The Four Ways of Giving Up the Body, and Rites for the Dead

Verse 1 (13.242.1)

भगवन्मानुषाः केचित्कालधर्ममुपस्थिताः । प्राणमोक्षं कथं कृत्वा परत्र हितमाप्नुयुः ॥

bhagavanmānuṣāḥ kecitkāladharmamupasthitāḥ | prāṇamokṣaṃ kathaṃ kṛtvā paratra hitamāpnuyuḥ

Lord, some human beings have come to the time of their death. How should they give up their breath so as to gain what is good in the other world?

Note on the text: Corrected परत्रि → परत्र (misprint in Wikisource; the Appendix text reads paratra). Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3765-3766.

Verse 2 (13.242.2)

हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि शृणु देवि समाहिता । द्विविधं मरणं लोके स्वभावाद्यत्नतस्तथा ॥

hanta te kathayiṣyāmi śṛṇu devi samāhitā | dvividhaṃ maraṇaṃ loke svabhāvādyatnatastathā

Well then, I shall tell you; listen, goddess, with a collected mind. Death in the world is of two kinds: by nature, and by effort.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3767-3768.

Verse 3 (13.242.3)

तयोः स्वभावं नापायं यत्नतः करणोद्भवम् । एतयोरुभयोर्देवि विधानं शृणु शोभने ॥

tayoḥ svabhāvaṃ nāpāyaṃ yatnataḥ karaṇodbhavam | etayorubhayordevi vidhānaṃ śṛṇu śobhane

Of the two, the natural one comes of itself, by no contrivance; the other is born of effort and springs from a deliberate cause. Hear, fair one, the rule for both.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3769-3770.

Verse 4 (13.242.4)

कल्याकल्यशरीरस्य यत्नजं द्विविधं स्मृतम् । यत्नजं नाम मरणमात्मत्यागो मुमूर्षया ॥

kalyākalyaśarīrasya yatnajaṃ dvividhaṃ smṛtam | yatnajaṃ nāma maraṇamātmatyāgo mumūrṣayā

Death by effort is held to be of two kinds, according as the body is sound or unsound. Death by effort means giving up one's own self out of a wish to die.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3771-3772.

Verse 5 (13.242.5)

तत्राकल्यशरीरस्य जरा व्याधिश्च कारणम् । महाप्रस्थानगमनं तथा प्रायोपवेशनम् । जलावगाहनं चैव अग्निचित्यां प्रवेशनम् ॥

tatrākalyaśarīrasya jarā vyādhiśca kāraṇam | mahāprasthānagamanaṃ tathā prāyopaveśanam | jalāvagāhanaṃ caiva agnicityāṃ praveśanam

Of these, for one whose body is unsound the cause is old age and disease. The ways are: setting out on the great journey, fasting unto death, plunging into water, and entering a pyre of fire.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3773-3775.

Verse 6 (13.242.6)

एवं चतुर्विधः प्रोक्त आत्मत्यागो मुमूर्षताम् । एतेषां क्रमयोगेन विधानं शृणु शोभने ॥

evaṃ caturvidhaḥ prokta ātmatyāgo mumūrṣatām | eteṣāṃ kramayogena vidhānaṃ śṛṇu śobhane

Thus the giving up of oneself by those who wish to die is declared to be fourfold. Hear, fair one, the rule for these in due order.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3776-3777.

Verse 7 (13.242.7)

स्वधर्मयुक्तं गार्हस्थ्यं चिरमूढ्वा विधानतः । तत्रानृण्यं च सम्प्राप्य वृद्धो वा व्याधितोऽपि वा ॥

svadharmayuktaṃ gārhasthyaṃ ciramūḍhvā vidhānataḥ | tatrānṛṇyaṃ ca samprāpya vṛddho vā vyādhito'pi vā

Having lived long in the householder's life, devoted to his own duty and according to rule, and having become free of debt there, whether old or sick,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3778-3779.

Verse 8 (13.242.8)

दर्शयित्वा स्वदौर्बल्यं सर्वानेवानुमान्य च । सर्वं विहाय बन्धूंश्च कर्मणां भरणं तथा ॥

darśayitvā svadaurbalyaṃ sarvānevānumānya ca | sarvaṃ vihāya bandhūṃśca karmaṇāṃ bharaṇaṃ tathā

having shown his weakness, taken leave of everyone, and left everything behind, his kinsmen and the upkeep of his undertakings as well,

Note on the text: Corrected क्रमाणां → कर्मणां (probable misprint in Wikisource; the Appendix text reads karmaṇāṃ bharaṇaṃ). Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3780-3781. Line 3781 reads saṃvidhāya svabandhūṃś ca in the Appendix (Wikisource: sarvaṃ vihāya bandhūṃś ca, kept).

