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.
श्राद्धेन परदत्तेन गतः प्रेतोऽपि सद्गतिम् । किं पुनः पुत्रदत्तेन पिता यातीति चात्भुतम् ॥ २,२७.
Even by a gift from another, the spirit attained a good state through the śrāddha. How much more, then, does a father attain when a son gives—this is truly wondrous.
इतिहासमिमं पुण्यं शृणोति श्रावयेच्च यः । न तौ प्रेतत्वमायातः पापाचारयुतावपि ॥ २,२७.
Whoever hears or recites this sacred history does not become a spirit, even if they are engaged in sinful conduct.
श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् २८ गरुड उवाच । सर्वेपामनुकम्पार्थं ब्रूहि मे मधुसूदन । प्रेतत्वान्मुच्यते येन दानेन सुकृतेन वा ॥ २,२८.
Garuḍa said: For the sake of compassion for all, tell me, O Madhusūdana, by what gift or virtuous act one is freed from the state of being a spirit.
शृकृष्ण उवाच । शृणु दानं प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वाशु भविनाशनम् । सन्तप्तहाटकमयं घटकं विधाय ब्रह्मेशकेशवयुतं सह लोकपालैः । क्षीराज्यपूर्णविविरं प्रणिपत्य भक्त्या विप्राय देहि तव दानशतैः किमन्यैः ॥ २,२८.
Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Listen, I will declare the gift that swiftly destroys all misfortune. 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?
गरुड उवाच । किमेत्कथितं देव विस्तरेण वदस्व मे । आमुष्मिकीं क्रीयां देव उत्क्रान्तिसमयादनु ॥ २,२८.
Garuḍa said: What is this you have spoken, O Lord? Tell me in detail about the ritual performed at the time of departure from this world.
संसारे साधु मे नाथ ब्रूहि कृत्यं जनार्दन । यथा कार्या नरैः सम्यक्क्रिया चैवौर्ध्वदैहिकी ॥ २,२८.
In this world, O protector, tell me what should be done, O Janārdana, so that people may properly perform the rites for the departed.
कथं प्रेता महाकाया रौद्ररूपा भयानकाः । कम्भवन्ति सुरश्रेष्ठ कर्मभिः कैः शुभाशुभैः ॥ २,२८.
How do spirits, great in form, fierce and terrifying, arise, O best of gods? By what actions, good or bad, do they come into being?
पिशाचाः सम्भवन्तीह कस्येदं कर्मणः फलम् । तन्मे कथय देवेश अहमिच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥ २,२८.
How do ghosts arise here? Whose actions produce this result? Tell me, O Lord of gods, for I wish to know.
भूम्यां प्रक्षिप्यते कस्मात्पञ्चरत्नं कुतो मुखे । अधस्ताच्च तिला दर्भाः पादौ याम्यां व्यवस्थिताः ॥ २,२८.
Why is the five-gem offering placed on the earth, and why at the mouth? Why are sesame seeds and darbha grass placed below, at the feet, in the southern direction?
किमर्थं मण्डलं भूमौ गोमयेनोपलिप्यते । किमर्थं स्मर्यते विष्णुः विष्णुसूक्तञ्च पठ्यते ॥ २,२८.
For what purpose is a circle smeared on the ground with cow dung? Why is Vishnu remembered, and why is the Vishnu hymn recited?