ततो लब्ध्वा कपालं तच्चूर्णयित्वा समाहितः
Then, having obtained that skull, he carefully ground it to powder.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्रेतो दिव्यरूपवपुर्धरः
Meanwhile, a departed spirit appeared, bearing a divine and splendid form.
प्रसादात्तव मुक्तोऽहं प्रेतत्वाद्दारुणादितः
By your grace I am freed from the terrible state of being a preta.
एतेषामेव सर्वेषामिदानीं श्राद्धमाचर
Now perform the śrāddha ceremony for all of these, each one.
ततः स विस्मयाविष्टस्तेषामेव पृथक्पृथक्
Then, filled with wonder, he performed the rites separately for each of them.
तेऽपि सर्वे गताः स्वर्गं प्रेतास्तस्य प्रभावतः
All those departed spirits, by his power, went to heaven.
ततः शूद्रः स विज्ञाय तत्क्षेत्रं पुण्यवर्ध नम्
Then that Śūdra, realizing that field which increases merit,
गंगायमुनयोः पार्श्वे शूद्रकेश्वरसंज्ञितम्
On the banks of the Gaṅgā and Yamunā, known as Śūdrakeśvara,
यस्तयोर्विधिवत्स्नानं कृत्वा पूजयते नरः ६.६५.
Whoever, having bathed there according to the rules, worships,
स सर्वैः पातकैर्मुक्तः प्रयाति शिव मंदिरम्
He, freed from all sins, goes to the abode of Śiva.
यस्तत्र त्यजति प्राणान्कृत्वा प्रायोपवेशनम् ॥ न च भूयोऽत्र संसारे स जन्माप्नोति । मानवः
Whoever gives up his life there, undertaking a fast unto death, that man is not born again in this world.
गंडूषमपि तोयस्य यस्तस्य निवसन्पिबेत्
Even one who, dwelling there, drinks a mouthful of its water,
यस्तत्र ब्राह्मणेंद्राणां संप्रयच्छति भोजनम्
Whoever offers food there to the foremost of Brāhmaṇas,
त्रुटिमात्रं च यो दद्यात्तत्र स्वर्णं समाहितः
And whoever, with a focused mind, gives even a fragment of gold there,
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन तत्तीर्थवरमाश्रयेत्
Therefore, with all effort, one should seek refuge in that supreme sacred place.
अत्र गाथा पुरा गीता गौतमेन महर्षिणा
Here, a verse was formerly sung by the great sage Gautama.
गंगायमुनयोः संगे नरः स्नात्वा समाहितः
A person who bathes with concentration at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna—
एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं गंगायमुनयोर्मया
All this concerning the Ganga and Yamuna has been related to you by me.
यत्र ते पितरस्तेन रुधिरेण प्रतर्पिताः
There, your ancestors were satisfied with that blood.
तत्र भाद्रपदे मासि योऽमावास्यामवाप्य च
In the month of Bhadrapada, on the new moon day, whoever attains it there—
यत्तेन पितरस्तत्र रुधिरेण प्रतर्पिताः
By that, the ancestors were satisfied there with that blood.
पितृणां तर्पणार्थाय मेध्याः संकीर्तिता बुधैः
For the purpose of satisfying the ancestors, pure offerings have been declared by the wise.
श्रुतिस्मृतिविरुद्धं च कर्म सद्भिर्विगर्हितम्
An act opposed to the scriptures and tradition is condemned by the virtuous.
तत्कृतं तर्पिता येन पितरो रुधिरेण ते
By whom such an act was done, by whom the ancestors were satisfied with blood—
पिता तस्य पुरा विप्रा जमदग्निर्निपातितः
His father, O Brahmins, was formerly Jamadagni, who was slain.
ततः कोपपरीतेन तेन प्रोक्तं महात्मना
Then, filled with anger, that great-souled one spoke.
एतस्मात्कारणात्तेन रुधिरेण महात्मना
For this reason, by that great-souled one, with blood—
किंनामा स च भूपालो विस्तराद्वद सूत तत् ॥ ६.६६.
What was the name of that king? Tell in detail, O Suta.
हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे तत्रासीद्दग्धकल्मषः
In the field born of Hatakeshvara, there was one whose sins had been burned away.
चत्वारस्तस्य पुत्राश्च बभूवुर्गुणसंयुताः
He had four sons, endowed with virtues.