कुकृतं दुष्कृतं वापि भुक्त्वा लोके यथार्जितम् । कर्मयोगाद्यदा कश्चिद्व्याधिरुत्पद्यते खग ॥ २,१५.
After enjoying the fruits of good or evil deeds in this world as earned, when the time comes, a disease arises for someone due to the course of karma, O bird.
निमित्तमात्रं सर्वेषां कृतकर्मानुसारतः । यस्य यो विहितो मृत्युः स तं ध्रुवमवाप्नुयात् ॥ २,१५.
All are merely instruments according to the results of their actions; whoever has a destined death will certainly attain it.
कर्मयोगाद्यदा देही मुञ्चत्यत्र निजं वपुः । तदा भूमिगतं कुर्याद्गोमयेनोपलिप्य च ॥ २,१५.
When, due to the course of karma, the embodied soul leaves its own body, then the body should be placed on the ground and smeared with cow dung.
तिलान्दर्भान्विकीर्याथ मुखे स्वर्णं विनिः क्षिपेत् । तुलसींसन्निधौ कृत्वा शालग्रामशिलां तथा ॥ २,१५.
Sesame seeds and darbha grass should be scattered, and gold placed in the mouth; tulasi should be kept nearby, along with a shalagrama stone.
सेतु (एवं) सामादिसूक्तैस्तु मरणं मुक्तिदायकम् । शलाकास्वर्णविक्षपैः प्रतप्राणिगृहेषुच ॥ २,१५.
Thus, with Sama and other Vedic hymns, death becomes liberating; by scattering gold rods in the house of the departed.
एका वक्त्रे तु दातव्या घ्राणयुग्मे तथा पुनः । अक्ष्णोश्च कर्णयोश्चैव द्वेद्वे देये यथाक्रमम् ॥ २,१५.
One should place a single item in the mouth, and again in both nostrils; two each should be given for the eyes and ears, in proper order.
अथ लिङ्गे तथा चैका त्वेकां ब्रह्माण्डकेक्षिपेत् । करयुग्मे च कण्ठे च तुलसीं च प्रदापयेत् ॥ २,१५.
Then, one should place a single item at the genital and another in the Brahmanda (crown of the head); tulasi should be given for both hands and the neck.
वस्त्रयुग्मं च दातव्यं कङ्कुमैश्चाक्षतैर्यजेत् । पुष्पमालायुतं कुर्यादन्यद्वारेण सन्नयेत् ॥ २,१५.
A pair of garments should be given, and worship performed with saffron and unbroken rice; a garland of flowers should be made, and other offerings arranged at the entrance.
पुत्रस्तु बान्धवैः सार्धं विप्रस्तु पुरवासिभिः । पितुः प्रेतं स्वयं पुत्रः स्कन्धमारोप्य बान्धवैः ॥ २,१५.
The son, together with relatives, and the priest with townspeople, should carry the father's body; the son himself should place the corpse on his shoulder, assisted by relatives.
गत्वा श्मशानदेशे तु प्राड्मुखश्चोत्तरामुखम् । अदग्धपूर्वा या भूमिश्चितां तत्रैव कारयेत् ॥ २,१५.
Having reached the cremation ground, facing east or north, one should prepare the funeral pyre on ground not previously burned.
श्रीखण्डतुलसीकाष्ठसमित्पालाशसंभृताम् । विकलेन्द्रियसङ्घाते चैतन्ये जडतां गते ॥ २,१५.
When sandalwood, tulasi, kusha grass, samit, and palasha are gathered, and the senses have become disordered, and consciousness has turned inert—
प्रचलन्ति ततः प्राणा याम्यैर्निकटवर्तिभिः । एकीभूतं जगत्पश्येद्दैवी दृष्टिः प्रजायते ॥ २,१५.
Then the vital breaths depart, accompanied by the attendants of Yama; a divine vision arises, and one perceives the world as unified.
बीभत्सं दारुणं रूपं प्रणैः कण्ठं समाश्रितैः । फेनमुद्गिरते कोपि मुखं लालाकुलं भवेत् ॥ २,१५.
A dreadful, terrifying form appears; with the breaths lodged in the throat, foam is expelled, and the mouth becomes filled with saliva.
दुरात्मानश्च ताड्यन्ते किङ्करैः पाशबन्धनैः । सुखेन कृतिनस्तत्र नीयन्ते नाकनायकैः ॥ २,१५.
The wicked are struck by servants with bonds of rope; the virtuous are led away comfortably by the leaders of heaven.
दुः खेन पापिनो यान्ति यममार्गे च दुर्गमे । यमश्चतुर्भुजो भूत्वा शङ्खचक्रगदादिभृत् ॥ २,१५.
The sinful go with difficulty along the arduous path of Yama; Yama himself appears four-armed, bearing conch, discus, mace, and other weapons.
