कन्याविदूषकश्चैव दानं दत्त्वानुतापकः । शूबद्रस्तु कपिलापायी ब्राह्मणो मांसभोजनः ॥ २,४७.
One who corrupts a maiden, one who regrets after giving charity, one who drinks from a skull, and a Brahmin who eats meat—
एते वसन्ति सततं मा विचारं कृथाः क्वचित् । कृपणो नास्तिकः क्षुद्रः स तस्यां निवसेत्खग ॥ २,४७.
These always dwell there; do not ever doubt it. A miser, an atheist, a petty person—he too resides there, O bird.
सदामर्षो सदा क्रोधी निजवाक्यप्रमाणकृत् । परोक्त्युच्छेदको नित्यं वैतरण्या वसेच्चिरम् ॥ २,४७.
One who is always resentful, always angry, who considers only his own words as authority, who constantly interrupts others—he dwells long in the Vaitarani.
यस्त्वहङ्कारवान्पापी स्वविकत्थनकारकः । कृतघ्नो गर्भसन्तापी वैतरण्यां स मज्जति ॥ २,४७.
One who is arrogant and sinful, who boasts about himself, who is ungrateful, who causes distress to the unborn—he sinks in the Vaitarani.
कदापि भाग्ययोगेन तरणेच्छा भवेद्यदि । सानुकूला भवेद्येन तदाकर्णय काश्यप ॥ २,४७.
If ever, by the conjunction of fortune, the desire to cross arises, and favorable conditions appear, then listen, O Kashyapa.
अयने विषुवे पुण्ये व्यतीपाते दिनोदये । चन्द्रसूर्योपरागे वा संक्रान्तौ दर्शवासरे ॥ २,४७.
At the solstices, at the equinoxes, at eclipses, at sunrise, during lunar or solar eclipses, at transitions, and on days of sacred observances—
अन्येषु पुण्यकालेषु दीयते दानमुत्तमम् । यदा तदा भवेद्वापि श्राद्धा दानं प्रति ध्रुवम् ॥ २,४७.
At other auspicious times, when excellent charity is given, then, or when a śrāddha is performed, charity for the departed is certainly effective.
तदैब दानकालः स्याद्यतः सम्पत्तिरस्थिरा । अनित्यानि शरीराणि विभवो नैव शाश्वतः ॥ २,४७.
That is the time for giving, for wealth is unstable; bodies are impermanent, and prosperity is never lasting.
नित्यं सन्निहितो मृत्युः कर्तव्यो धर्मसंगहः । कृष्णां वा पाटलां वापि कुर्याद्वैतरणीं शुभाम् ॥ २,४७.
Death is always near; one should accumulate righteousness. One should make a Vaitarani, either black or red, auspicious.
स्वर्णशृङ्गीं रौप्यखुरां कांस्यपात्रोपदोहनीम् । कृष्णवस्त्रयुगाच्छन्नां सप्तधान्यसमन्विताम् ॥ २,४७.
With golden horns, silver hooves, a bronze vessel for milking, covered with a pair of black cloths, and accompanied by seven kinds of grain—
कार्पासद्रोणशिखरे आसीनं ताम्रभाजने । यमं हैमं प्रकुर्वीत लोहदण्डसमन्वितम् । इक्षुदण्डमयं बद्ध्वा प्लवं सुदृढबन्धनैः ॥ २,४७.
Seated atop a cotton mound, in a copper vessel, one should make a golden image of Yama, furnished with an iron staff, and bind a raft made of sugarcane with strong ties.
उडुपोपरि तां धेनुं सूर्यदेहसमुद्भवाम् । कृत्वा प्रकल्पयेद्विप्रश्छत्रोपानहसंयुतम् ॥ २,४७.
Above the stars, place that cow, born from the body of the sun, and arrange it with a Brahmin, with umbrella and shoes.
अङ्गुलीयकवासांसि ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत् । इममुच्चारयेन्मन्त्रं संगृह्य सजलान्कुशान् ॥ २,४७.
Present finger-rings and garments to the Brahmin; recite this mantra, holding a water-pot and a goad.
यमद्वारे महाघोरे श्रुत्वा वैतरणीं तदीम् । तर्तुकामो ददाम्येनां तुभ्यं वैतरणीं नमः ॥ २,४७.
At the dreadful gate of Yama, having heard of the Vaitarani, desiring to cross, I give this to you: homage to the Vaitarani.
गावो मे अग्रतः सन्तु गावो मे सन्तु पार्श्वतः । गावो मे हृदये सन्तु गवां मध्ये वसाम्यहम् ॥ २,४७.
May cows be before me, may cows be beside me; may cows be within my heart—among cows I dwell.
