03.247
देवदूत उवाच॥
The divine messenger said.
महर्षेऽकार्यबुद्धिस्त्वं यः स्वर्गसुखमुत्तमम्। सम्प्राप्तं बहु मन्तव्यं विमृशस्यबुधो यथा ॥०३-२४७-१॥
O great sage, you, whose intellect avoids improper acts and who has attained the highest heavenly happiness, ought to consider much—just as a wise man deliberates. (03-247-1)
उपरिष्टादसौ लोको योऽयं स्वरिति सञ्ज्ञितः। ऊर्ध्वगः सत्पथः शश्वद्देवयानचरो मुने ॥०३-२४७-२॥
O sage, that world above, which is called 'Svaḥ' (heaven), moves upward—a righteous, eternal path followed by the gods. (03-247-2)
नातप्ततपसः पुंसो नामहायज्ञयाजिनः। नानृता नास्तिकाश्चैव तत्र गच्छन्ति मुद्गल ॥०३-२४७-३॥
O Mudgala, those who have not performed austerities, those who have not performed the great sacrifice, the untruthful and atheists, they do not go there. (03-247-3)
धर्मात्मानो जितात्मानः शान्ता दान्ता विमत्सराः। दानधर्मरताः पुंसः शूराश्चाहतलक्षणाः ॥०३-२४७-४॥
Righteous in soul, self-conquered, calm, self-controlled, free from envy, devoted to charity and virtue, valiant, and marked by unblemished qualities are the characteristics of a man. (03-247-4)
तत्र गच्छन्ति कर्माग्र्यं कृत्वा शमदमात्मकम्। लोकान्पुण्यकृतां ब्रह्मन्सद्भिरासेवितान्नृभिः ॥०३-२४७-५॥
There, having performed the highest actions involving tranquility and self-control, they go, O Brahman, to the worlds of the virtuous, which are frequented by good men. (03-247-5)
देवाः साध्यास्तथा विश्वे मरुतश्च महर्षिभिः। यामा धामाश्च मौद्गल्य गन्धर्वाप्सरसस्तथा ॥०३-२४७-६॥
The gods, the Sādhyas, likewise all the Viśve, the Maruts together with great sages, the Yamas, the Dhāmas, O Maudgalya, and likewise the Gandharvas and Apsarases. (03-247-6)
एषां देवनिकायानां पृथक्पृथगनेकशः। भास्वन्तः कामसम्पन्ना लोकास्तेजोमयाः शुभाः ॥०३-२४७-७॥
The worlds of these different groups of gods, each manifold, are radiant, filled with enjoyment, splendid with brilliance, and auspicious. (03-247-7)
त्रयस्त्रिंशत्सहस्राणि योजनानां हिरण्मयः। मेरुः पर्वतराड्यत्र देवोद्यानानि मुद्गल ॥०३-२४७-८॥
O Mudgala, Meru, the king of mountains, which is thirty-three thousand yojanas in extent and golden, is where the celestial gardens are. (03-247-8)
नन्दनादीनि पुण्यानि विहाराः पुण्यकर्मणाम्। न क्षुत्पिपासे न ग्लानिर्न शीतोष्णभयं तथा ॥०३-२४७-९॥
There are auspicious pleasure gardens like Nandana for those who have performed meritorious deeds; there is no hunger or thirst, no fatigue, and likewise no fear of cold or heat. (3-247-9)
बीभत्समशुभं वापि रोगा वा तत्र केचन। मनोज्ञाः सर्वतो गन्धाः सुखस्पर्शाश्च सर्वशः ॥०३-२४७-१०॥
There can be repulsive, inauspicious things or even some diseases there; but there are delightful fragrances all around and everywhere a pleasant touch. (03-247-10)
शब्दाः श्रुतिमनोग्राह्याः सर्वतस्तत्र वै मुने। न शोको न जरा तत्र नायासपरिदेवने ॥०३-२४७-११॥
O sage, there sounds are grasped by the ear and the mind from every direction; there is no sorrow, no old age, nor fatigue or lamentation there. (03-247-11)
ईदृशः स मुने लोकः स्वकर्मफलहेतुकः। सुकृतैस्तत्र पुरुषाः सम्भवन्त्यात्मकर्मभिः ॥०३-२४७-१२॥
