उमोवाच भगवन् सर्वभूतेश देवासुरनमस्कृत। धर्माधर्मी नृणां देव ब्रूहि मेऽसंशयं विभो॥
Uma said O Holy One, O lord of all beings, O you adored of deities and Asuras equally, tell me what are the duties and derelictions of men. Indeed, O powerful one, remove my doubts.
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा त्रिविधं हि नरः सदा। बध्यते बन्धनैः पाशैर्मुच्यतेऽप्यथवा पुनः॥
It is by these three, viz., thought, word, and deed, that men become fettered with bonds. It is by the same three that they become freed from these fetters.
केन शीलेन वृत्तेन कर्मणा कीदृशेन वा। समाचारैर्गुणैः कैर्वा स्वर्गे यान्तीह मानवाः॥
By following what conduct, Ogod, indeed, by what kind of acts, by what behaviour and qualities and words, do men succeed in ascending to Heaven?
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच देवि धर्मार्थतत्त्वज्ञे धर्मनित्ये दमे रते। सर्वप्राणिहितः प्रश्नः श्रूयतां बुद्धिवर्धनः॥
The God of Gods said O goddess, you are well conversant with the true meaning of duties. You are ever devoted to Virtue and Self-control. The question you have asked me is fraught with the benefit of all creatures. It increases the intelligence of all persons. Do you, therefore, listen to the answer.
सत्यधर्मरताः सन्तः सर्वलिङ्गविवर्जिताः। धर्मलब्धार्थभोक्तारस्ते नरा: स्वर्गगामिनः॥
Those persons who are devoted to the Religion of Truth, who are righteous and destitute of the indications of the several modes of life, and who enjoy the wealth acquired by fair means, succeeds in ascending to Heaven.
नाधर्मेण न धर्मेण बध्यन्ते छिन्नसंशयाः। प्रलयोत्पत्तितत्त्वज्ञाः सर्वज्ञाः सर्वदर्शिनः॥ वीतरागा विमुच्यन्ते पुरुषाः कर्मबन्धनैः।
Those men who are freed froin all doubts, who are gifted with omniscience, and who have eyes for seeing all things, are never fettered by either virtue or sin. Those men who are shorn of all attachments, can never be fettered by the chains of action.
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा ये न हिंसन्ति किंचन॥ येन सज्जन्ति कस्मिंश्चित् ते न बद्ध्यन्ति कर्मभिः।
They who never injure others in thoughts, word, or deed, and who never attach themselves to anything, can never be fettered by deeds.
प्राणातिपाताद् विरताः शीलवन्तो दयान्विताः॥ तुल्यद्वेष्यप्रिया दान्ता मुच्यन्ते कर्मबन्धनैः।
They who abstain from kiiling any creature, who are gifted with righteous conduct, who have mercy, who treat friends and foes equally, and who are self-controlled, can never be fettered by acts.
सर्वभूतदयावन्तो विश्वास्याः सर्वजन्तुषु॥ त्यक्तहिंसासमाचारास्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः।
Those men who are gifted with mercy towards all beings, who succeed in creating the confidence of all living creatures, and who men have shaken off malice in their conduct, succeed in ascending to Heaven.
परस्वे निर्ममा नित्यं परदारविवर्जकाः॥ धर्मलब्धान्नभोक्तारस्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः।
Those men who have no no desire to appropriate others' properties, who never associate with the spouses of others, and who enjoy only such wealth as has been acquired by fair means, succeed in ascending to Heaven.
भातृवत् स्वसृवच्चैव नित्यं दुहितृवच्च ये॥ परदारेषु वर्तन्ते ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः।
Those men who treat the wives of other people as their own mothers and sisters and daughters, succeed in attaining to Heaven.
स्तैन्यान्निवृत्ताः सततं संतुष्टाः स्वधनेन च॥ स्वभाग्यान्युपजीवन्ति ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः।
Those who abstain from misappropriating others' things, who are perfectly contented with what they themselves possess, and who live depending upon their own destiny, succeed in ascending to Heaven.
स्वदारनिरता ये च ऋतुकालाभिगामिनः॥ अग्राम्यसुखभोगाश्च ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः।
Those men who never know other peoples' wives, who are masters of their senses, and who are given to righteous conduct, succeed in ascending to Heaven.
परदारेषु ये नित्यं चरित्रावृतलोचनाः॥ जितेन्द्रियाः शीलपरास्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः।
This is the path, created by the gods, that the pious should follow. This is the path, freed from passion and aversion, sanctioned for the pious to follow.
