नृपतिरुवाच । कथं प्रेता भवन्तीह कृतैरप्यौर्ध्वदैहिकैः । पिशाचाश्च भवन्तीह कर्मभिः कैश्च तद्वद ॥ २,२७.
The King said: How do people become ghosts here, even when funeral rites are performed? And by what actions do they become piśācas? Tell me that as well.
प्रेत उवाच । देवद्रव्यं च ब्रह्मस्वं स्त्रीबालधनसञ्चयम् । ये हरन्ति नृपश्रेष्ठ प्रेतयोनिं व्रजन्ति ते ॥ २,२७.
The Preta said: O best of kings, those who steal temple property, Brahmin wealth, or the possessions of women and children, they enter the womb of ghosts.
तापसीं च सगोत्रां च अगम्यां ये भजन्ति हि । भवन्ति ते महाप्रेता अम्बुजानि हरन्ति ये ॥ २,२७.
Those who approach ascetic women of their own lineage, or forbidden women, become great ghosts; and those who steal lotuses also become such.
प्रवालवज्रहर्तारो ये च वस्त्रापहारकाः । तथा हिरण्यहर्तारः संयुगेऽसन्मुखागताः ॥ २,२७.
Those who steal bark garments, thunderbolts, or clothes, as well as those who steal gold, and those who flee from battle when confronted—
कृतघ्ना नास्तिका रौद्रास्तथा साहसिका नराः । पञ्चयज्ञविनिर्मुक्ता महादानरताश्च ये ॥ २,२७.
Those who are ungrateful, atheists, fierce, and reckless, who are exempt from the five sacrifices, and who are devoted to great gifts—
स्वामिद्रोहकरा मित्रब्राह्मद्रोहकराश्च ये । तीर्थपापकरा राजञ्जायन्ते प्रेतयोनयः । एवमाद्या महाराज जायन्ते प्रेतयोनयः ॥ २,२७.
Those who betray their master, who harm friends and Brahmins, who commit sins at holy places, O King, are born in the realm of spirits; thus, O great King, such as these are born in the realm of spirits.
राजोवाच । कथं मुक्ता भवन्तीह प्रेतत्वात्त्वं च तेऽपि च । कथं चापि मया कार्यमौर्ध्वदैहिकमात्मनः । विधिना केन तत्कार्यं सर्वमेतद्वदस्व मे ॥ २,२७.
The king said: How do these become freed here from being spirits, and how can I perform the posthumous rites for myself? By what method should all this be done? Tell me everything.
प्रेत उवाच । शृणु राजेन्द्र संक्षेपाद्विधिं नारायणात्मकम् । सच्छास्त्रश्रवणं विष्णोः पूजा सज्जनसंगतिः ॥ २,२७.
The spirit said: Listen, O king, in brief, to the method rooted in Nārāyaṇa: hearing true scriptures, worship of Viṣṇu, and association with virtuous people.
प्रेतयोनिविनाशाय भवन्तीति मया श्रुतम् । अतो वक्ष्यामि ते विष्णुपूजां प्रेतत्वनाशिनीम् ॥ २,२७.
I have heard that these bring about the destruction of the spirit condition; therefore, I will tell you the worship of Viṣṇu that destroys the state of being a spirit.
सुवर्णद्वयमाहृत्य मूर्तिं भूप प्रकल्पयेत् । नारायणस्य देवस्य सर्वाभरणभूषिताम् ॥ २,२७.
Having obtained two pieces of gold, the king should fashion an image of Nārāyaṇa, the divine one, adorned with all ornaments.
पीतवस्त्रयुगाच्छन्नां चन्दनागुरुचर्चिताम् । स्नापयेद्विविधैस्तोयैरधिवास्य यजेत्ततः ॥ २,२७.
Clothed in two yellow garments, anointed with sandalwood and agarwood, the image should be bathed with various waters, then consecrated and worshipped.
पूर्वे तु श्रीधरं देवं दक्षिणे मधुसूदनम् । पश्चिमे वानमं देवमुत्तरे च गदाधरम् ॥ २,२७.
In the east, Śrīdhara should be worshipped; in the south, Madhusūdana; in the west, Vānama; and in the north, Gadādhara.
मध्ये पितामहं पूज्य तथा देवं महेश्वरम् । पूजयेच्च विधानेन गन्धपुष्पादिभिः पृथक् ॥ २,२७.
In the center, Pitāmaha and Maheśvara should be worshipped; each deity should be worshipped separately with fragrances, flowers, and so forth, according to the proper method.
ततः प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य अग्नौ सन्तर्प्य देवताः । घृतेन दध्ना क्षीरेण विश्वान्देवांस्तथा नृप ॥ २,२७.
Then, after circumambulating, the deities should be satisfied in the fire with ghee, curd, and milk, O king, and all the gods likewise.
ततः स्नातो विनीतात्मा यजमानः समाहितः । नारायणाग्रे विधिवत्स्वक्रियामौर्ध्वदैहिकीम् ॥ २,२७.
