यदा वै पुरुषोऽस्माल्लोकात्प्रैति स वायु-मागच्छति तस्मै स तत्र विजिहीते यथारथचक्रस्य खं तेन स ऊर्ध्व आक्रमते सआदित्यमागच्छति तस्मै स तत्र विजि-हीते यथा लम्बरस्य खं तेन स ऊर्ध्व आ-क्रमते स चन्द्रमसमागच्छति तस्मै सतत्र विजिहीते यथा दुन्दुभेः खं तेन सऊर्ध्व आक्रमते स लोकमागच्छत्यशोक-महिमं तस्मिन्वसति शाश्वतीः समाः ॥
In plain words
When a person finally departs this world, Air is the first to receive him — it opens for him there like the hollow of a chariot wheel, and through that opening he climbs upward. He reaches the sun, and it too opens for him, like the hollow of a lambara drum, and through it he climbs higher. He reaches the moon, and it opens for him as well, like the hollow of a great kettle-drum, and through it he rises further still. At last he reaches a world beyond grief, beyond cold — and there he lives, through years without end.
Close to the Sanskrit
When, indeed, a person departs from this world, he comes to Vāyu; for him, that one opens up there, like the hole of a chariot-wheel; through that he journeys upward. He comes to the sun; for him, that one opens up there, like the hole of a lambara; through that he journeys upward. He comes to the moon; for him, that one opens up there, like the hole of a kettle-drum; through that he journeys upward. He comes to a world free from grief, free from cold; in it he dwells for everlasting years.