एष देवकृतो मार्गः सेवितव्यः सदा नरैः॥ अकघायकृतश्चैव मार्ग: सेव्यः सदा वुधैः।
Those men who are devoted to their own wives and who seek them in only their seasons, and who do not indulge in sexual pleasure, succeed in ascending to Heaven.
दानधर्मतपोयुक्तः शीलशौचदयात्मकः॥ वृत्त्यर्थं धर्महेतोर्वा सेवितव्यः सदा नरैः। स्वर्गवासमभीप्सद्भिर्न सेव्यस्त्वत उत्तरः॥
For the sake of multiplying their merit or for acquiring their means of livelihood, the wise should follow charity, penances and purity of both body and mind. Those who wish to ascend to Heaven, should follow in this tract and not any other.
उमोवाच वाचा तु बद्ध्यते येन मुच्यतेऽप्यथवा पुनः। तानि कर्माणि मे देव वद भूतपतेऽनघ॥
Uma said Tell me, O illustrious-god, O sinless lord of all creatures, what are those words by which one becomes fettered and what are those words by speaking which one may be freed from fetters.
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच आत्महेतोः परार्थं वा नर्महास्याश्रयात् तथा। ये मृषा न वदन्तीह ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः॥
Maheshvara said Those men who never tell falschood for either themselves or for others, or in jest or for exciting laughter, succeed in ascending Heaven.
वृत्त्यर्थं धर्महेतोर्वा कामकारात् तथैव च। अनृतं ये न भाषन्ते ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः॥
They who never tell lies for acquiring their livelihood or for acquiring merit or through mere caprice, succeed in ascending to Heaven.
श्लक्ष्णां वाणी निराबाधां मधुरां पापवर्जिताम्। स्वागतेनाभिभाषन्ते ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः॥
They who utter words which are smooth and sweet and faultless, and who with sincerity welcome all whom they meet with, succeed in ascending to Heaven.
परुषं ये न भाषन्ते कटुकं निष्ठुरं तथा। अपैशुन्यरताः सन्तस्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः॥
They who never utter words which are harsh, bitter and cruel, and who are free from deceitfulness and evil of every kind, succeed in ascending to Heaven.
पिशुनां न प्रभाषन्ते मित्रभेदकरी गिरम्। ऋतं मैत्रं तु भाषन्ते ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः॥
Those men who never utter deceitful words which create disunion between friends and who always speak what is true and what promotes good feelings, succeed in ascending to Heaven.
ये वर्जयन्ति पुरुषं परद्रोहं च मानवाः। सर्वभूतसमा दान्तास्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः॥
Those men who avoid harsh words and abstains from quarrels with others, who are equal in their conduct to all creatures, and who have governed their souls, succeed in ascending to Heaven.
शठप्रलापाद् विरता विरुद्धपरिवर्जकाः। सौम्यप्रलापिनो नित्यं ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः॥
They who abstain from evil speech or sinful conversation, who avoid disagreeable speeches, and who utter only auspicious and agreeable words, succeed in ascending to Heaven.
न कोपाद् व्याहरन्ते ये वाचं हृदयदारणीम्। सान्त्वं वदन्ति क्रुद्धाऽपि ते नरा: स्वर्गगामिनः॥
They who never utter, under anger, such words as cut others to the quick, and who, even when under the influence of anger, speak words what are peaceful and agreeable, succeed in ascending to Heaven.
एष वाणीकृतो देवि धर्मः सेव्यः सदा नरैः। शुभः सत्यगुणो नित्यं वर्जनीयो मृषा बुधैः॥
This religion, O goddess of speech, should always be followed by men. It is auspicious and characterised by Truth. The wise should always avoid untruth.
उमोवाच मनसा बद्ध्यते येन कर्मणा पुरुषः सदा। तन्मे ब्रूहि महाभाग देवदेव पिनाकधृत्॥
Uma said Tell me, O god of gods, O holder of Pinaka, O you who are highly blessed, what those thoughts are by which a person may be fettered.
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच मानसेनेह धर्मेण संयुक्ताः पुरुषाः सदा। स्वर्गं गच्छन्ति कल्याणि तन्मे कीर्तयतः शृणु॥
Maheshvara said Gifted with merit that originates from mental acts, O goddess, one ascends to Heaven. Listen to me, O auspicious one, as I recite to you what those acts are.
