03.247
The divine messenger said.
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)
O sage, that world above, which is called 'Svaḥ' (heaven), moves upward—a righteous, eternal path followed by the gods. (03-247-2)
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)
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)
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)
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)
The worlds of these different groups of gods, each manifold, are radiant, filled with enjoyment, splendid with brilliance, and auspicious. (03-247-7)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
O Maudgalya, bodies composed of tejas arise here solely from karma—they are not produced from mother and father. (03-247-13)
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)
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)
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)
But above all those kinds of worlds, O best of sages, there are the worlds of Śakra, endowed with divine qualities. (03-247-17)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Vyāsa said.
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)
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)
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)
I alone shall seek that supreme place where, having gone, they neither grieve, nor are disturbed, nor move. (03-247-40)
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)
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)
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)
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)
After happiness comes sorrow; after sorrow comes happiness. In alternation, they revolve around man like the rims of a wheel. (03-247-45)
O hero of unlimited valor, you will regain the ancestral kingdom; after thirteen years, may your mental anguish end. (3-247-46)
Vaiśampāyana said;
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)
