13.132
Umā said;
O Lord, Lord of all beings, worshipped by gods and asuras, please tell me about my doubt regarding righteousness and unrighteousness among men, O divine one, O all-pervading one. (13-132-1)
A man is always bound by bonds and fetters of three kinds—by action, by mind, and by speech; he is also released, or bound again, in these ways. (13-132-2)
By what conduct, O divine one, or by what kind of action, or by what behaviors, qualities, and words do people here attain heaven? (13-132-3)
The great lord said;
O goddess, knower of the essential truths of dharma and artha, ever steadfast and devoted to self-restraint, please hear this question, which is for the good of all beings and increases intelligence. (13-132-4)
Those who delight in truth and righteousness, who are good and free from all greed, whose doubts have been destroyed, are not bound either by unrighteousness or by righteousness. (13-132-5)
Persons who know the truth of dissolution and creation, who are omniscient, who see equally, and who are devoid of passion, are liberated from all bonds. (13-132-6)
Those who, by action, mind, or speech, do not harm anything; who do not attach themselves to anything, they are not bound by actions. (13-132-7)
Those who refrain from killing living beings, possess virtuous conduct, are compassionate, regard enemy and beloved equally, and are self-restrained, are freed from the bonds of action. (13-132-8)
Those men who are compassionate to all beings, trustworthy towards all creatures, and act without violence—those go to heaven. (13-132-9)
Men who are always free from possessiveness with regard to another's property, who avoid the wives of others, and who enjoy wealth acquired through righteousness—these go to heaven. (13-132-10)
Men who always treat other men's wives like their own mother, sister, or daughter are destined for heaven. (13-132-11)
Those men who have turned away from theft, are always content with their own wealth, and live upon their own fortune—those men go to heaven. (13-132-12)
Those men who are devoted to their own wives and approach them only at the proper season, and who do not partake in vulgar pleasures—such men are destined for heaven. (13-132-13)
Men who always keep their eyes covered by morality towards others’ wives, who have restrained their senses and are devoted to good conduct, go to heaven. (13-132-14)
This path created by the gods should always be followed by men; and the path not devised by the impure should always be followed by the wise. (13-132-15)
A person endowed with charity, virtue, austerity, good conduct, purity, and compassion should always be served by men, whether for the sake of livelihood or for righteousness. Those who wish for residence in heaven should not serve anyone other than you. (13-132-16)
Umā said.
O god, tell me of those actions by which one is bound by speech or is again released, O lord of beings, O sinless one. (13-132-17)
The great lord said.
Those men who do not speak falsehood here, whether for their own sake, for the sake of others, or out of humor and laughter—those are the ones who go to heaven. (13-132-18)
Those men who do not speak falsehood, whether for the sake of livelihood, for dharma, or out of desire, are goers to heaven. (13-132-19)
Those men who speak to others with a welcoming, smooth, undisturbed, sweet, and sinless speech are destined for heaven. (13-132-20)
Those men who do not speak harsh, rough, or cruel words, and are devoted to not slandering others—these good men go to heaven. (13-132-21)
Those who do not utter the speech of slanderers which causes division among friends, but who speak truthful and friendly words—those men attain heaven. (13-132-22)
Those men who always avoid backbiting and harming others, who are equal to all beings and self-restrained, go to heaven. (13-132-23)
Those men who refrain from harsh speech, avoid hostility, and always speak gently, go to heaven. (13-132-24)
Those men who do not utter heart-rending words out of anger and speak gentle words even when angry are destined for heaven. (13-132-25)
O goddess, this dharma stated in words should always be followed by men. That auspicious one, marked by truthfulness, is ever to be practiced; falsehood is always to be shunned by the wise. (13-132-26)
Umā said.
O greatly fortunate one, O god of gods, O wielder of the Pināka, tell me that by which action a person is always bound by the mind. (13-132-27)
The great Lord said.