Then, purified and self-controlled, the sacrificer, with concentration, should properly perform his own posthumous rites before Nārāyaṇa.
आरभेत विनीतात्मा क्रोधलोभविवर्जितः । श्राद्धानि कुर्यात्सर्वाणि वृषस्योत्सर्जनं तथा ॥ २,२७.
With a humble mind, free from anger and greed, he should undertake all the śrāddha rites and the release of the bull.
त्रयोदशानां विप्राणां वस्त्रच्छत्राण्युपानहौ । अङ्गुलीयकमुक्तानि भाजनासनभोजनैः ॥ २,२७.
For thirteen Brahmins, garments, umbrellas, footwear, rings, pearls, vessels, seats, and food should be given.
सान्नाश्च सोदका देया घटाः प्रेतहिताय वै । शय्यादानमथो दत्त्वा घटं प्रेतस्य निर्वपेत् ॥ २,२७.
Cooked food and water should be given, and pots for the benefit of the spirit; after giving a bed, one should place the pot for the spirit.
नारायणेति सन्नाम संपुटस्थं समर्चयेत् । एवं कृत्वाथ विधिवच्छुभाशुभफलं लभेत् ॥ २,२७.
With the name 'Nārāyaṇa' placed within, one should worship it; having done this properly, one attains both auspicious and inauspicious results.
राजोवाच । कथं प्रेतघटं कुर्याद्दद्यात्केन विधानतः । ब्रूहि सर्वानुकम्पार्थं घटं प्रेतविमुक्तिदम् ॥ २,२७.
The king said: How should the spirit-pot be made and given, and by what method? Tell me, for the sake of universal compassion, about the pot that grants liberation from the spirit state.
प्रेत उवाच । साधु पृष्टं महाराज कथयामि निबोध ते । प्रेतत्वं न भवेद्येन दानेन सुदृढेन च ॥ २,२७.
The spirit said: Well asked, O great king; I will tell you, listen: by what firm gift the spirit state does not occur.
दानं प्रेतघटं नाम सर्वाशुभविनाशनम् । दुर्लभं सर्वलोकानां दुर्गतिक्षयकारकम् ॥ २,२७.
The gift called the spirit-pot destroys all evil; it is rare among all worlds and brings an end to misfortune.
सन्तप्तहाटकमयं तु घटं विधाय ब्रह्मोशकेशवयुतं सह लोकपालैः । क्षीराज्यपूर्णविवरं प्रणिपत्य भक्त्या विप्राय देहि तव दानशतैः किमन्यैः ॥ २,२७.
Fashion a pot from refined gold, adorned with symbols of Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu, together with the guardians of the worlds. Fill its opening with milk and ghee, and, after bowing with devotion, give it to a Brahmin. What need is there for hundreds of other gifts?
ब्रह्मा मध्ये तथा विष्णुः शङ्करः शङ्करोऽव्ययः । प्राच्यादिषु च तत्कण्ठे लोकपालान्क्रमेण तु ॥ २,२७.
Place Brahma in the center, then Vishnu, and Shiva, the imperishable. Around their necks, in the directions beginning with the east, arrange the guardians of the worlds in order.
सम्पूज्य विधिवद्राजन्धूपैः कुसुमचन्दनैः । ततो दुग्धाज्यसहितं घटं देयं हिरण्मयम् ॥ २,२७.
After worshipping them properly, O king, with incense, flowers, and sandalwood, then give the golden pot filled with milk and ghee.
सर्वदानाधिकञ्चैतन्महापातकनाशनम् । कर्तव्यं श्रद्धया राजन्प्रेतत्वविनिवृत्तये ॥ २,२७.
This surpasses all other gifts and destroys great sins. It should be performed with faith, O king, for the removal of the condition of being a spirit.
श्रीभागवानुवाच । एवं संजल्षतस्तस्य प्रेतेन नियतात्मनः । सेनाजगामानुपदं हस्त्यश्वरथसंकुला ॥ २,२७.
The Blessed Lord said: Thus, as he was speaking, the spirit with controlled mind was followed step by step by an army crowded with elephants, horses, and chariots.
ततो बले समायाते दत्त्वा राज्ञे महामणिम् । नमस्कृत्य पुनः प्रार्थ्य प्रेतोऽदर्शनमीयिवान् ॥ २,२७.
Then, when the army arrived, after giving the king a great jewel, bowing and again requesting, the spirit departed unseen.
तस्माद्वनाद्विनिष्क्रम्य राजापि स्वपुरं ययौ । स्वपुरं स समासाद्य सर्वं तत्प्रेतभाषितम् ॥ २,२७.
Then, leaving that forest, the king went to his own city. Upon reaching his city, he carried out everything the spirit had spoken.
चकार विधिवत्पक्षिन्नौर्ध्वदेहादिकं विधिम् । तस्य पुण्यप्रदानेन प्रेतो मुक्तो दिवं ययौ ॥ २,२७.
He performed the prescribed rites for the departed, including the offerings for birds and others. By giving merit, the spirit was freed and went to heaven.