Vayu Purana

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.

पितुर्विनिर्गतौ हस्तौ गयाशिरसि शन्तनोः। नादात्पिण्डं करो भीष्मो ददौ विष्णुपदे ततः ।। ४९.

His father's hands emerged at Gayāśiras, on Śantanu's head; Bhīṣma did not place the oblation in the hand, but instead offered it at Viṣṇu's place.

शन्तनुः प्राह सन्तुष्टः शास्त्रार्थे निश्चलो भवान्। त्रिकालदृष्टिर्भवत् चान्ते विष्णुश्च ते गतिः ।। ४९.

Śantanu, pleased, spoke: 'You are steadfast in the meaning of scripture; you will have vision of the three times, and at the end, Viṣṇu will be your destination.'

स्वेच्छया मरणं चास्तु इत्युक्त्वा मुक्तिमागतः। कनकेशञ्च केदारं नारसिंहं च वामनम् ।। ४९.

'Let death come at your own wish,' he said, and attained liberation; Kanakeśa, Kedāra, Nārasiṃha, and Vāmana.

उदङ्मार्गे समभ्यर्च्च्य पितॄन्सर्व्वांश्च तारयेत्। गयाशिरसि यः पिण्डान्येषां नाम्ना तु निर्वपेत् ।। ४९.

By worshipping all the ancestors along the northern path, whoever offers oblations at Gayāśiras in their names will deliver them.

नरकस्था दिवं यान्ति स्वर्गस्था मोक्षमाप्नुयुः। गयाशिरसि यः पिण्डं शमीपत्रप्रमाणतः ।। ४९.

Those dwelling in hell attain heaven, those in heaven gain liberation, when one offers the oblation at Gayāśiras, measured by the śamī leaf.

कन्दमूलफलाद्यैर्वा दद्यात्स्वर्गं नयेत्पितॄन्। पदानि यत्र दृश्यन्ते विष्ण्वादीनां तदग्रतः ।। ४९.

Even with tubers, roots, fruits, and the like, if one gives, he leads his ancestors to heaven; wherever the footprints of Viṣṇu and others are seen, there, in front of them.

श्राद्धं कृत्वा सपिण्डञ्च तेषां लोकान्नयेत्पितॄन्। सर्व्वत्र मुण्डपृष्ठाद्रिः पदैरेभिः सुलक्षितः ।। ४९.

By performing the śrāddha and the sapiṇḍa rites, one leads one's ancestors to their worlds; everywhere, the Muṇḍapṛṣṭha mountain is clearly marked by these steps.

प्रयान्ति पितरः सर्व्वे ब्रह्मलोकमनामयम्। हेत्यसुरस्य यच्छीर्षं गदया तद्द्विधाकृतम् ।। ४९.

All the ancestors proceed to the flawless world of Brahma; the head of the demon Heti was split in two by the mace.

ततः प्रक्षालिता यस्मात्तीर्थं तच्च विमुक्तये। गदालोलमिति ख्यातं सर्व्वेषामुत्तमोत्तमम् ।। ४९.

Therefore, since it was washed there, that sacred place is for liberation; it is renowned as Gadālola, the most excellent of all.

गदालोले महातीर्थे गदाप्रक्षालनाद्धरेः। स्नानं करोमि सिद्ध्यर्थमक्षयं पदमाप्नुयाम् ।। ४९.

At Gadālola, the great sacred place, because of the washing of the mace of Hari, I bathe for the sake of accomplishment, so that I may attain the imperishable state.

पञ्चमेऽह्नि गदालोले स्नात्वा कुर्य्यात्सपिण्डकम्। श्राद्धं पितॄन्ब्रह्मलोकं नयेदात्मानमेव च ।। ४९.

On the fifth day, after bathing at Gadālola, one should perform the sapiṇḍa rite; by the śrāddha, one leads the ancestors and oneself to the world of Brahma.

ब्रह्मप्रकल्पितान्विप्रान् हव्यकव्यादिनार्च्चयेत्। तैस्तुष्टैस्तोषिताः सर्व्वाः पितृभिः सह देवताः ।। ४९.

One should worship the Brāhmaṇas appointed by Brahma with offerings such as havya and kavya; when they are satisfied, all the deities are pleased along with the ancestors.

कृते श्राद्धेऽक्षयवटे अन्नेनैव प्रयत्नतः। पितॄन्नयेद्ब्रह्मलोकमक्षयन्तु सनातनम् ।। ४९.

By performing the śrāddha at Akṣayavaṭa with food, carefully and with effort, one leads the ancestors to the eternal, imperishable world of Brahma.

वटवृक्षसमीपे तु शाकेनाप्युदकेन वा। एकस्मिन्भोजिते विप्रे कोटिर्भवति भोजिता ।। ४९.

Indeed, near the banyan tree, even with vegetables or water, when a single Brāhmaṇa is fed, it is as if a crore are fed.

देयं दानं षोडशकं गयातीर्थपुरोधसे। वस्त्रं गन्धादिभिः पुत्रैः सम्यक्संपूज्य यत्नतः ।। ४९.

One should give sixteen gifts to the priest of the Gayā tīrtha, and, after duly honoring him with cloth, fragrance, and the like, by one's sons and with care.

गयातीर्थवटे चैव पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम् । दृष्ट्वा नत्वा च संपूज्य वटेशं सुसमाहितः ।। ४९.

At the banyan tree of the Gayā tīrtha, the offering made to the ancestors is imperishable; having seen, bowed, and worshipped the Lord of the Banyan with full concentration.

पितॄन्नयेद्ब्रह्मलोकमक्षयन्तु सनातनम्। गयायां धर्म्मपृष्ठे च सरसि ब्रह्मणस्त था ।। ४९.

One leads the ancestors to the eternal, imperishable world of Brahma; so also at Dharmapṛṣṭha in Gayā, and at the lake of Brahma.

गयाशीर्षे वटे चैव पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम्। एकार्णवे वटस्याग्रे यः शेते योगनिद्रया ।। ४९.

At the head of Gayā and at the banyan tree, the offering to the ancestors is imperishable; before the banyan on the single ocean, he who lies in yogic sleep—

बालरूपधरस्तस्मै नमस्ते योगशायिने। संसारवृक्षशस्त्रायाशेषपापहराय च ।। ४९.

To him who assumes the form of a child, who reclines in yogic rest, I bow; to the remover of all sins, the refuge from the sword of the tree of worldly existence.

अक्षयब्रह्मदात्रे च नमोऽक्षयवटाय वै। कलौ माहेश्वरा लोका येन तस्माद्गदाधरः। लिङ्गरूपोऽभवत्तञ्च वन्दे श्रीप्रपितामहम् ।। ४९.

Homage to the giver of imperishable Brahman, to the truly imperishable banyan; in the Kali age, the worlds of Maheśvara, by whom the mace-bearer became the form of the liṅga—him, the glorious forefather, I revere.