13.133
Umā said.
What kind of character and conduct must men have, and by what actions or by what sort of giving do they attain heaven? (13-133-1)
The great lord said.
He is a giver, one who honors brāhmaṇas, bestower of edibles, foods, grains, drinks and garments to the poor, blind, miserable, and others. (13-133-2)
Resting places, assembly halls, wells, drinking places, ponds, and all kinds of daily religious works—indeed anything and everything desired in great abundance. (13-133-3)
A seat, a bed, a vehicle, wealth, jewels, houses, all kinds of crops, cows, fields, and women. (13-133-4)
O Goddess, a man who, with a very satisfied mind, constantly gives (charity), when such a one dies, is born in the world of the gods. (13-133-5)
There, having dwelt for a very long time and enjoyed the unsurpassed pleasures together with the apsarases, rejoicing and taking delight in Nandana and other gardens. (13-133-6)
Therefore, O Devi, one who has fallen from heaven is born among men, in a family of great enjoyment, endowed with wealth and grain. (13-133-7)
There, a man endowed with all the qualities of desire, joined with joy, becomes a great enjoyer, possesses a great treasury, and becomes wealthy. (13-133-8)
These, O goddess, are great enjoyments. Beings with the nature of giving were indeed formerly declared by Brahmā as those pleasing in appearance to all. (13-133-9)
O goddess, there are other humans, miserly in giving, who, even when asked by the twice-born, do not give, even though they have (something); they are foolish. (13-133-10)
Even when they see the poor, the blind, the miserable, beggars, and guests, those filled with greed for taste turn away, even when requested. (13-133-11)
They never give wealth, garments, enjoyments, gold, cows, or processed food at any time. (13-133-12)
O Goddess, men who are not inclined (to righteous acts), greedy, atheistic, devoid of charity, and of such nature, being foolish, go to hell. (13-133-13)
If they attain human birth when their time comes to an end, those of little intelligence are born in a family devoid of wealth. (13-133-14)
Afflicted by hunger and thirst, excluded from all pleasures, and despairing of every enjoyment, they sustain themselves with the lowest means of living. (13-133-15)
Men who are born into families of little enjoyment and who delight in little enjoyment, O goddess, by this action become men without wealth. (13-133-16)
Other people, always arrogant, proud, and engaged in wickedness, are those foolish ones who do not give a seat to someone deserving of it. (13-133-17)
Those who do not give the path to one who deserves it are of little understanding, and those who do not give water for the feet to one deserving it are also of little understanding. (13-133-18)
Men of little understanding do not honor those worthy of arghya with proper respects according to rule; they do not even offer arghya or water for sipping. (13-133-19)
One does not wish to approach the teacher with love or become like a teacher; people stand motivated by pride and greed. (13-133-20)
Those who show disrespect to the honored and insult the elders, O goddess, all such men proceed to hell. (13-133-21)
If those men indeed emerge from that hell, then after many years, they obtain birth in a contemptible family. (13-133-22)
Those who dishonor preceptors and elders are born in the families of the mindless, the despised, and such as the śvapāka and pulkasa. (13-133-23)
He who is neither arrogant nor conceited, who worships the gods and the twice-born, is honored by people, bows with respect, is humble, and speaks sweetly. (13-133-24)
He always pleases all classes and benefits all beings; he bears no hatred, is pleasant-faced, gentle, and always speaks with tenderness. (13-133-25)
He attends to all beings with a welcoming attitude, without harm, honoring them as is appropriate and with proper respect. (13-133-26)
He gives the path to those deserving it, worships the teacher as a teacher, delights in honoring guests, and likewise honors those who arrive. (13-133-27)
O Goddess, a man being thus attains heaven; then, after taking human birth, he will be born into a distinguished family. (13-133-28)
There, that person possessing abundant enjoyments and all jewels, should bestow as appropriate to the worthy, and be devoted to practicing dharma. (13-133-29)
One who is approved by all beings and honored by all worlds always attains the results of his own actions by himself. (13-133-30)
One who is born in a noble family and of noble ancestry always—this dharma has been stated by me as it has been declared by the Creator himself. (13-133-31)
But the one who, being of cruel conduct and a terror to all beings, (strikes) with his hands or feet, or with a rope or staff, again— (13-133-32)