विष्णुरूप द्विजश्रेष्ठ मामुद्धर महीसुर । सदक्षिणा मया दत्ता तुभ्यं वैतरणीनमः ॥ २,४७.
O best of twice-born, O divine form of Viṣṇu, rescue me, O lord of the earth; I have given you a cow with proper gifts—salutations to the Vaitaraṇī.
धर्मराजञ्च सर्वेशं वैतरण्याख्यधेनुकाम् । सर्वं प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत् ॥ २,४७.
Having circumambulated Dharmarāja, the lord of all, and the cow named Vaitaraṇī, let it all be offered to the brāhmaṇa.
पुच्छं संगृह्य धेन्वाश्च अग्रे कृत्वा तु वै व्दिजम् । धेनुके त्वं प्रतीक्षस्व यमद्वारे महाभये ॥ २,४७.
Grasping the tail of the cow, with the brāhmaṇa placed in front, wait with the cow at the dreadful gate of Yama.
उत्तारणाय देवेशि वैतरण्ये नमोऽस्तु ते । अनुव्रजेत्तु गच्छन्तं सर्वं तस्य गृहं नयेत् ॥ २,४७.
O goddess of gods, salutations to you, O Vaitaraṇī, for deliverance; follow the one who goes, and lead all his household.
एवं कृते वैनतेय सा सरित्सुतरा भवेत् । सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति यो दद्याद्भुवि मानवः ॥ २,४७.
O son of Vinatā, when this is done, that river becomes easy to cross; whoever gives thus on earth attains all desires.
सुकृतस्य प्रभावेण सुखञ्चेह परत्र च । स्वस्थे सहस्रगुणितमातुरे शतसंमितम् ॥ २,४७.
By the power of good deeds, happiness is obtained here and hereafter; for the healthy, it is a thousandfold, for the sick, a hundredfold.
मृतस्यैव तु यद्दानं परोक्षे तत्समं स्मृतम् । स्वहस्तेन ततो देयं मृते कः कस्य दास्यती ॥ २,४७.
Whatever gift is made for the dead, in their absence, is considered equal; therefore, one should give with one's own hand—after death, who will give to whom?
दानधर्मविहीनानां कृपणैर्जीवेतक्षितैः । अस्थिरेण शरीरेण स्थिरं कर्म समाचरेत् ॥ २,४७.
Those lacking in charity and righteousness, misers clinging to life, should perform steadfast deeds with this unstable body.
अवश्यमेव यास्यन्ति प्राणाः प्राघुणि (घूर्णि) का इव ॥ २,४७.
Surely, life-breaths will depart, just as a herd (of cattle) moves on.
इतीदमुक्तं तव पक्षिराज विडम्बनं जन्तुगणस्य सर्वम् । प्रेतस्य मोक्षाय तदौद्ध्वन्दैहिकं हिताय लोकस्य चरेच्छुभाय तु ॥ २,४७.
Thus, O king of birds, all this has been spoken to you—the mockery of all creatures; for the liberation of the departed, one should perform these rites for the benefit and welfare of the world.
सूत उवाच । एवं विप्राः समाद्दिष्टो विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना । गरुड प्रेतचरितं श्रुत्वा सन्तुष्टिमागतः ॥ २,४७.
Sūta said: Thus, O brāhmaṇas, having been instructed by mighty Viṣṇu, Garuḍa, after hearing the account of the departed, became satisfied.
व्रततीर्थादिकं सर्वं पुनः पप्रच्छ केशवम् । ध्यात्वा मनसि सर्वेशं सर्वकारणकारणम् ॥ २,४७.
He again asked Keśava about all vows, pilgrimages, and the like, meditating in his mind on the Lord of all, the cause of all causes.
ऋषयः सर्वमेवैतज्जन्तूनां प्रभवादिकम् । मरणं जन्म च तथा प्रेतत्वञ्चौर्ध्वदैहिकम् ॥ २,४७.
The sages (said): All this—origin and so forth, death, birth, and also the state of the departed and the rites after death—has been declared.
मया प्रोक्तं वै मुक्त्यै निदानं चैव सर्वशः । लाभस्तेषां जयस्तेषां कुतस्तेषां पराजयः । येषामिन्दीवरश्यामो हृदयस्थो जनार्दनः ॥ २,४७.
I have spoken all this for liberation, and the cause as well; for those whose hearts hold Janārdana, dark as a blue lotus, there is gain, there is victory—how can there be defeat for them?
धर्मो जयति नाधर्मः सत्यं जयति नानृतम् । क्षमा जयति न क्रोधो विष्णुर्जयति नासुराः ॥ २,४७.
Dharma prevails, not adharma; truth prevails, not falsehood; forgiveness prevails, not anger; Viṣṇu prevails, not the demons.