds are never fierce or cruel, and he is full of mercy.
एवंशीलसमाचारः स्वर्गे समुपजायते। तत्रासौ भवने दिव्ये मुदा वसति देववत्॥
One who is given to such practices and conduct, certainly ascends to Heaven. There he lives like a god in a celestial palace full of comfort.
स चेत् कर्मक्षयान्मो मनुष्येषूपजायते। अल्पाबाधो निरान्तकः स जातः सुखमेधते॥
If, upon the exhaustion of his merit, he has to take birth as a man, he becomes born as a man who has not to fight with difficulties of any kind or to meet with any fear. Indeed, he enjoys great happiness.
सुखभागी निरायासो निरुद्वेगः सदा नरः। एष देवि सतां मार्गो बाधा यत्र न विद्यते॥
Happy and not compelled to work for his livelihood, he lives freed from every kind of anxiety. Even this, O goddess, is the path of the virtuous. In it there are no obstacles or afflictions.
उमोवाच इमे मनुष्या दृश्यन्ते उहापोहविशारदाः। ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्पन्नाः प्रज्ञावन्तोऽर्थकोविदाः॥
Uma said In the world some men are inasters of inferences and the premises leading to them. Indeed, they are masters of science and knowledge, have large progeny, and are gifted with learning and wisdom.
दुष्प्रज्ञाश्चापरे देव ज्ञानविज्ञानवर्जिताः। केन कर्मविशेषेण प्रज्ञावान् पुरुषो भवेत्॥
Others, O god, are shorn of wisdom, science, and knowledge, and are marked out by folly. By what particular acts does a person become endued with wisdom?
अल्पप्रज्ञो विरूपाक्ष कथं भवति मानवः। एतन्मे संशयं छिन्धि सर्वधर्मविदां वर॥
By what acis, again, docs one become of little wisdom and distorted vision? Do you remove this doubt of mine. O you who are the foremost of all beings knowing duties.
जात्यन्धाश्चापरे देव रोगार्ताश्चापरे तथा। नराः क्लीबाश्च दृश्यन्ते कारणं ब्रूहि तत्र वै॥
Others there are, O god, who are blind from the moment of their birth. Others there are who are diseased and impotent. Do you, O god, tell me the reason of this.
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच ब्राह्मणान् वेदविदुषः सिद्धान् धर्मविदस्तथा। परिपृच्छन्त्यहरहः कुशलाः कुशलं तथा॥ वर्जयन्तोऽशुभं कर्म सेवमानाः शुभं तथा। लभन्ते स्वर्गतिं नित्यमिहलोके तथा सुखम्॥
Maheshvara said Those men who always enquire about what is for their behoof and what is to their detriment, of Brahinanas learned in the Vedas, crowned with success, and knowing all duties, who avoid all kinds of evil deeds, who achieve only such deeds as are good, succeed in ascending to Heaven after leaving this world, and enjoy great happiness as long as they live there.
स चेन्मानुषतां याति मेधावी तत्र जायते। श्रुतं प्रज्ञानुगं यस्य कल्याणमुपजायते॥
Indeed, upon the exhaustion of their merit, when they take their birth in the order of humanity, they become born as men endued with great intelligence. They enjoy every kind of happiness and auspiciousness on account of that intelligence with which they are born.
परदारेषु ये चापि चक्षुर्दुष्टं प्रयञ्जते। तेन दुष्टस्वभावेन जात्यन्धास्ते भवन्ति ह॥
Those men of foolish understandings who cast wicked eyes upon the married wives of other men, become cursed with congenital blindness on account of that sinfulness of theirs.
मनसा तु प्रदुष्टेन नग्नां पश्यन्ति ये स्त्रियम्। रोगार्तास्ते भवन्तीह नरा दुष्कृतकर्मिणः॥
Those men who, moved by desire in their hearts, cast their eyes on naked women, those men of wicked acts take birth in this world to pass their whole lives in one continuous disease.