पुण्यकर्मरतान्सम्यक्शुभान्मित्रवदाचरेत् । आहूय पापिनः सर्वान्यमो दण्डेन रज्जयेत् ॥ २,१५.
He treats those devoted to virtuous deeds kindly, like friends; but he summons all sinners and restrains them with his staff.
प्रलयाम्बुदनिर्घोषस्त्वञ्जनाद्रिसमप्रभः । महिषस्थो दुराराध्यो विद्युत्तेजः समद्युतिः ॥ २,१५.
He resounds like the thunder of a storm cloud, shines like the black mountain Anjana, rides upon a buffalo, is difficult to propitiate, and his radiance equals that of lightning.
योजनत्रयविस्तारदेहो रौद्रोऽतिभीषणः । लोहदण्डधरो भीमः पाशपाणिर्दुराकृतिः ॥ २,१५.
His body extends three yojanas, fierce and exceedingly terrifying; he wields an iron staff, is formidable, holds a noose, and has a dreadful appearance.
वक्रनेत्रोऽतिभयदो दर्शनं याति पापिनाम् । अङ्गुष्ठमात्रः पुरुषो हाहा कुर्वन् कलेवरात् ॥ २,१५.
His crooked eyes inspire great fear when seen by sinners; a man, reduced to the size of a thumb, cries out 'ha ha' as he leaves the body.
तदैव नीयते दूतैर्याम्यैर्वोक्षन्स्वकं गृहम् । निर्विचेष्टं शरीरं तु प्राणैर्मुक्तं जुगुप्सितम् ॥ २,१५.
At that moment, the messengers of Yama lead him away, abandoning his own house; the lifeless body, forsaken by the vital breaths, becomes repulsive.
अस्पृश्यं जायते तूर्णं दुर्गन्धं सर्वनिन्दितम् । त्रिधावस्था हि देहस्य कृमिविड्मस्मसंज्ञिता ॥ २,१५.
It quickly becomes untouchable, foul-smelling, and universally reviled; the body has three states: worm, excrement, and ashes.
को गर्वः क्रियते तार्क्ष्य क्षणविध्वंसिभिर्नरैः । दानं वित्तादृता वाचः कीर्तिधर्मौ तथायुषः ॥ २,१५.
What pride can there be, O Tārkṣya, in men who are destroyed in a moment? Wealth, speech, fame, virtue, and life are all dependent on gifts.
परोपकरणं कायादसतः सारमुद्धृतम् । तस्यैवं नीयमानस्य दूताः सन्तर्जयन्ति हि ॥ २,१५.
Only the essence of good deeds performed for others is extracted from the body of the wicked; as he is being led away, the messengers continually threaten him.
दर्शयन्तो भयं तीव्रं नरकाय पुनः पुनः । शीघ्रं प्रचल दुष्टात्मन् गतोऽसित्वं यमालये ॥ २,१५.
They repeatedly show him intense fear of hell, saying: 'Move quickly, evil soul, you have reached the abode of Yama.'
कुंभीपाकादिनरकांस्त्वां नेष्यामश्च मा चिरम् । एवं वाचस्तदा शृण्वन्बन्धूनां रुदितं तथा ॥ २,१५.
'We shall take you soon to the hells like Kumbhipaka; do not delay.' Hearing these words, he also hears the lamentation of his relatives.
उच्चैर्हाहेति विलपन्नीयते यमकिङ्करैः । स्थाने श्राद्धं प्रकुर्वीत तथा चेकादशेऽहनि ॥ २,१५.
He is led away by Yama's servants, crying loudly 'ha ha'; at that time, a śrāddha should be performed, as well as on the eleventh day.
मृस्योत्क्रान्तिसमयात्षट्पिण्डान्क्रमशो ददेत् । मृतस्थाने तथा द्वारे चत्वरे तार्क्ष्य कारणात् ॥ २,१५.
From the time of departure, six balls of rice should be given in succession; at the place of death, at the door, and at the crossroads, O Tārkṣya, for this reason.
विश्रामे काष्ठचयने तथा सञ्चयने च षट् । शृणु तत्कारणं तार्क्ष्य षट्पिण्डपरिकल्पने ॥ २,१५.
At the resting place, on the wooden platform, and at the collection site, six should be given; listen, O Tārkṣya, to the reason for the offering of six rice balls.
मृतस्थाने शवो नाम तेन नाम्ना प्रदीयते । तेन दत्तेन तृप्यन्ति गृहवास्त्वधिदेवताः ॥ २,१५.
At the place of death, an offering called 'śava' is given by that name; by this gift, the household deities and guardians of the dwelling are satisfied.
तेन भूमिर्भवेत्तुष्टातदधिष्ठातृदेवता । द्वारे तु पिण्डं देयं च पान्थमित्यभिधाय तु ॥ २,१५.
By this, the earth and its presiding deity become pleased; at the doorway, an offering called 'pāntha' should be given.