O beautiful one, with clods, sticks, or other means, he harasses creatures. Possessed of deceitful intelligence, he also surely disturbs them for the purpose of injury. (13-133-33)
A person who always attacks living beings and causes distress, whose nature and conduct are thus, attains hell. (13-133-34)
If he attains human birth again due to the lapse of time, he is born in a low family, afflicted by much adversity. (13-133-35)
O goddess, that person who is hated by people and is the lowest among men, due to his own actions and their results, should be recognized as such among men and among kinsmen. (13-133-36)
Another is compassionate and regards all beings; he has a friendly vision, is like a father, free from enmity, and has controlled senses. (13-133-37)
He neither disturbs nor injures living beings; with well-controlled hands and feet, he is trustworthy among all creatures. (13-133-38)
He whose actions are gentle and who is absorbed in compassion does not agitate creatures either with a rope, a staff, clods, or weapons. (13-133-39)
A person of such character and conduct is born in heaven. There, in a divine mansion, he dwells joyfully like a god. (13-133-40)
If, due to exhaustion of karma, a mortal is born among men, he, having little suffering and free from poverty, being so born, thrives in happiness. (13-133-41)
A man who is always enjoying happiness, free from effort and without anxiety—O goddess, this is the path of the virtuous, where no obstacle exists. (13-133-42)
Umā said.
These men, O divine one, are seen to be skilled in reasoning and inference, endowed with knowledge and discernment, possessing wisdom and expert in meanings; while others, of poor understanding, are devoid of knowledge and discernment. (13-133-43)
By what result of karma does a person become wise, and how, O Virūpākṣa, does a human become of little wisdom? Please dispel this doubt of mine, O best of all knowers of dharma. (13-133-44)
O deity, some are born blind, others are afflicted with diseases, others likewise; men and impotent ones are seen—tell (me) indeed the cause there. (13-133-45)
The great lord said.
Brāhmaṇas, Vedic scholars, perfected beings, and experts in dharma also daily inquire about welfare and misfortune. (13-133-46)
Those who avoid inauspicious actions and engage in auspicious ones similarly, always attain happiness in this world and heavenly state as well. (13-133-47)
If he attains human birth, the intelligent one is born there; for him, learning accompanied by wisdom and auspiciousness arises. (13-133-48)
Fools who cast wicked glances at others' wives, by such wicked nature, are indeed born blind. (13-133-49)
But those men who view a woman as naked with a corrupted mind become afflicted by diseases here, being evil-doers. (13-133-50)
But those who, being deluded and of bad conduct, are engaged in sexual union through the organ and are men of very perverted understanding, they attain impotence. (13-133-51)
Men who bind animals, men who approach the preceptor's bed, those engaged in indiscriminate sexual acts, and those born as impotent—these are such men. (13-133-52)
Umā said.
O best of the gods, what action is truly faulty, and what is blameless? By doing what is better, a man attains (the highest good). (13-133-53)
The great lord said;
One who always follows the better path, asks the twice-born, seeks dharma, and desires virtues, he fully attains heaven. (13-133-54)
O goddess, if someone ever attains a human state, then there is born one who is intelligent, endowed with retention, and wise. (13-133-55)
O goddess, this dharma of the virtuous should be regarded as bestowing prosperity. For the benefit of people, it has indeed been explained to you by me. (13-133-56)
Umā said.
Other men, who have little knowledge and hate dharma, do not wish to approach brahmins who are proficient in the Veda. (13-133-57)
Some men possess vows and are devoted to faith and self-control; others have no vows, have fallen from discipline, and others are like demons. (13-133-58)
The performers of sacrifice, as well as others, and those who do not offer oblations, and still others — by what result of action do they come to be in this state? Please tell me. (13-133-59)
The Great Lord said.
The boundaries of worldly codes, previously established from scripture, are followed by authority; indeed, those firm in their vows are seen. (13-133-60)
Those who, under the influence of delusion, declare unrighteousness to be righteousness, who are without vows and have destroyed all limits, are said to be Brahma-rākṣasas. (13-133-61)
If people arise here by making efforts at the proper time but are without sacrificial offerings and without uttering vaṣaṭ, they become the lowest among men. (13-133-62)
O goddess, this entire ocean of dharma—comprising the merits and demerits of men—has been explained by me for the removal of your doubt. (13-133-63)
