Vayu Purana

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?'

पिण्डो देयो मया मातर्जानासि पितरं वद शान्तोवाच ४९.

'Mother, should I offer the oblation? Do you know who the father is? Tell me,' said Śāntā.

भारद्वाजस्ततः पिण्डं दातुं कृष्णाय चोद्यतः। श्वेतोऽदृश्योऽब्रवीत्तत्र पुत्रस्त्वं हि ममौरसः ।। ४९.

Then Bhāradvāja prepared to give the oblation to the black hand; the white hand became invisible and spoke: 'You are truly my son.'

कृष्णोऽब्रवीन्मम क्षेत्रं ततो मे देहि पिण्डकम्। स्वैरिण्यथाब्रवीद्दातुं क्षेत्रिणे बीजिने ततः ।। ४९.

The black hand said: 'This is my field; therefore, give me the oblation.' The independent woman replied: 'The oblation should be given to the one who is the field and the seed.'

भारद्वाजस्ततः पिण्डं कश्यपस्य पदे ददौ । हंसयुक्तविमानेन ब्रह्मलोकमुभौ गतौ ।। ४९.

Then Bhāradvāja placed the oblation at Kaśyapa's spot; both departed for Brahma's world in a chariot drawn by swans.

रामो रुद्रपदे श्राद्धे पिण्डदानाय चोद्यतः। पिता दशरथः स्वर्गात्प्रसार्य्य करमागतः ।। ४९.

Rāma, at Rudra's place during the śrāddha, was urged to offer the oblation; his father Daśaratha extended his hand from heaven and appeared.

नादात्पिण्डं करे रामो ददौ रुद्रपदे ततः। शास्त्रार्थातिक्रमाद्भीतं रामं दशरथोऽब्रवीत् ।। ४९.

Rāma did not place the oblation in his father's hand, but instead offered it at Rudra's place; frightened by the transgression of scriptural meaning, Daśaratha spoke to Rāma.

तारितोऽहं त्वया पुत्र रुद्रलोकमवाप्नुयाम्। हस्ते पिण्डप्रदानेन स्वर्गतिर्न हि मे भवेत् ।। ४९.

'You have rescued me, son; may I attain Rudra's realm. By giving the oblation into my hand, I would not gain the path to heaven.'

त्वञ्च राज्यं चिरं कृत्वा पालयित्वा द्विजान्प्रजाः। यज्ञान्सदक्षिणान्कृत्वा विष्णुलोकं व्रजिष्यसि ।। ४९.

'You, after ruling the kingdom for a long time, protecting the twice-born and the people, and performing sacrifices with proper gifts, will reach Viṣṇu's world.'

पुर्य्ययोध्याजनैः सार्द्धं कृमिकीटादिभिः सह। इत्युक्त्वासौ दशरथो रुद्रलोकं परं ययौ ।। ४९.

Along with the people of Ayodhyā, and with worms, insects, and others, Daśaratha, having spoken thus, went to the supreme Rudra's realm.

भीष्मो विष्णुपदे श्रेष्ठे आहूय पितरं स्वकम्। श्राद्धं कृत्वोद्यतो दातुं पित्रादिभ्यश्च पिण्डकम् ।। ४९.

Bhīṣma, at the excellent place of Viṣṇu, summoned his own father; after performing the śrāddha, he prepared to offer the oblation to his ancestors.