O auspicious one, men who are always joined here by intention and by righteousness go to heaven; hear that, as I declare it. (13-132-28)
A man is bound by a mind that is poorly led and assumes an even worse state; hear also another (teaching), O auspicious-faced one. (13-132-29)
Those men who, even having seen another's property left in a desolate forest, do not harm it even in their mind — those men go to heaven. (13-132-30)
Those men who are destined for heaven never take pleasure in (or approve of) the property of another, whether it is in a village, in a house, or placed in a lonely spot. (13-132-31)
Likewise, those men who do not harm even in their mind the wives of others gone to seclusion by desire—such men are destined for heaven. (13-132-32)
Men who always associate with both enemies and friends with an equal mind, joining together in friendliness, those men go to heaven. (13-132-33)
Those men who possess learning, compassion, purity, are steadfast in truth, and are fully content with their own possessions are destined for heaven. (13-132-34)
Men who are free from enmity, ever unwearied, devoted to friendly thoughts, and compassionate toward all beings – these men go to heaven. (13-132-35)
Men who are possessed of faith, full of compassion, noble, beloved by noble people, and always knowers of dharma and adharma—these men are destined for heaven. (13-132-36)
O goddess, those men who are knowers of the ripening of the accumulated fruits of auspicious and inauspicious actions, they proceed to heaven. (13-132-37)
Men who are endowed with justice and virtues, always devoted to the gods and the twice-born, and who have attained equality, these proceed to heaven. (13-132-38)
O goddess, I have described to you these auspicious results of actions, which lead to the path of heaven; do you desire to hear anything else? (13-132-39)
Umā said.
O Maheshvara, I have a great doubt regarding certain mortals. Therefore, you should explain that to me skillfully today. (13-132-40)
O lord, by what does a man obtain long life—by action? Or, O ruler of the gods, by what does one obtain great longevity through austerity? (13-132-41)
O god, by what action does a human being on earth become short-lived? You, O blameless one, are worthy to tell the result of deeds. (13-132-42)
There are others of great enjoyment and some with little enjoyment; some of low birth and others of high birth, and yet others. (13-132-43)
Some men appear hard to look at, like they are made of wood; while others are pleasant to look at, and just from the sight itself, they are agreeable. (13-132-44)
Some with distorted understanding appear, some appear to be learned; likewise, there are others who are greatly wise, perceivers of knowledge and realization. (13-132-45)
O god, some men are seen who suffer little, some who suffer greatly, and others as well. Please explain this to me. (13-132-46)
The great Lord said.
Now, O goddess, I will tell you about the manifestation of the result of actions, by which all men in the mortal world experience their own fruits. (13-132-47)
A man who kills living beings, who is cruel and ever holds a raised staff, who constantly wields a weapon and slays groups of creatures, is such a person. (13-132-48)
He is pitiless to all beings, always causing agitation; even to insects and ants, he gives no refuge and is utterly unmerciful. (13-132-49)
O Goddess, a man of such nature attains hell; but on the contrary, a righteous person is born handsome. (13-132-50)
The man whose nature is violent goes to hell, and the non-violent one goes to heaven. In hell, the violent man receives terrible and severe torment. (13-132-51)
Now, if at any time he rises up from that hell, he obtains human birth and is born there with a reduced lifespan. (13-132-52)
O goddess, a man bound by sinful deeds and delighting in violence is born unpleasant to all beings and short-lived. (13-132-53)
But one who is born from purity, avoids killing living beings, has put aside the staff, and is free from punishing, never harms anyone. (13-132-54)
He neither causes others to be killed, nor himself kills, nor does he approve of one killing; to all beings he shows affection, just as to himself, so also to others. (13-132-55)
O Goddess, such excellence in a man attains divinity; he enjoys all acquired pleasures and enjoyments, being endowed with joy. (13-132-56)
Now, if someone is ever born in the world of humans, then, being born long-lived there, that man attains happiness. (13-132-57)
Thus, the path for long-lived people, for those of good conduct and good deeds, by refraining from violence to living beings, has been proclaimed by Brahman. (13-132-58)
