LalithA SahasranAma [288] punyApunya phala pradA

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punyApunya phala pradA : Giver of results, good and bad.

 

When the Veda is established in the form of righteourness through

castes and orders, the Mother, in order to confirm that

establishment, gives the good and bad results arising from ordained

and prohibited actions respectively. The respective results of good

and bad actions are heaven and hell.

 

The Kurma Pr says, "For those who do not perform good actions as

established, there are hells created by BrahmA into which by my

command Yama [The Lord of Death] throws them. Those who are devoted

to me and performs the duty prescribed by the Vedas, are by my

command brought by Indra and others into svarga and other places."

It is said in other works also :"Led by Isvara [alone] one goes to

heaven or to hell".

 

The Sivarahasya says also, "When the sacrifice sleeps [is finished]

you alone remain awake in order to grant the result to the

sacrificer." The Sruti also says [Kaus. Up., III. 8], "For He makes

him perform good actions whom he wishes to lead upwards, and He

alone makes him, whom he wishes to lead downwards, perform bad

actions. "

 

The same is expressed in the VedAnta-Sutra [iII. 2. 38], "From him

the fruit of works, for that only is possible."; as regards

partiality and mercilessness of the Lord the same Ved-sU [iI,1,34]

mentions, "Partiality and mercilessness cannot be attributed on

account of his regarding [merit and demerit]."

 

The Saura Sam also says, "Righteousness and unrighteousness depend

on the doer and produce their respective results without MahAdeva

exercising any [influence]. This is not so…" The verse beginning

with "Rightly solicited" till the close of the chapter describing

the antaryAmi-brAhmana [residing in all] concludes thus :"Siva is to

be attained by reasoning supported by the scriptures. Hence Siva

directly confers the results of righteousness and unrighteousness."

 

 

 

BhAskararAya's Commentary

Translated into English by R. Ananthakrishna Sastry.