Vayu Purana

गोप्रचारसमीपस्था आम्रा ब्रह्मप्रकल्पिताः। तेषां सेचनमात्रेण पितरो मोक्षगामिनः ।। ४९.

The mango trees near the path of the cows are established by Brahma; by merely sprinkling them, the ancestors become destined for liberation.

आम्रं ब्रह्मसरोद्भूतं ब्रह्मदेवमयं तरुम्। विष्णुरूपं प्रसिञ्चामि पितॄणां मुक्तिहेतवे ।। ४९.

I sprinkle the mango tree, born from the Brahma lake and made of Brahma's divinity, in the form of Vishnu, for the sake of the ancestors' liberation.

एको मुनिः कुम्भकुशाग्रहस्त आम्रस्य मूले सलिलं ददामि। आम्रश्च तृप्ता एका क्रियाद्व्यर्थकरी प्रसिद्धा ।। ४९.

Alone, a sage with a water pot and kusa grass in hand offers water at the root of the mango tree; both the mango tree and the satisfied one are renowned, but a single act done in vain is well known.

ततो यम बलिं दद्यान्मन्त्रेणानेन संयतः। यमराजधर्म्मराजौ निश्चलार्थं व्यवस्थितौ ।। ४९.

Then, one should offer the oblation to Yama with this mantra, with self-restraint; Yama, the king of righteousness, stands firmly for unwavering purpose.

ताभ्यां बलिं प्रयच्छामि पुतॄणां मुक्तिहेतवे। ततः श्वानबलिं दद्यान्मन्त्रेणानेन नारद ।। ४९.

To both of them I offer the oblation for the sake of the ancestors' liberation; then, O Nārada, one should offer the oblation to the dogs with this mantra.

द्वौ श्वानौ श्यामशबलौ वैवस्वतकुलोद्भवौ। ताभ्यां बलिं प्रयच्छामि रक्षेतां पथि सर्व्वादा ।। ४९.

Two dogs, one dark and one spotted, born of the lineage of Vaivasvata; to both of them I offer the oblation, so that they may always protect the path.

ततः काकबलिं दद्यान्मन्त्रेणानेन नारद। ऐन्द्रवारुणवायव्ययाम्या वै नैऋतास्तथा ।। ४९.

Then, O Nārada, one should offer the oblation to the crows with this mantra: to those of Indra, Varuna, Vayu, Yama, and likewise of Nairrita.

वायसाः प्रतिगृह्णन्तु भूमौ पिण्डं समर्पितम्। फल्गुतीर्थे चतुर्थेऽह्नि स्नानादिकमथाचरेत् ।। ४९.

Let the crows accept the ball of food offered on the ground; on the fourth day at the Phalgu ford, one should perform bathing and other rites.

गयाशिरस्यथ श्राद्धं पादे कुर्य्यात्सपिण्डकम्। साक्षाद्गयाशिरस्तत्र फल्गुतीर्थाश्रितं कृतम् ।। ४९.

Then, at Gayashirsa, one should perform the Śrāddha with offerings at the foot; what is done there at the Phalgu ford is as if done at Gayashirsa itself.

नागाज्जनार्द्दनाद्ब्रह्मयूपाच्चोत्तरमानसात्। एतद्गयाशिरः प्रोक्तं फल्गुतीर्थं तदुच्यते ।। ४९.

From the Nāga, Janārdana, Brahmayūpa, and Uttaramānasa—this is called the head of Gayā, and that is known as the Phalgu tīrtha.

पितामहं समासाद्य यावदुत्तरमानसम्। फल्गुतीर्थन्तु विज्ञेयं देवानामपि दुर्लभम् ।। ४९.

Having reached Pitāmaha up to Uttaramānasa, know that the Phalgu tīrtha is difficult to attain even for the gods.

क्रौञ्चपादात्फल्गुतीर्थं यावत्साक्षाद्गयाशिरः। मुखं गयासुरस्यैतत्तस्माच्छ्राद्धमिहाक्षयम् ।। ४९.

From the foot of Krauñca to the Phalgu tīrtha, up to the very head of Gayā—this is the mouth of Gayāsura; therefore, śrāddha here is imperishable.

मुण्डपृष्ठान्नगाधस्तात्साक्षात्तत्फल्गुतीर्थ कम्। आद्यो गदाधरो देवो व्यक्ताव्यक्तात्मना स्थितः ।। ४९.

From Muṇḍapṛṣṭha, beneath the mountain, is that very Phalgu tīrtha, where the first god, the wielder of the mace, stands with manifest and unmanifest nature.

विष्ण्वादिपदरूपेण पितॄणां मुक्तिहेतवे। एतद्विष्णुपदं दिव्यं दर्शनात्पापनाशनम् ।। ४९.

In the form of Viṣṇu and the other supreme abodes, for the sake of the liberation of the ancestors, this is the divine Viṣṇu's abode, which destroys sin by its sight.

स्पर्शनात्पूजनाद्वापि पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम्। श्राद्धं सपिण्डकं कृत्वा कुलसाहस्रमात्मना ।। ४९.

By touch or worship here, whatever is given to the ancestors becomes imperishable; having performed śrāddha with piṇḍa, one uplifts a thousand families by oneself.