ये तु मूढा दुराचारा वियोनौ मैथुने रताः। पुरुषेणु सुदुष्प्रज्ञा क्लीबत्वमुपयान्ति ते॥
Those men of foolish and wicked acts who indulge in sexual union with women of castes different from their own, those men of little wisdom, have to take birth in their next lives as persons shorn of the virility.
पशुंश्च ये घातयन्ति ये चैव गुरुतल्पगाः। प्रकीर्णमैथुना ये च क्लीबा जायन्ति ते नराः॥
Those men who cause animals to be killed and those who violate the beds of their preceptors, and those who indulge in promiscuous intercourse have to take birth in their next lives as persons shorn of manhood.
उमोवाच सावधं किन्नु वै कर्म निरवयं तथैव च। श्रेयः कुर्वन्नवाप्नोति मानवो देवसत्तम॥
Uma said What deeds, O foremost of the celestials, are faulty, and what deeds are faultless? What, indeed, are those deeds by doing which a man succeeds in acquiring what is for your highest good?
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच श्रेयांसं मार्गमन्विच्छन् सदा यः पृच्छति द्विजान्। धर्मान्वेषी गुणाकाङ्गी स स्वर्गे समुपाश्नुते॥
Maheshvara said That man who is desirous of determing what is righteousness, and who wishes to acquire prominent virtues and qualities, and who always puts questions to the Brahmanas with a view to find out the path leading to his highest good, succeeds in ascending to Heaven.
यदि मानुषतां देवि कदाचित् स निगच्छति। मेधावी धारणायुक्तः प्रायस्तत्राभिजायते॥
If, he is born as a man, he becomes gifted with intelligence and memory and great wisdom.
एष देवि सतां धर्मो मन्तव्यो भूतिकारकः। नृणां हितार्थाय मया तव वै समुदाहृतः॥
This, O goddess, is the line of conduct that the pious are to follow and that is fraught with great good. I have told you of it for the behoof of human beings.
उमोवाच अपरे स्वल्पविज्ञाना धर्मविद्वेषिणो नराः। ब्राह्मणान् वेदविदुषो नेच्छन्ति परिसर्पितम्॥
Uma said There are men who hate virtue and who are gifted with little understandings. Thcy never wish to approach Brahmanas knowing the Vedas.
व्रतवन्तो नराः केचिच्छ्रद्धाधर्मपरायणाः। अव्रता भ्रष्टनियमास्तथान्ये राक्षसोपमाः॥
There are others who observe vows and who are given to the duty of performing Shraddhas. Others, again, are destitute of all vows. They do not care for observances and are like Rakshasas in conduct.
यज्वानश्च तथैवान्ये निर्होमाच तथाऽपरे। केन कर्मविपाकेन भवन्तीह वदस्व मे॥
Some there are who are given to the performance of sacrifices and some who do not care for Homa. For what deeds to men become possessed of these different natures.
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच आगमा लोकधर्माणां मर्यादाः सर्वनिर्मिताः। प्रामाण्येनानुवर्तन्ते दृश्यन्ते च दृढव्रताः॥
Maheshvara said Through the Vedas, the limits have been laid out of all the acts of human beings. Those men who acts thus according to the authority of the Vedas, are seen to become devoted to the observance of vows.
अधर्मं धर्ममित्याहुर्ये च मोहवशं गताः। अव्रता नष्टमर्यादापते प्रोक्ता ब्रह्मराक्षसाः॥ ते घेत्कालकृतोद्योगात् सम्भवन्तीह मानुषाः। निर्दोमा निर्वषट्कारास्ते भवन्ति नराधमाः॥
Those men, however who being influenced by folly accept unrighteousness for its reverse become destitute of vows, transgress all restraints, and come to be considered as Brahmarakshasas. Indeed, it is these men who do not care for Homa, who never utter the Vashat and other sacred Mantras, and who come to be considered as the lowest and vilest of men.
एष देवि मया सर्वः संशयच्छेदनाय ते। कुशलाकुशलो नृणां व्याख्यातो धर्मसागरः॥
Thus, O goddess, have I explained to you the entire ocean of duties of human beings for the sake of removing your doubts, not omitting the sins of which they become guilty.