Varaha Purana

तेनैव चोदरस्थेन स प्रेतो जायते ध्रुवम्

Certainly, by that very food remaining in the belly, he becomes a preta.

मनुष्यः प्रेततां याति स्पर्शेन सुतरां तथा

A person also becomes a preta simply by touch, and even more so.

पाषण्डाश्रमसंस्थश्च मद्यपः पारदारिकः

One who dwells in a heretical ashram, a drunkard, or one who violates another's wife—

देवस्वं ब्राह्मणस्वं च गुरोर्द्रव्यं हरेत्तु यः

Whoever takes the property of the gods, of Brahmins, or of the teacher—

मातरं पितरं भ्रातृभगिन्यौ च स्त्रियं सुतम्

One who harms mother, father, brother, sister, wife, or son—

अयाज्ययाजनाच्चैव याज्यानां परिवर्जनात्

Also, by not performing prescribed sacrifices, or by neglecting those who are to be worshipped—

ब्रह्महा च कृतघ्नश्च गोघ्नो वै पञ्चपातकी

A Brahmin-killer, an ingrate, a cow-slayer, and one guilty of the five great sins—

गुरोर्धर्म्मोपदेष्टुश्च नित्यं हितमभीप्सतः 174.

And one who always desires the welfare of the teacher who imparts the law—

असद्भ्यः प्रतिगृह्णाति नास्तिकेभ्यो विशेषतः

Who accepts gifts from the wicked, especially from atheists—

प्रेता ऊचुः विरुद्धकारिणः पापास्तेषां कांचिद्गतिं वद

The pretas said: Tell us, what is the fate of those sinners who act against what is right?

ब्राह्मण उवाच तेषां गतिर्भवेदेका मथुरायान्तु सङ्गमे

The Brahmin said: There is one path for them—at the confluence at Mathura.

श्रवणद्वादशीयोगे मासि भाद्रपदे तथा

At the conjunction of Shravan and Dvadashi, and also in the month of Bhadrapada—

सुवर्णमन्नं वस्त्रं च च्छत्रोपानत्सुसंयुतम्

With gold, food, and cloth, along with an umbrella and shoes—

न ते प्रेता भविष्यन्ति मार्गस्थो यो नमस्यते

Those pretas will not remain pretas, for the one who is honored along the path.

तत्र तीर्थे नरः स्नातो हृष्टपुष्टो यथाश्रुतः

There, at the holy place, a man who bathes, delighted and nourished, as instructed—

तीर्थस्यैव तु माहात्म्यं प्रेतो भूत्वा शृणोति यः

Who, having become a preta, hears the greatness of that very holy place—

प्रेता ऊचुः येन वै क्रियमाणेन प्रेतत्वात्तु विमुच्यते

The pretas said: By what act does one become freed from the state of being a preta?

ब्राह्मण उवाच पुराणं कथितं राज्ञे मान्धात्रे पृच्छते पुरा ।। 174.

The Brahmin said: The Purāṇa was formerly recounted to King Māndhātṛ when he inquired in ancient times.

वसिष्ठेन महाभागाः शृणुध्वं कथयाम्यहम्

By Vasiṣṭha, O most fortunate ones, listen as I narrate it to you.

मासि भाद्रपदे शुद्धा द्वादशी श्रवणान्विता

In the month of Bhādrapada, on the pure twelfth day joined with the star Śravaṇa,

सङ्गमे च पुनः स्नात्वा पूजयित्वा तु वामनम्

Having bathed again at the confluence and worshipped Vāmana,

कपिलानां शतं दत्त्वा हिरण्योपस्कराञ्चितम्

Having given a hundred tawny cows adorned with golden vessels,

राक्षसत्वं न गच्छेत्तु श्रवणद्वादशीव्रतात्

One does not attain a demonic birth due to the vow of Śravaṇa-Dvādaśī.

ततः स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टो ब्राह्मणो वेदपारगः

Then, a Brahmin, fallen from heaven yet learned in the Vedas,

ध्यानयुक्तेन भावेन मुक्तो यात्यपुनर्भवम्

By means of a mind absorbed in meditation, is liberated and does not return to rebirth.

यथालाभोपपन्नेन सौवर्णो वामनः कृतः

According to one's means, a golden image of Vāmana is made.

आगच्छ वरदानन्त श्रीपते मदनुग्रहात् 174.

Come, O endless giver of boons, Lord of Śrī, by my favor.

(आवाहनम्) यत्त्वं नक्षत्ररूपेण दवादश्यां नभसि स्थितः

(Invocation) You, who in the form of a constellation, remain in the sky on the twelfth day,

( नक्षत्रम्) नमः कमलनाभाय कमलालय केशव

(To the constellation) Salutation to you, lotus-naveled, abode of lotuses, Keśava.