Verse 9 (13.242.9)

दानानि विधिवत्कृत्वा धर्मकार्यार्थमात्मनः । अनुज्ञाप्य जनं सर्वं वाचा मधुरया ब्रुवन् ॥

dānāni vidhivatkṛtvā dharmakāryārthamātmanaḥ | anujñāpya janaṃ sarvaṃ vācā madhurayā bruvan

having made gifts according to rule for his own sacred purposes, and having taken leave of all the people with sweet words,

Note on the text: Corrected धर्मिकार्यर्थ → धर्मकार्यार्थ (misprint in Wikisource; the Appendix text reads dharmakāryārtham). Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3782-3783.

Verse 10 (13.242.10)

अहतं वस्त्रमाच्छाद्य बद्ध्वा तत्कुशरज्जुना । उपस्पृश्य प्रतिज्ञाय व्यवसायपुरसरम् ॥

ahataṃ vastramācchādya baddhvā tatkuśarajjunā | upaspṛśya pratijñāya vyavasāyapurasaram

covering himself with an unworn cloth and binding it with a cord of kusha grass, having sipped water and taken his vow, with resolve going before,

Note on the text: Corrected उपस्पृश्च → उपस्पृश्य (misprint in Wikisource; the Appendix text reads upaspṛśya). Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3784-3785.

Verse 11 (13.242.11)

परित्यज्य ततो ग्राम्यं धर्मं कुर्याद्यथेप्सितम् । महाप्रस्थानमिच्छेच्चेत्प्रतिष्ठेतोत्तरां दिशम् ॥

parityajya tato grāmyaṃ dharmaṃ kuryādyathepsitam | mahāprasthānamiccheccetpratiṣṭhetottarāṃ diśam

then, having given up the ways of village life, let him do as he wishes. If he desires the great journey, let him set out toward the northern quarter,

Note on the text: Corrected महाप्रस्तानमिच्छेच्चेत् → महाप्रस्थानमिच्छेच्चेत् (misprint in Wikisource; the Appendix text reads mahāprasthānam). Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3786-3787. Line 3786 differs in the Appendix (parityajya tato grāmaṃ paścāt kuryād yathepsitam; Wikisource reading kept).

Verse 12 (13.242.12)

भूत्वा तावन्निराहारो यावत्प्राणविमोक्षणम् । चेष्टाहानौ शयित्वाऽपि तन्मनाः प्राणमुत्सृजेत् । एवं पुण्यकृतां लोकानमलान्प्रतिपद्यते ॥

bhūtvā tāvannirāhāro yāvatprāṇavimokṣaṇam | ceṣṭāhānau śayitvā'pi tanmanāḥ prāṇamutsṛjet | evaṃ puṇyakṛtāṃ lokānamalānpratipadyate

abstaining from food until the breath is released; and when he can move no more, lying down, let him give up his breath with his mind fixed on That. Thus he attains the stainless worlds of those who have done good deeds.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3788-3790.

Verse 13 (13.242.13)

प्रायोपवेशनं चेच्छेत्तेनैव विधिना नरः । देशे पुण्यतमे श्रेष्ठे निराहारस्तु संविशेत् ॥

prāyopaveśanaṃ cecchettenaiva vidhinā naraḥ | deśe puṇyatame śreṣṭhe nirāhārastu saṃviśet

If a man wishes to fast unto death, let him do so by that same rule: in the holiest and best of places, let him lie down without food.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3791-3792.

Verse 14 (13.242.14)

अप्राणं तु शुचिर्भूत्वा कुर्वन्दानं स्वशक्तितः । पुण्यं परित्यजेत्प्राणानेष धर्मः सनातनः । एवं कलेवरं त्यक्त्वा स्वर्गलोके महीयते ॥

aprāṇaṃ tu śucirbhūtvā kurvandānaṃ svaśaktitaḥ | puṇyaṃ parityajetprāṇāneṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ | evaṃ kalevaraṃ tyaktvā svargaloke mahīyate

Becoming pure and giving gifts as far as his means allow, until he is lifeless, let him meritoriously give up his breath; this is the everlasting dharma. Thus casting off the body, he is honoured in the world of heaven.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3793-3795. Line 3793 reads āprāṇāntaṃ śucir bhūtvā in the Appendix (Wikisource: aprāṇaṃ tu, kept); line 3794 ends hariṃ smaran tyajet prāṇān in the Appendix.

