Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच कीदृशो जापको याति निरयं वर्णयस्व मे कौतूहलं हि मे जातं तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said Tell me what sort of hell is obtained by a Reciter? I am curious, O king, to know this. You should describe this subject to me.'
भीष्म उवाच धर्मस्यांशः प्रसूतोऽसि धर्मिष्ठोऽसि स्वभावतः धर्ममूलाश्रयं वाक्यं शृणुष्वावहितोऽनघ
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said “You have originated from a portion of the good of righteousness. You are by nature observant of righteousness. Listen, O sinless one, with undivided attention, to these words having righteousness for their root.
अमूनि यानि स्थानानि देवानां परमात्मनाम् नानासंस्थानवर्णानि नानारूपफलानि च
AI Translation: These are the places of the gods, the supreme souls, with various shapes, colors, and fruits.
दिव्यानि कामचारीणि विमानानि सभास्तथा आक्रीडा विविधा राजन्पद्मिन्यश्चामलोदकाः
AI Translation: celestial chariots, assemblies, and palaces, various kinds of parks, and lotus ponds with clear water.
चतुर्णां लोकपालानां शुक्रस्याथ बृहस्पतेः मरुतां विश्वदेवानां साध्यानामश्विनोरपि
AI Translation: of the four world-guardians, of Shukra, of Brihaspati, of the Maruts, of the Vishvadevas, of the Sadhyas, of the Ashvins,
रुद्रादित्यवसूनां च तथान्येषां दिवौकसाम् एते वै निरयास्तात स्थानस्य परमात्मनः
AI Translation: of Rudra, Aditya, Vasu, and other celestial beings. These are the hells, O son, of the supreme Self, the abode.
अभयं चानिमित्तं च न च क्लेशभयावृतम् द्वाभ्यां मुक्तं त्रिभिर्मुक्तमष्टाभिस्त्रिभिरेव च
AI Translation: Fearlessness and the absence of signs, not obscured by the fear of afflictions. Liberated by two, liberated by three, liberated by eight, by three alone.
चतुर्लक्षणवर्जं तु चतुष्कारणवर्जितम् अप्रहर्षमनानन्दमशोकं विगतक्लमम्
AI Translation: Free from the four characteristics, free from the four causes, Free from joy, free from bliss, free from sorrow, free from fatigue,
कालः संपच्यते तत्र न कालस्तत्र वै प्रभुः स कालस्य प्रभू राजन्स्वर्गस्यापि तथेश्वरः
M. N. Dutt: Time makes it appearance there for usc. Time is not the ruler there. That supreme region is the ruler of Time as also of Heaven.
Supplementary Passages:
12.191.9 After 9, Kumbh. ed. Cv ins.: *517 एतद्वै ब्रह्मणः स्थानं जापकस्य महात्मनः तत्रस्थं परमात्मानं ध्यायन्वै सुसमाहितः हिरण्यगर्भसायुज्यं प्राप्नुयाद्वा नृपोत्तम
आत्मकेवलतां प्राप्तस्तत्र गत्वा न शोचति ईदृशं परमं स्थानं निरयास्ते च तादृशाः
M. N. Dutt: That Reciter who becomes identified with his Soul (by withdrawing everything into it) goes there. He has, after this, never to experience any sorrow. This region is called Supreme. The other regions are hell.
एते ते निरयाः प्रोक्ताः सर्व एव यथातथम् तस्य स्थानवरस्येह सर्वे निरयसंज्ञिताः
M. N. Dutt: I have not told you of all those regions that are called hell. Indeed, as compared with that foremost of regions all the others are called hell.'