Devi Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 8 — Chapter 23

DB 8 23.1

अवशिष्टनरकवर्णनम् श्रीनारायण उवाच ये नराः सर्वदा साक्ष्ये अनृतं भाषयन्ति च । दाने विनिमयेऽर्थस्य देवर्षे पापबुद्धयः

avaśiṣṭanarakavarṇanam śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca ye narāḥ sarvadā sākṣye anṛtaṃ bhāṣayanti ca | dāne vinimaye'rthasya devarṣe pāpabuddhayaḥ

Description of the remaining hells. Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: Those men who always speak falsehood in giving testimony, and (who lie) in a gift or in the exchange of wealth, O divine sage, being of sinful mind —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 23.2

ते प्रेत्यामुत्र नरके अवीच्याख्येऽतिदारुणे । योजनानां शतोच्छ्रायाद्गिरिमूर्ध्नः पतन्ति हि

te pretyāmutra narake avīcyākhye'tidāruṇe | yojanānāṃ śatocchrāyādgirimūrdhnaḥ patanti hi

— tr. refused: cyber

DB 8 23.3

अनाकाशेऽधःशिरसस्तदवीचीतिनामके । यत्र स्थलं दृश्यते च जलवद्वीचिसंयुतम्

anākāśe'dhaḥśirasastadavīcītināmake | yatra sthalaṃ dṛśyate ca jalavadvīcisaṃyutam

— tr. refused: cyber

DB 8 23.4

अवीचिमत्ततस्तत्र तिलशश्छिन्नविग्रहः । म्रियते नैव देवर्षे पुनरेवाऽवरोप्यते

avīcimattatastatra tilaśaśchinnavigrahaḥ | mriyate naiva devarṣe punarevā'varopyate

Since it (appears) to have waves, there, with his body cut to pieces the size of sesame seeds, he does not die at all, O divine sage, but is again thrown down (from above).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

DB 8 23.5

यो वा द्विजो वा राजन्यो वैश्यो वा ब्रह्मसम्भव । सोमपीथस्तत्कलत्रं सुरां वा पिबतीव हि

yo vā dvijo vā rājanyo vaiśyo vā brahmasambhava | somapīthastatkalatraṃ surāṃ vā pibatīva hi

Whoever — brahmin, or kshatriya, or vaishya, O you born of Brahmā — being one entitled to drink soma, or his wife, drinks liquor,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 23.6

प्रमादतस्तु तेषां वै निरये परिपातनम् । कुर्वन्ति यमदूतास्ते पानं कार्ष्णायसो मुने

pramādatastu teṣāṃ vai niraye paripātanam | kurvanti yamadūtāste pānaṃ kārṣṇāyaso mune

For them, indeed, out of heedlessness, (comes) a hurling down into hell; those messengers of Yama make (them) drink molten iron, O sage.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 23.7

वह्निना द्रवमाणस्य नितरां ब्रह्मसम्भव । सम्भावनेन स्वस्यैव योऽधमोऽपि नराधमः

vahninā dravamāṇasya nitarāṃ brahmasambhava | sambhāvanena svasyaiva yo'dhamo'pi narādhamaḥ

(A drink) of what is being melted by fire, utterly (molten), O you born of Brahmā. And the lowest of men, low as he is, out of the high regard he has for himself alone,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

DB 8 23.8

विद्याजन्मतपोवर्णाश्रमाचारवतो नरान् । वरीयसोऽपि न बहु मन्यते पुरुषाधमः

vidyājanmatapovarṇāśramācāravato narān | varīyaso'pi na bahu manyate puruṣādhamaḥ

— that vilest of men does not think much of men who possess learning, birth, austerity, class, stage of life and right conduct, even though they are superior;

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 23.9

स नीयते यमभटैः क्षारकर्दमनामके । निरयेऽर्वाक्शिरा घोरा दुरन्तयातनाश्नुते

sa nīyate yamabhaṭaiḥ kṣārakardamanāmake | niraye'rvākśirā ghorā durantayātanāśnute

He is led by Yama's servants into the hell named Kṣārakardama ("alkaline mud"), and head downwards he suffers dreadful torments without end.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 23.10

ये वै नरा यजन्त्यन्यं नरमेधेन मोहिताः । स्त्रियोऽपि वा नरपशुं खादन्त्यत्र महामुने

ye vai narā yajantyanyaṃ naramedhena mohitāḥ | striyo'pi vā narapaśuṃ khādantyatra mahāmune

Those men who, deluded, sacrifice another (person) in a human sacrifice, or women too who here eat a human victim, O great sage —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 23.11

पशवो निहितास्ते तु यमसद्यनि सङ्गताः । सौनिका इव ते सर्वे विदार्य शितधारया

paśavo nihitāste tu yamasadyani saṅgatāḥ | saunikā iva te sarve vidārya śitadhārayā

but those creatures that were slaughtered, gathered together in Yama's abode, all of them, like butchers, cutting (them) open with a sharp blade,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 23.12

