PLATE SEVEN

‘“*A man or woman who indulges in sexual intercourse with an unwor-
thy member of the opposite sex is punished after death by the assistants
of Yamaraja in the hell known as Taptasirmi. There such men and
women are beaten with whips. The man is forced to embrace a red-hot
iron form of a woman, and the woman is forced to embrace a similar
form of a man. Such is the punishment for illicit sex.

“Any brahmana or bradhmana’s wife who drinks liquor is taken by the
agents of Yamaraja to the hell known as Ayahpana. The hell also awaits
any ksatriya, vaisya, or a person under a vow who in illusion drinks
soma-rasa. In Ayahpana the agents of Yamaraja stand on their chests and
pour hot melted iron into their mouths.

“One who in this world or in this life is very proud of his wealth al-
ways thinks, ‘I am so rich. Who can equal me?’ His vision is twisted, and
he is always afraid that someone will take his wealth. Indeed, he even
suspects his superiors. His face and heart dry up at the thought of losing
his wealth, and therefore he always looks like a wretched fiend. He is not
in any way able to obtain actual happiness, and he does not know what it
is to be free from anxiety. Because of these sinful things he does to earn
money, augment his wealth and protect it, he is put into the hell known
as Sicimikha, where the officials of Yamaraja punish him by stitching
thread through his entire body like weavers manufacturing cloth.”
(pp.456-474)
