आगतं तं समारुह्य सचांडालपिशाचकाः। गतास्ते त्रिदिवं पुत्र व्रतैर्यज्ञैः सुदुर्लभम्
They boarded that chariot, together with the outcaste ghosts, and departed for heaven—an abode difficult to attain even by vows and sacrifices.
स्कंद उवाच-। धात्रीभक्षणमात्रेण पुण्यं लब्ध्वा दिवं गताः। तद्भक्षिणः कथं स्वर्गं न गच्छंति नरादयः
Skanda said: By merely eating dhātrī fruit, they attained merit and went to heaven. Why do those who eat it not go to heaven, O Nārada?
ईश्वर उवाच- पूर्वं ते ज्ञानलोपाच्च न जानंति हिताहितम्। उच्छिष्टं श्वभिरुत्स्पृष्टं श्लेष्ममूत्रं शकृत्तु वा
Īśvara said: Previously, due to loss of knowledge, they did not know what was beneficial or harmful. They considered leftovers touched by dogs, phlegm, urine, or feces—
मत्वा च मोहिताः श्रेष्ठं प्रेतादंति सदैव हि। शकृच्छौचजलं वांतं बलिसूकरकुक्कुटैः
And, being deluded, always regarded these as best, as did the ghosts. Feces, water used for cleaning, vomit, offerings eaten by pigs and chickens—
मृतके सूतके जप्यं न त्यक्तं येन केनचित्। तस्यान्नं च जलं प्रेताः खादंति तु सदैव हि
Recitation is not abandoned for the dead or for those in childbirth by anyone. Their food and water are always consumed by the ghosts.
दुर्दांता गृहिणी यस्य शुचिसंयमवर्जिता। गुरुनिःसारिता दुष्टा संति प्रेताश्च तत्र वै
Wherever there is a wife who is unruly, lacking purity and restraint, expelled by the teacher, and wicked, ghosts are found there.
अपुङ्गवाः कुलैर्जात्या बलोत्साहविवर्जिताः। बधिराश्च कृशा दीनाः पिशाचाः कर्मजातयः
Those born in families without noble males, lacking strength and enthusiasm, deaf, emaciated, miserable—such are the types of ghosts and spirits born of karma.
क्षणं च मंगलं नास्ति दुःखैर्देहयुता भृशम्। तेनैव विकृताकाराः सर्वभोगविवर्जिताः
There is not even a moment of auspiciousness; they are afflicted with intense suffering and bodies. Thus, they are deformed in appearance and deprived of all enjoyments.
नग्नका रोगसंतप्ता मृता रूक्षा मलीमसाः। एते चान्ये च दुःखार्ताः सदैव प्रेतजातयः
Naked, afflicted by disease, dead, harsh, filthy—these and others, always tormented by suffering, are the races of ghosts.
तेन कर्मविपाकेन जायंते काममीदृशाः। पितृमातृगुरूणां च देवनिंदापराश्च ये
By the result of their actions, such beings are born. Those who revile fathers, mothers, teachers, and gods—
पाषंडाः कौलिकाः पापास्ते प्रेताः कर्मजा भुवि। गलपाशैर्जलैः शस्त्रैर्गरलैरात्मघातकाः
Heretics, those of impure lineage, sinners—these ghosts are born from karma on earth. Those who hang themselves, drown, use weapons, or poison to kill themselves—
इहलोके च ते प्रेताश्चांडालादिषु संभवाः। अंत्यजाः पतिताश्चैव पापरोगमृताश्च ये
In this world, those ghosts are born among outcastes and similar groups: the lowest, the fallen, and those who died from sinful diseases.
अंत्यजैर्घातिता युद्धे ते प्रेता निश्चिता भुवि। महापातकसंयुक्ता विवाहे च बहिष्कृताः
Those killed in battle by outcastes are certainly ghosts upon the earth, bound by great sins and excluded from marriage rites.
शौर्यात्साहसिका ये च ते प्रेताः कर्मजा भुवि। राजद्रोहकरा ये च पितॄणां द्रोहचिंतकाः
Those who act out of reckless bravery are ghosts born of their deeds on earth, as are those who commit treason against the king or harbor thoughts of betraying their ancestors.
ध्यानाध्ययनहीनाश्च व्रतैर्देवार्चनादिभिः। अमंत्राः स्नानहीनाश्च गुरुस्त्रीगमने रताः
Those lacking in meditation and study, neglecting vows, worship, and similar duties; those who perform rituals without mantras, who do not bathe, and who are devoted to relations with their teacher’s wife—
तथैव चांत्यजस्त्रीषु दुर्गतासु च संगताः। मृताः क्रूरोपवासेन म्लेच्छदेशस्थिता मृताः
Likewise, those who associate with outcaste women or destitute women, those who die from harsh fasting, or those who die while dwelling in the lands of foreigners—
म्लेच्छभाषायुताशुद्धास्तथाम्लेच्छोपजीविनः। अनुवर्तंति ये म्लेच्छान्स्त्रीधनैरुपजीवकाः
Those impure ones who use foreign tongues, who make their living among foreigners, who follow foreigners, or who subsist by women or wealth—
स्त्रियो यैश्च न रक्ष्यंते ते प्रेता नात्र संशयः। क्षुधासंतप्तदेहं तु श्रांतं विप्रं गृहागतम्
There is no doubt that those who do not protect women become ghosts; and those who, when a weary and hungry Brahmin guest arrives at their home—
गुणपुण्यातिथिं त्यक्त्वा पिशाचत्वं व्रजंति ते। विक्रीणंति च वै गाश्च म्लेच्छेषु च गवाशिषु
—neglect a virtuous and worthy guest, they become spirits; and those who sell cows or sell cow’s flesh to foreigners—
प्रेतलोके सुखं स्थित्वा ते च यांत्यपुनर्भवम्। अशौचाभ्यंतरे ये च जाताश्च पशवो मृताः
After dwelling comfortably in the world of ghosts, they attain no rebirth; and animals born or dying in a state of impurity—
चिरं प्रेताः पिशाचाश्च मृता जाताः पुनः पुनः। जातकर्ममुखैश्चैव संस्कारैर्ये विविर्जिताः
Remain as ghosts or spirits for a long time, dying and being born again and again, as do those deprived of the rites from birth to funeral.
एकैकस्मिश्च संस्कारे प्रेतत्वं परिहीयते। स्नानसंध्यासुरार्चाभिर्वेदयज्ञव्रताक्षरैः
With each and every rite, ghosthood is diminished—by bathing, twilight worship, offerings to the gods, Vedic study, sacrifice, and vows.
आजन्मवर्जिताः पापास्ते प्रेताश्चापुनर्भवाः। भोजनोच्छिष्टपात्राणि यानि देहमलानि च
Those who, from birth, neglect these duties are sinful and become ghosts who do not return; and those who throw leftover food and bodily filth into sacred waters—
निपातयंति ये तीर्थे ते प्रेता नात्र संशयः। दानमानार्चनैर्नैव यैर्विप्रा भुवि तर्पिताः
—they become ghosts, there is no doubt; and those who do not satisfy Brahmins on earth through gifts, respect, or worship—
पितरो गुरवश्चैव प्रेतास्ते कर्मजा भृशम्। पतिं त्यक्त्वा च या नार्यो वसंति चेतरैर्जनैः
—their ancestors and teachers become ghosts, greatly afflicted by their deeds; and women who abandon their husbands and live with other men—
प्रेतलोके चिरं स्थित्वा जायंते चांत्ययोनिषु। पतिं च वंचयित्वा या विषयेंद्रियमोहिताः
—after dwelling long in the world of ghosts, are born in outcaste wombs; and those who deceive their husbands, deluded by sense pleasures—
मिष्टं चादंति याः पापास्तास्तु प्रेताश्चिरं भुवि। विण्मूत्रभक्षका ये च ब्रह्मस्व भक्षणे रताः
—those sinful women who eat forbidden food become ghosts for a long time on earth; and those who eat excrement and urine, or delight in consuming Brahmin’s property—
अभक्ष्यभक्षकाश्चान्ये ते प्रेताश्चापुनर्भवाः। बलाद्ये परवस्तूनि गृह्णंति न ददत्यपि
—and others who eat what should not be eaten, they too become ghosts who do not return; and those who forcibly take others’ possessions and do not give even when asked—
अतिथीनवमन्यंते प्रेता निरयमास्थिताः। तस्मादामलकीं भुक्त्वा स्नात्वा तस्य द्रवेण च १०० 1.60.
—those who disrespect guests become ghosts dwelling in hell; therefore, after eating the fruit of the amalaki and bathing with its juice—
सर्वपापाद्विनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुलोके महीयते। तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन सेवयामलकीं शिवाम्
—one is freed from all sins and honored in the world of Vishnu; therefore, by every effort, serve the auspicious amalaki.