असृक्पिबन्ति नृत्यन्ति गायन्ति बहुधा मुने । यथेह मांसभोक्तारः पुरुषादा दुरासदाः

asṛkpibanti nṛtyanti gāyanti bahudhā mune | yatheha māṃsabhoktāraḥ puruṣādā durāsadāḥ

drink their blood and dance and sing in many ways, O sage, just as here the flesh-eating, man-devouring (demons), hard to approach, (do).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 23.13

अनागसोऽपि येऽरण्ये ग्रामे वा ब्रह्मपुत्रक । वैश्रम्भकैरुपसृतान्विश्रम्भय्यजिजीविषून्

anāgaso'pi ye'raṇye grāme vā brahmaputraka | vaiśrambhakairupasṛtānviśrambhayyajijīviṣūn

Those who, in the forest or in a village, O little son of Brahmā, (take) those who, though guiltless, have come near through trustful acts, and wish to live — having won their confidence —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

DB 8 23.14

शूलसूत्रादिषु प्रोतान्क्रीडनोत्कारकानिव । पातयन्ति च ते प्रेत्य शूलपाते पतन्ति ह

śūlasūtrādiṣu protānkrīḍanotkārakāniva | pātayanti ca te pretya śūlapāte patanti ha

and impale them on stakes and threads and the like, like playthings tossed about, and cast them down — they, after death, fall into (the hell) Śūlapāta ("the falling on stakes").

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

DB 8 23.15

शूलादिषु प्रोतदेहाः क्षुत्तृड्भ्यां चातिपीडिताः । तिग्मतुण्डैः कङ्कबकैरितश्चेतश्च ताडिताः

śūlādiṣu protadehāḥ kṣuttṛḍbhyāṃ cātipīḍitāḥ | tigmatuṇḍaiḥ kaṅkabakairitaścetaśca tāḍitāḥ

With their bodies impaled on stakes and the like, sorely tormented by hunger and thirst, and struck this way and that by sharp-beaked herons and cranes,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 23.16

पीडिता आत्मशमलं बहुधा संस्मरन्ति हि । ये भूतानुद्वेजयन्ति नरा उल्बणवृत्तयः

pīḍitā ātmaśamalaṃ bahudhā saṃsmaranti hi | ye bhūtānudvejayanti narā ulbaṇavṛttayaḥ

tormented, they recall their own sin again and again. And those men of savage habits who terrify living beings,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 23.17

यथा सर्पादिकास्तेऽपि नरके निपतन्ति हि । दन्दशूकाभिधाने च यत्रोत्तिष्ठन्ति सर्वतः

yathā sarpādikāste'pi narake nipatanti hi | dandaśūkābhidhāne ca yatrottiṣṭhanti sarvataḥ

like snakes and the like — they too fall into the hell named Dandaśūka, where (serpents) rise up on every side,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 23.18

पञ्चाननः सप्तमुखा ग्रसन्ति नरकागतान् । यथा बिलेशया विप्र क्रूरबुद्धिसमन्विताः

pañcānanaḥ saptamukhā grasanti narakāgatān | yathā bileśayā vipra krūrabuddhisamanvitāḥ

five-mouthed and seven-mouthed, and devour those who have come to the hell — just as, O brahmin, hole-dwelling (snakes here do), being possessed of cruel intent.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 23.19

येऽवटेषु कुसूलादिगुहादिषु निरुन्धते । तानमुत्रोद्यतकराः कीनाशपरिसेवकाः

ye'vaṭeṣu kusūlādiguhādiṣu nirundhate | tānamutrodyatakarāḥ kīnāśaparisevakāḥ

Those who confine (others) in pits, in granaries, in caves and such places — them, in the next world, the servants of Yama, with hands upraised,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 23.20

तेष्वेवोपविशित्वा च सगरेण च वह्निना । धूमेन च निरुन्धन्ति पापकर्मरतान्नरान्

teṣvevopaviśitvā ca sagareṇa ca vahninā | dhūmena ca nirundhanti pāpakarmaratānnarān

having made them enter into just such (places), confine those men addicted to evil deeds with poison(?), with fire and with smoke.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

DB 8 23.21

योऽतिथीन्समयप्राप्तान्दिधक्षुरिव चक्षुषा । पापेनेहालोकयेच्च स्वयं गृहपतिर्द्विजः

yo'tithīnsamayaprāptāndidhakṣuriva cakṣuṣā | pāpenehālokayecca svayaṃ gṛhapatirdvijaḥ

And the twice-born householder who himself here looks with a sinful eye upon guests arrived at the proper time, as though wishing to burn them up —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 23.22

