He who is cruel and fearsome, addicted to vice, violent, and without shame—know such a one to be immersed in tamas. When spoken to, he does not understand, for his mind is unsteady, his words are harsh, and he is ever suspicious. Yet, O listener, the one who is patient, self-controlled, pure in soul, and endowed with faith is of a different nature altogether. Reflecting on these truths, you should not give in to sorrow. Modesty, fortitude, righteousness, prosperity, fame, memory, and wisdom—all these virtues abandon a man who is afflicted by grief. Deluded by the power of attachment, such a person may commit violence and speak falsehood. Therefore, restraining attachment towards all, one should direct the mind towards righteousness. Now, hear of the duties of the four varnas, as spoken by Svayambhu. At the time of the final rites, the body is laid upon a bed of sacred kusha grass, and the departed is not to be gazed upon in any direction. With affection, the twice-born, the earth-gods, are invited to recite sacred verses. For the sake of benefit in the next world, the gift of a cow is especially praised, for by giving such gifts one is quickly freed from sin. After these offerings, let the divine sound be uttered in the right ear of the departed. Seeing the soul greatly distressed and following the path ordained, by the power of a mantra, release from all worldly existence is to be performed. The mantra is thus: "Om, accept from me this purest madhuparka, the foremost, which destroys worldly existence, equal to nectar." With this mantra, the madhuparka is offered, and thus, when the life-breath has departed in this way, the soul does not return to worldly existence. The mourners then go to a great tree and gather various fragrant substances, arranging all those things that bestow unfailing brilliance upon the departed. After invoking the sacred waters and the like, the body is bathed. The waters of Kurukshetra, the Ganga, and the Yamuna—the best of rivers—along with the Gandaki, the auspicious Bhadra, the Sarayu, and all other sacred places on earth, as well as the four oceans, are invoked in this rite. The sacred river is placed above the body, with her southern tip at the head. Meditating on the divine, fire-faced deities, and taking fire in hand, whether knowingly or unknowingly performing this most difficult act, one acts joined with righteousness and unrighteousness, enveloped by greed and delusion. At that moment, the blazing fire is placed at the position of the head. Thus, O son, this is the rite of purification for the four classes. Naming the deceased in this way, the funeral cake is offered upon the earth. Thus concludes the one hundred and eighty-seventh chapter, entitled "The Origin of Śrāddha," in the divine scripture of the Śrī Varāha Purāṇa. Now begins the section on the origin of the piṇḍa-rite of śrāddha. O Lord, you are the god of gods, the lord of the worlds, ever unattached. Śrī Varāha spoke: When the lifespan has ended, one should perform the third bath in the water of a river. A ball of food should be offered, and thirty handfuls of water given. In other places, offerings are to be made on the seventh day after the bath. On the tenth day, garments are to be purified with alkali and other substances. And on the eleventh day, the ekoddiṣṭa rite should be performed according to rule.