नयेद्विप्णुपदं दिव्यमनन्तं शिवमव्ययम्। श्राद्धं कृत्वा रुद्रपदे नयेत्कुलशतं नरः ।। ४९.

He leads his family to the divine, endless, auspicious, and imperishable abode of Viṣṇu; having performed śrāddha at the place of Rudra, a man leads a hundred families.

सहात्मना शिवपुरं तथा ब्रह्मपदे नरः। ब्रह्मलोकं कुलशतं समुद्धृत्य नयेत्पितॄन् ।। ४९.

With himself, to the city of Śiva, and likewise at the place of Brahmā, a man, having uplifted a hundred families, leads his ancestors to Brahmaloka.

कश्यपस्य पदे श्राद्धी ब्रह्मलोकं नयेत्पितॄन्। दक्षिणाग्निपदे श्राद्धी पितॄन्ब्रह्मपुरं नयेत् ।। ४९.

He who performs śrāddha at the place of Kaśyapa leads his ancestors to Brahmaloka; at the place of Dakṣiṇāgni, he leads his ancestors to Brahmapura.

गार्हपत्यपदे श्राद्धी वाजपेयफलं लभेत्। श्राद्धं कृत्वाहवनीये अश्वमेधफलं लभेत् ।। ४९.

He who performs śrāddha at the place of Gārhapatya attains the fruit of the Vājapeya sacrifice; having performed śrāddha at the Āhavanīya, he attains the fruit of the Aśvamedha sacrifice.

श्राद्धं कृत्वा सभ्यपदे ज्योतिष्टोमफलं लभेत् । आवसथ्यपदे श्राद्धी पितॄन्ब्रह्मपुरं नयेत् ।। ४९.

Having performed śrāddha at the Sabhya place, one attains the fruit of the Jyotiṣṭoma; at the Āvasathya place, the performer of śrāddha leads his ancestors to Brahmapura.

श्राद्धं कृत्वा शक्रपदे इन्द्रलोकं नयेत्पितॄन्। अगस्त्यस्य पदे श्राद्धी पितॄन्ब्रह्मपुरं नयेत् ।। ४९.

Having performed śrāddha at the place of Śakra, he leads his ancestors to Indraloka; at the place of Agastya, the performer of śrāddha leads his ancestors to Brahmapura.

क्रौञ्चमातङ्गयोः श्राद्धी ब्रह्मलोकं नयेत्पितॄन्। श्राद्धी सूर्य्यपदे पञ्च पापिनोऽर्क्कपुरं नयेत् ।। ४९.

He who performs śrāddha at the places of Krauñca and Mātaṅga leads his ancestors to Brahmaloka; the performer of śrāddha at the place of Sūrya leads five sinners to the city of the Sun.

कार्तिकेयपदे श्राद्धी शिवलोकं नयेत्पितॄन्। गणेशस्य पदे श्राद्धी रुद्रलोकं नयेत्पितॄन् ।। ४९.

He who performs śrāddha at the place of Kārtikeya leads his ancestors to Śivaloka; at the place of Gaṇeśa, the performer of śrāddha leads his ancestors to Rudraloka.

गजकर्णतर्पणकृन्निर्मलं स्वर्नयेत्पितॄन्। अन्येषाञ्च पदे श्राद्धी पितॄन्ब्रह्मपुरं नयेत् ।। ४९.

He who offers libation to Gajakarṇa leads his ancestors to the pure heaven; and at the places of others, the performer of śrāddha leads his ancestors to Brahmapura.

सर्व्वेषां काश्यपं श्रेष्ठं विष्णो रुद्रस्य वै पदम्। ब्रह्मणश्च पदं चापि श्रेष्ठं तत्र प्रकीर्त्तितम् ।। ४९.

Among all, the place of Kāśyapa is the best, as are the abodes of Viṣṇu, Rudra, and also Brahmā—these are declared the highest there.

प्रारम्भे च समाप्तौ च तेषामन्यतमं स्मृतम्। श्रेयस्करं भवेत्तत्र श्राद्धकर्त्तुश्च नारद ।। ४९.

At the beginning and at the end, whichever of these is remembered, that brings the highest good there for the performer of śrāddha, O Nārada.

कश्यपस्य पदे दिव्ये भारद्वाजो मुनिः पुरा। श्राद्धं कृत्वोद्यतो दातुं पित्रादिभ्यश्च पिण्डकम् ।। ४९.

In ancient times, the sage Bhāradvāja, at the divine place of Kaśyapa, having performed śrāddha, was ready to offer the piṇḍa to his ancestors and others.

शुक्लकृष्णौ ततो हस्तौ पदमुद्भिद्य निर्गतौ। दृष्ट्वा हस्तद्वयं तत्र मुनिः संशयमागतः ।। ४९.

Then, two hands, one white and one black, emerged from the sacred spot; seeing those two hands, the sage became doubtful.

ततः स्वमातरं शान्तां पप्रच्छ स महामुनिः। कश्यपस्य पदे दिव्ये शुक्ले कृष्णेऽथ वा करे ।। ४९.

Thereupon, the great sage asked his peaceful mother: 'Whose are these divine hands, one white and one black, at the place of Kaśyapa?'