तस्यापि पापदृष्टेर्हि निरये यमकिङ्कराः । अक्षिणी वज्रतुण्डा ये कङ्काः काकवटादयः

tasyāpi pāpadṛṣṭerhi niraye yamakiṅkarāḥ | akṣiṇī vajratuṇḍā ye kaṅkāḥ kākavaṭādayaḥ

of him too, of that sinful gaze, in hell Yama's attendants — and the herons with adamantine beaks, the crows, vultures and the rest — (tear out) his two eyes;

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 23.23

गृध्राः क्रूरतराश्चापि प्रसह्योत्पाटयन्ति हि । य आढ्याभिमतिर्याति अहङ्कृत्यातिगर्वितः ऽवशिष्टनरकवर्णनं नाम त्रयोविंशोऽध्यायः

gṛdhrāḥ krūratarāścāpi prasahyotpāṭayanti hi | ya āḍhyābhimatiryāti ahaṅkṛtyātigarvitaḥ 'vaśiṣṭanarakavarṇanaṃ nāma trayoviṃśo'dhyāyaḥ

and vultures still more cruel forcibly tear (them) out. He who goes about with the conceit of being rich, excessively puffed up with egotism — Thus the twenty-third chapter, called "The description of the remaining hells."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 23.24

तिर्यक्प्रेक्षण एवात्राभिविशङ्की नराधमः । चिन्तयार्थस्य सर्वत्रायतिव्ययस्वरूपया

tiryakprekṣaṇa evātrābhiviśaṅkī narādhamaḥ | cintayārthasya sarvatrāyativyayasvarūpayā

Here that lowest of men, looking only sidelong, suspicious (of everyone), with anxiety about wealth everywhere, an anxiety consisting of income and expenditure —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 23.25

शुष्यद्धृदयवक्त्रश्च निर्वृतिं नैव गच्छति । ग्रहवद्रक्षते चार्थं स प्रेतो यमकिङ्करैः

śuṣyaddhṛdayavaktraśca nirvṛtiṃ naiva gacchati | grahavadrakṣate cārthaṃ sa preto yamakiṅkaraiḥ

— his heart and face drying up, he never attains contentment; he guards his wealth like a demonic spirit (graha), and (becoming) such a ghost, by Yama's servants

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 23.26

सूचीमुखे च नरके पात्यते निजकर्मणा । वित्तग्रहं च पुरुषं वायका इव याम्यकाः

sūcīmukhe ca narake pātyate nijakarmaṇā | vittagrahaṃ ca puruṣaṃ vāyakā iva yāmyakāḥ

he is cast into the hell called Sūcīmukha (Needle-mouth) by his own deeds; and that man who seized wealth, Yama's men, like weavers,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 23.27

किङ्कराः सर्वतोऽङ्गेषु सूत्रैः परिवयन्ति हि । एते बहुविधा विप्र नरकाः पापकर्मणाम्

kiṅkarāḥ sarvato'ṅgeṣu sūtraiḥ parivayanti hi | ete bahuvidhā vipra narakāḥ pāpakarmaṇām

the servants stitch all around through his limbs with threads. These, O brahmin, are the many kinds of hells for doers of evil deeds.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 23.28

नराणां शतशः सन्ति यातनास्थानभूमयः । सहस्रशोऽपि देवर्षे उक्तानुक्तांस्तथापि हि

narāṇāṃ śataśaḥ santi yātanāsthānabhūmayaḥ | sahasraśo'pi devarṣe uktānuktāṃstathāpi hi

There are hundreds of places and regions of torment for men, indeed thousands too, O divine sage — both those spoken of and those not spoken of.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 23.29

विशन्ति नरकानेतान्यातनाबहुलान्मुने । तथा धर्मपराश्चापि लोकान्यान्ति सुखोद्गतान्

viśanti narakānetānyātanābahulānmune | tathā dharmaparāścāpi lokānyānti sukhodgatān

(Men) enter these hells that abound in torments, O sage; and likewise those devoted to dharma go to worlds abounding in happiness.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 23.30

स्वधर्मो बहुधा गीतो यथा तव महामुने । देवीपूजनरूपो हि देव्याराधनलक्षणः

svadharmo bahudhā gīto yathā tava mahāmune | devīpūjanarūpo hi devyārādhanalakṣaṇaḥ

One's own dharma has been sung of in many ways, as (I have told) you, O great sage: it consists in the worship of the Goddess, it is characterized by the propitiation of the Goddess,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

DB 8 23.31

येनानुष्ठितमात्रेण नरो न नरकं व्रजेत् । सा देवी भवपाथोधेरुद्धर्त्री पूजिता नृणाम्

yenānuṣṭhitamātreṇa naro na narakaṃ vrajet | sā devī bhavapāthodheruddhartrī pūjitā nṛṇām

by the mere performance of which a man would not go to hell. That Goddess, when worshipped by men, is the rescuer (of them) from the ocean of existence.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition