तस्मै दत्त्वा पाद्यमर्घ्यं आसने चोपवेश्य च
He offered him water for washing the feet, an arghya, and seated him on a seat.
नारद उवाच अशोच्यानन्वशोचस्त्वं प्रज्ञावान्नावबुध्यसे
Nārada said: You grieve for those not to be grieved for, yet you are wise but do not understand.
गतासूनगतासूंश्च नानुशोचन्ति पण्डिताः
The wise do not mourn for the living or the dead.
अमित्रास्तस्य हृष्यन्ति स चापि न निवर्त्तते
His enemies rejoice, yet he does not return.
देवतासुरगन्धर्वा मानुषा मृगपक्षिणः
Devas, asuras, gandharvas, humans, beasts, and birds—
जातस्य सर्वभूतस्य कालो मृत्युरुपस्थितः
For every being that is born, time in the form of death is present.
तव पुत्रो महात्मा वै श्रीमान्नाम श्रियो निधिः
Your son was truly great, renowned, and a treasure of fortune.
मृत्युकालमनुप्राप्य गतो दिव्यां परां गतिम्
Having reached the time of death, he has attained the highest divine state.
नारदेनैवमुक्ते तु श्रुत्वा स द्विजसत्तमः
When this was spoken by Nārada, the best of twice-born heard it.
भीतो गद्गदया वाचा निःश्वसंश्च मुहुर्मुहुः 187.
Afraid, with faltering voice, he sighed again and again.
अहो मुनिवरश्रेष्ठ अहो धर्मविदां वर
Ah, best of great sages! Ah, foremost among knowers of dharma!
प्रणयात्सौहृदाद्वापि स्नेहाद्वक्ष्यामि तच्छृणु
Out of affection, friendship, or love, I will tell—listen to this.
कृतस्नेहस्य पुत्रार्थे मया संकल्प्य यत्कृतम्
Out of affection for my son, I resolved and performed what was done.
पश्चाद्विसर्जितं पिण्डं दर्भानास्तीर्य भूतले
Afterwards, I offered the rice-ball, spreading darbha grass upon the ground.
शोकस्य तु प्रभावेण एतत्कर्म मया कृतम्
Due to the force of grief, this act was performed by me.
नष्टबुद्धिस्मृतिसत्त्वो ह्यज्ञानेन विमोहितः
My intellect, memory, and resolve were lost, deluded by ignorance.
भयं तीव्रं प्रपश्यामि मुनिशापात्सुदारुणात् न भेतव्यं द्विजश्रेष्ठ पितरं शरणं व्रज
I see terrible fear arising from the fierce curse of the sage; but do not be afraid, best of twice-born—take refuge in your father.
अधर्मं न च पश्यामि धर्मो नैवात्र संशयः
I do not see any unrighteousness here; indeed, there is no doubt this is righteousness.
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा पितरं शरणं गतः
By deed, by mind, and by speech, he took refuge in his father.
ध्यायमानस्ततोऽप्याशु आजगाम तपोधनम् 187.
Meditating thus, he quickly approached the ascetic endowed with austerity.
पुत्रमाश्वासयामास वाग्भिरिष्टाभिरव्ययैः
He comforted his son with auspicious and imperishable words.
पितृयज्ञेति निर्दिष्टा धर्मोऽयं ब्रह्मणा स्वयम्
This is the rite for ancestors, prescribed as duty by Brahma himself.
कृतः स्वयंभुवा पूर्वं श्राद्धं यो वित्त्वित्तमः
The Śrāddha was first performed by Svayambhū, the self-born, O best of the wise.
श्राद्धकर्मविधिं चैव प्रेतकर्म च या क्रिया
The procedure for the Śrāddha rite and the acts for the departed are thus established.
मम चैव प्रसादेन तस्य बुद्धिं ददाम्यहम्
And by my grace, I bestow understanding upon him.
अवश्यमेव गन्तव्यं धर्मराजस्य शासनात्
One must certainly go, by the command of Dharmarāja.
जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च
For one who is born, death is certain; and for one who has died, birth is certain.
सत्त्वं रजस्तमश्चैव त्रयः शारीरजाः स्मृताः
Sattva, rajas, and tamas—these three are said to arise from the body.
सात्त्विकं नावबुद्ध्यन्ति कर्मदोषेण तामसः
Those dominated by tamas, due to the fault of their actions, do not comprehend the sattvic.
सात्त्विकं मुक्तियानाय यान्ति वेदविदो जनाः 187.
Those who know the Vedas, being sattvic, proceed on the path to liberation.