O sage, such is this world, caused by the fruit of one's own actions. There, men are born by their own good deeds. (03-247-12)
तैजसानि शरीराणि भवन्त्यत्रोपपद्यताम्। कर्मजान्येव मौद्गल्य न मातृपितृजान्युत ॥०३-२४७-१३॥
O Maudgalya, bodies composed of tejas arise here solely from karma—they are not produced from mother and father. (03-247-13)
न च स्वेदो न दौर्गन्ध्यं पुरीषं मूत्रमेव च। तेषां न च रजो वस्त्रं बाधते तत्र वै मुने ॥०३-२४७-१४॥
There is neither sweat nor bad odor, excrement nor even urine for them; O sage, dust does not soil their clothing there. (03-247-14)
न म्लायन्ति स्रजस्तेषां दिव्यगन्धा मनोरमाः। पर्युह्यन्ते विमानैश्च ब्रह्मन्नेवंविधाश्च ते ॥०३-२४७-१५॥
O Brahman, their garlands, heavenly-scented and pleasing, do not fade; they are also surrounded by celestial vehicles, and such are those (beings). (03-247-15)
ईर्ष्याशोकक्लमापेता मोहमात्सर्यवर्जिताः। सुखं स्वर्गजितस्तत्र वर्तयन्ति महामुने ॥०३-२४७-१६॥
O great sage, those who have conquered heaven, devoid of delusion and malice, with envy, sorrow, and weariness gone, dwell there in happiness. (03-247-16)
तेषां तथाविधानां तु लोकानां मुनिपुङ्गव। उपर्युपरि शक्रस्य लोका दिव्यगुणान्विताः ॥०३-२४७-१७॥
But above all those kinds of worlds, O best of sages, there are the worlds of Śakra, endowed with divine qualities. (03-247-17)
पुरस्ताद्ब्रह्मणस्तत्र लोकास्तेजोमयाः शुभाः। यत्र यान्त्यृषयो ब्रह्मन्पूताः स्वैः कर्मभिः शुभैः ॥०३-२४७-१८॥
O Brahman, in front of Brahman, there are auspicious worlds made of light, where the sages, purified by their own auspicious actions, go. (03-247-18)
ऋभवो नाम तत्रान्ये देवानामपि देवताः। तेषां लोकाः परतरे तान्यजन्तीह देवताः ॥०३-२४७-१९॥
The Ṛbhus, by name, are there as others—divinities even among the gods; for them are realms that are higher, and those worlds, here, are produced by these divinities. (03-247-19)
स्वयम्प्रभास्ते भास्वन्तो लोकाः कामदुघाः परे। न तेषां स्त्रीकृतस्तापो न लोकैश्वर्यमत्सरः ॥०३-२४७-२०॥
Those superior shining worlds are self-luminous and wish-yielding; for them, there is no pain caused by women, nor any envy of the world's prosperity. (03-247-20)
न वर्तयन्त्याहुतिभिस्ते नाप्यमृतभोजनाः। तथा दिव्यशरीरास्ते न च विग्रहमूर्तयः ॥०३-२४७-२१॥
They do not receive offerings, nor are they eaters of ambrosia; thus, though they have celestial bodies, they are not embodied in a material form. (03-247-21)
न सुखे सुखकामाश्च देवदेवाः सनातनाः। न कल्पपरिवर्तेषु परिवर्तन्ति ते तथा ॥०३-२४७-२२॥
Those eternal lords of gods who desire happiness do not undergo change in happiness, nor are they affected by the changes of the aeons. (03-247-22)
जरा मृत्युः कुतस्तेषां हर्षः प्रीतिः सुखं न च। न दुःखं न सुखं चापि रागद्वेषौ कुतो मुने ॥०३-२४७-२३॥
O sage, for those (who are free), from where can old age and death arise? Joy, affection, happiness do not exist for them; nor do sorrow and happiness; from where can attachment and aversion arise? (03-247-23)
देवानामपि मौद्गल्य काङ्क्षिता सा गतिः परा। दुष्प्रापा परमा सिद्धिरगम्या कामगोचरैः ॥०३-२४७-२४॥
O Maudgalya, even the gods desire that supreme goal; it is a highest perfection, difficult to attain, and inaccessible to those who follow desires. (03-247-24)