दुष्प्रणीतेन मनसा दुष्प्रणीततरा कृतिः। मनो बद्ध्यति येनेह शृणु वाक्यं शुभानने।॥
Listen to me, Oyou of sweet face, how also a mind of illregulated features, becomes fettered by illregulated or evil thoughts.
अरण्ये विजने न्यस्तं परस्वं दृश्यते यदा। मनसापि न हिंसन्ति ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः॥
Those men who do not seek, even mentally, to take other peoples things even when they lie in a lone forest, succeed in ascending to Heaven.
ग्रामे गृहे वा ये द्रव्यं पारक्यं विजने स्थितम्। नाभिनन्दन्ति वै नित्यं ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः॥
Those who not others' belongings, even when they see it lying in a house or a village that has been deserted, ascend to Heaven.
तथैव परदारान् ये कामवृत्तान् रहोगतान्। मनसापि न हिंसन्ति ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः॥
Those men who do not seek, even mentally, to associate with the married wives of others, even when they see them in deserted places and under the influence of desire, succeed in ascending to Heaven.
शत्रु मित्रं च ये नित्यं तुल्येन मनसा नराः। भजन्ति मैत्रा: संगम्य ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः॥
Those men who, meeting with friends or enemies behave in the same friendly way towards all, succeed in ascending to Heaven.
श्रुतवन्तो दयावन्तः शुचयः सत्यसंगराः। स्वैरथैः परिसंतुष्टास्ते नरा: स्वर्गगामिनः॥
Those men who are possessed of learning and mercy, who are pure in body and mind, men care who are firm in truth, and who are contented with what belongs to them, succeed in ascending to Heaven.
अवैरा ये त्वनायासा मैत्रीचित्तरताः सदा। सर्वभूतदयावन्तस्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः॥
Those men who do not bear illwell to any creature, who do not stand in need of labour for their livelihood, who bear friendly hearts towards all beings, and who entertain mercy towards all, succeed in ascending to Heaven.
श्रद्धावन्तो दयावन्तश्चोक्षाश्चोक्षजनप्रियाः। धर्माधर्मविदो नित्यं ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः॥
Those men who have faith, who have mercy, who are holy, who scek the company of holy men, and who know the distinctions between right and wrong, succeed in ascending to Heaven.
शुभानामशुभानां च कर्मणां फलसंचये। विपाकज्ञाश्च ये देवि ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः॥
Those men, O goddess, who know the consequences of good and bad deeds, succeed in ascending to Heaven.
न्यायोपेता गुणोपेता देवद्विजपराः सदा। समुत्थानमनुप्राप्तास्ते नराः स्वर्गगामिनः॥
Those men who are just in all their dealings, who have desirable accomplishinents, who are devoted to the deities and the Brahmanas, and who are persevering in doing all good acts, succeed in ascending to Heaven.
शुभैः कर्मफलैर्देवि मयैते परिकीर्तिताः। स्वर्गमार्गपरा भूयः किं त्वं श्रोतुमिहेच्छसि॥
All these me, O goddess, succeed in ascending to Heaven through the meritorious results of their deeds. What else do you wish to hear?
उमोवाच महान् मे संशयः कश्चन्मान् प्रति महेश्वर। तस्मात् त्वं नैपुणेनाद्य मम व्याख्यातुमर्हसि॥
Uma said I have a great doubt, O Maheshvara, on a subject about human beings. You should explain it to me carefully.
केनायुर्लभते दीर्घ कर्मणा पुरुषः प्रभो। तपसा वापि देवेश केनायुर्लभते महत्॥
By what deeds does a man succeed, O powerful deity, in acquiring a long life? By what penances also does one acquire a long life?
क्षीणायुः केन भवति कर्मणा भुवि मानवः। विपाकं कर्मणां देव वक्तुमर्हस्यनिन्दित॥
By what acts does one become shortlived on Earth? O you who are perfectly stainless, you should tell me what are the consequences of acts.
अपरे च महाभाग्या मन्दभाग्यास्तथापरे। अकुलीनास्तथा चान्ये कुलीनाश्च तथापरे॥
Some have great good fortune and some suffer from misfortune. Some are possessed of noble, and some are of ignoble, birth.
दुर्दर्शाः केचिदाभान्ति नरा: काष्ठमया इव। प्रियदर्शास्तथा चान्ये दर्शनादेव मानवाः॥
Some have such repulsive features as if they are made of wood, while others look very handsome at even the first sight.
दुष्प्रज्ञाः केचिदाभान्ति केचिदाभान्ति पण्डिताः। महाप्राज्ञास्तथैवान्ये ज्ञानविज्ञानभाविनः॥
Some appear to have no wisdom, while others are possessed of it. Some, again, are seen gifted with high intelligence and wisdom, enlightened by knowledge and science.
अल्पाबाधास्तथा केचिन्महाबाधास्तथापरे। दृश्यन्ते पुरुषा देव तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि॥
Some have to suffer little pain, while others there are that are loaded with heavy calamities. Such diverse sights are seen of men. O illustrious one, you should tell me the reason of all this!
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच हन्त तेऽहं प्रवक्ष्यामि देवि कर्मफलोदयम्। मर्त्यलोके नरः सर्वो येन स्वफलमश्नुते॥
The God of Gods said Indeed, O goddess, I shall describe to you the fruits of acts. It is by them that all human beings in this world enjoy or suffer the consequences of their acts.
प्राणातिपाते यो रौद्रो दण्डहस्तोद्यतः सदा। नित्यमुद्यतशस्त्रश्च हन्ति भूतगणान् नरः॥ निर्दयः सर्वभूतानां नित्यमुद्वेगकारकः। अपि कीटपिपीलानामशरण्यः सुनिघृणः॥ एवंभूतो नरो देवि निरयं प्रतिपद्यते। विपरीतस्तु धर्मात्मा रूपवानभिजायते॥
That man who assumes a dreadful aspect for the purpose of taking the lives of other creatures, who arms himself with strong sticks for injuring other creatures, who is seen with uplifted weapons, who kills living creatures, who is shorn of mercy, who always causes tribulation to living beings, who refuses to grant protection to even worms and ants, who is cruel, one who is such, O goddess, sinks in Hell. One who has an opposite disposition and who is righteous in deeds, becomes born as a handsome man.
पापेन कर्मणा देवि वध्यो हिंसारतिर्नरः। अप्रियः सर्वभूतानां हीनायुरुपजायते॥
The man who is cruel, goes to Hell, while he who is merciful, ascends to Hcaven. The man who goes to Hell, has to suffer great misery.
निरयं याति हिंसात्मा याति स्वर्गमहिंसकः। यातनां निरये रौद्रां स कृच्छ्रां लभते नरः॥
One who, having sunk in Hell, rises therefrom, takes birth as a shortlived man.
यः कश्चिन्निरयात् तस्मात् समुत्तरति कर्हिचित्। मानुष्यं लभते चापि हीनायुस्तत्र जायते॥ पापेन कर्मणा देवि बद्धो हिंसारतिर्नरः। अप्रियः सर्वभूतानां हीनायुरुपजायते॥ यस्तु शुक्लाभिजातीयः प्राणिघातविवर्जकः। निक्षिप्तशस्त्रो निर्दण्डो न हिंसति कदाचन॥ न घातयति ना हन्ति नंन्त नैवानुमोदते। सर्वभूतेषु सस्नेहो यथाऽऽत्मनि तथापरे॥ ईदृशः पुरुषोत्कर्षो देवि देवत्वमश्नुते। उपपन्नान् सुखान् भोगानुपाश्नाति मुदा युतः॥
That man who is given to slaughter and injury, O goddess, becomes, through his sinful deeds, liable to destruction. Such a person becomes disagreeable to all creatures and shortlived. That man who belongs to what is called the White class, who abstains from the destruction of living crcatures, who has thrown away all weapons, and never inflicts any punishment on any body, who never injures any creature, who never causes anybody to kill creatures for him, who never kills or strikes even when struck or attempted to be killed, who never sanctions or approves an act of destruction, who is gifted with mercy towards all creatures who treats others as his own self, such a superior man, O goddess, succeeds in acquiring to the dignity of a celestial. Filled with joy, such a man enjoys various kinds of luxurious articles.
अथ चेन्मानुषे लोके कदाचिदुपपद्यते। तत्र दीर्घायुरुत्पन्न: स नरः सुखमेधते॥
If such a person is ever born in the world of men, he becomes longlived and enjoys great happiness.
एष दीर्घायुषां मार्गः सुवृत्तानां सुकर्मिणाम्। प्राणिहिंसाविमोक्षेण ब्रह्मणा समुदीरितः॥
This is the way of those who are uf righteous conduct and righteous deeds, and who are blessed with longevity, the way that was marked out by the SelfCreate Brahman himself and which is marked by abstention from the destruction of living creatures.