त्रयस्त्रिंशदिमे लोकाः शेषा लोका मनीषिभिः। गम्यन्ते नियमैः श्रेष्ठैर्दानैर्वा विधिपूर्वकैः ॥०३-२४७-२५॥
These thirty-three worlds are here; the other worlds are attained by the wise through excellent disciplines or by gifts performed according to proper ritual. (03-247-25)
सेयं दानकृता व्युष्टिरत्र प्राप्ता सुखावहा। तां भुङ्क्ष्व सुकृतैर्लब्धां तपसा द्योतितप्रभः ॥०३-२४७-२६॥
This radiance, produced by gifts and now attained here as a source of happiness, enjoy it—acquired through meritorious deeds, O one whose splendour is illuminated by austerity. (03-247-26)
एतत्स्वर्गसुखं विप्र लोका नानाविधास्तथा। गुणाः स्वर्गस्य प्रोक्तास्ते दोषानपि निबोध मे ॥०३-२४७-२७॥
O brāhmaṇa, this is the happiness of heaven, and the worlds are of various kinds. The qualities of heaven have been described; now, also learn from me about their faults. (03-247-27)
कृतस्य कर्मणस्तत्र भुज्यते यत्फलं दिवि। न चान्यत्क्रियते कर्म मूलच्छेदेन भुज्यते ॥०३-२४७-२८॥
The fruit of actions that have been performed is experienced there in heaven; and no new actions are performed—by the cutting off of the root, (only the past karmas) are experienced. (3-247-28)
सोऽत्र दोषो मम मतस्तस्यान्ते पतनं च यत्। सुखव्याप्तमनस्कानां पतनं यच्च मुद्गल ॥०३-२४७-२९॥
O Mudgala, in my opinion, this is the fault here: that at his end is a fall, and that those whose minds are absorbed in happiness also fall. (03-247-29)
असन्तोषः परीतापो दृष्ट्वा दीप्ततराः श्रियः। यद्भवत्यवरे स्थाने स्थितानां तच्च दुष्करम् ॥०३-२४७-३०॥
Lack of contentment and distress arise for those who are situated in an inferior position when they see greater prosperities, and that is difficult to bear. (03-247-30)
सञ्ज्ञामोहश्च पततां रजसा च प्रधर्षणम्। प्रम्लानेषु च माल्येषु ततः पिपतिषोर्भयम् ॥०३-२४७-३१॥
There was bewilderment of consciousness and affliction by dust among those falling; with garlands withered, then came fear to the one about to fall. (03-247-31)
आ ब्रह्मभवनादेते दोषा मौद्गल्य दारुणाः। नाकलोके सुकृतिनां गुणास्त्वयुतशो नृणाम् ॥०३-२४७-३२॥
O Maudgalya, these severe faults come from the abode of Brahma, but in the celestial world, there are indeed tens of thousands of virtues among virtuous men. (03-247-32)
अयं त्वन्यो गुणः श्रेष्ठश्च्युतानां स्वर्गतो मुने। शुभानुशययोगेन मनुष्येषूपजायते ॥०३-२४७-३३॥
But this, O sage, is another excellent quality: when those fallen from heaven possess auspicious residual impressions, they are born among humans. (3-247-33)
तत्रापि सुमहाभागः सुखभागभिजायते। न चेत्सम्बुध्यते तत्र गच्छत्यधमतां ततः ॥०३-२४७-३४॥
There too, a very fortunate person is born enjoying happiness, but if he does not awaken there, then from there he descends to a lower condition. (03-247-34)
इह यत्क्रियते कर्म तत्परत्रोपभुज्यते। कर्मभूमिरियं ब्रह्मन्फलभूमिरसौ मता ॥०३-२४७-३५॥
O Brahman, whatever action is performed here is enjoyed in the hereafter. This is considered the land of action, and that (there) is the land of results. (03-247-35)
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यन्मां पृच्छसि मुद्गल। तवानुकम्पया साधो साधु गच्छाम माचिरम् ॥०३-२४७-३६॥
O Mudgala, all that which you ask me has been told to you. By your compassion, O virtuous one, let me go without delay. (03-247-36)
व्यास उवाच॥
Vyāsa said.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु मौद्गल्यो वाक्यं विममृशे धिया। विमृश्य च मुनिश्रेष्ठो देवदूतमुवाच ह ॥०३-२४७-३७॥
But having heard this, Maudgalya reflected on the words with his mind, and after considering, the best among sages spoke to the messenger of the gods. (03-247-37)
देवदूत नमस्तेऽस्तु गच्छ तात यथासुखम्। महादोषेण मे कार्यं न स्वर्गेण सुखेन वा ॥०३-२४७-३८॥
O divine messenger, salutations to you. Go, dear one, as you please. My affair is with great fault, not with heaven nor with happiness. (03-247-38)
पतनं तन्महद्दुःखं परितापः सुदारुणः। स्वर्गभाजश्च्यवन्तीह तस्मात्स्वर्गं न कामये ॥०३-२४७-३९॥
The fall, that great suffering, and the very severe affliction—the enjoyers of heaven also fall here; therefore, I do not desire heaven. (03-247-39)
यत्र गत्वा न शोचन्ति न व्यथन्ति चलन्ति वा। तदहं स्थानमत्यन्तं मार्गयिष्यामि केवलम् ॥०३-२४७-४०॥
I alone shall seek that supreme place where, having gone, they neither grieve, nor are disturbed, nor move. (03-247-40)
इत्युक्त्वा स मुनिर्वाक्यं देवदूतं विसृज्य तम्। शिलोञ्छवृत्तिमुत्सृज्य शममातिष्ठदुत्तमम् ॥०३-२४७-४१॥
After saying so, the sage dismissed the divine messenger, gave up the way of living by gleaning grains, and attained the highest tranquillity. (03-247-41)
तुल्यनिन्दास्तुतिर्भूत्वा समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः। ज्ञानयोगेन शुद्धेन ध्याननित्यो बभूव ह ॥०३-२४७-४२॥
He became one who was equal to blame and praise, regarded clod, stone, and gold as the same, and, through pure knowledge and constant meditation, he was indeed transformed. (03-247-42)
ध्यानयोगाद्बलं लब्ध्वा प्राप्य चर्द्धिमनुत्तमाम्। जगाम शाश्वतीं सिद्धिं परां निर्वाणलक्षणाम् ॥०३-२४७-४३॥
By gaining strength through the practice of meditation and having attained unsurpassed prosperity, he reached the eternal and supreme perfection characterized by liberation. (03-247-43)
तस्मात्त्वमपि कौन्तेय न शोकं कर्तुमर्हसि। राज्यात्स्फीतात्परिभ्रष्टस्तपसा तदवाप्स्यसि ॥०३-२४७-४४॥
Therefore, you too, O son of Kuntī, should not grieve. Though deprived of a prosperous kingdom, you will regain it through asceticism. (03-247-44)
सुखस्यानन्तरं दुःखं दुःखस्यानन्तरं सुखम्। पर्यायेणोपवर्तन्ते नरं नेमिमरा इव ॥०३-२४७-४५॥
After happiness comes sorrow; after sorrow comes happiness. In alternation, they revolve around man like the rims of a wheel. (03-247-45)
पितृपैतामहं राज्यं प्राप्स्यस्यमितविक्रम। वर्षात्त्रयोदशादूर्ध्वं व्येतु ते मानसो ज्वरः ॥०३-२४७-४६॥
O hero of unlimited valor, you will regain the ancestral kingdom; after thirteen years, may your mental anguish end. (3-247-46)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said;
एवमुक्त्वा स भगवान्व्यासः पाण्डवनन्दनम्। जगाम तपसे धीमान्पुनरेवाश्रमं प्रति ॥०३-२४७-४७॥
Thus, having spoken, the revered Vyāsa, the wise sage, went again toward his hermitage for the practice of austerity, after addressing the delight of the Pāṇḍavas. (3-247-47)