Verse 15 (13.242.15)

अग्निप्रवेशनं चेच्छेत्तेनैव विधिना शुभे । कृत्वा काष्ठमयं चित्यं पुण्यक्षेत्रे नदीषु वा ॥

agnipraveśanaṃ cecchettenaiva vidhinā śubhe | kṛtvā kāṣṭhamayaṃ cityaṃ puṇyakṣetre nadīṣu vā

If he wishes to enter the fire, auspicious one, let him do so by that same rule: having made a pyre of wood at a holy place or on the banks of rivers,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3796-3797.

Verse 16 (13.242.16)

दैवतेभ्यो नमस्कृत्वा कृत्वा चापि प्रदक्षिणम् । भूत्वा शुचिर्व्यवसितः प्रविशेदग्निसंस्तरम् । सोपि लोकान्यथान्यायं प्राप्नुयात्पुण्यकर्मणाम् ॥

daivatebhyo namaskṛtvā kṛtvā cāpi pradakṣiṇam | bhūtvā śucirvyavasitaḥ praviśedagnisaṃstaram | sopi lokānyathānyāyaṃ prāpnuyātpuṇyakarmaṇām

having bowed to the gods and circled the fire keeping it to his right, let him, pure and resolute, enter the bed of fire. He too obtains, as is right, the worlds of those who do meritorious deeds.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3798-3800.

Verse 17 (13.242.17)

जलावगाहनं चेच्छेत्तेनैव विधिना शुभे । ख्याते पुण्यतमे तीर्थे निमज्जेत्सुकृतं स्मरन् ॥

jalāvagāhanaṃ cecchettenaiva vidhinā śubhe | khyāte puṇyatame tīrthe nimajjetsukṛtaṃ smaran

If he wishes to plunge into the water, auspicious one, let him do so by that same rule: in a renowned and most holy ford let him sink, remembering his good deeds.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3801-3802. Line 3802 reads svakṛtaṃ smaran in the Appendix (Wikisource: sukṛtaṃ smaran, kept).

Verse 18 (13.242.18)

सोपि पुण्यतमाँल्लोकान्निःसङ्गात्प्रतिपद्यते । ततः कल्यशरीरस्य संत्यागं शृणु तत्वतः ॥

sopi puṇyatamām̐llokānniḥsaṅgātpratipadyate | tataḥ kalyaśarīrasya saṃtyāgaṃ śṛṇu tatvataḥ

He too, free from attachment, reaches the holiest worlds. Now hear truly about the giving up of the body by one whose body is sound.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3803-3804. Line 3803 reads puṇyakṛtāṃ lokān nisargāt pratipadyate in the Appendix (Wikisource: puṇyatamāṃl lokān niḥsaṅgāt, kept).

Verse 19 (13.242.19)

रक्षार्थं क्षत्रियः श्रेष्ठः प्रजापालनकारणात् । योधानां भर्तृपिण्डार्थं गुर्वर्थं ब्रह्मचारिणाम् ॥

rakṣārthaṃ kṣatriyaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ prajāpālanakāraṇāt | yodhānāṃ bhartṛpiṇḍārthaṃ gurvarthaṃ brahmacāriṇām

A kshatriya, the best, for the sake of protection and because he guards the people; warriors for the sake of the master whose food they eat; students of sacred learning for the sake of their teacher;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3805-3806.

Verse 20 (13.242.20)

गोब्राह्मणार्थं सर्वेषां प्राणत्यागो विधीयते । स्वराज्यरक्षणार्थं वा कुजनैः पीडिताः प्रजाः ॥

gobrāhmaṇārthaṃ sarveṣāṃ prāṇatyāgo vidhīyate | svarājyarakṣaṇārthaṃ vā kujanaiḥ pīḍitāḥ prajāḥ

for cows and Brahmins, and for all, the giving up of life is prescribed; or for the protection of one's own kingdom, when the people are oppressed by wicked men.

Note on the text: Corrected स्वराज्यरक्षणार्तं → स्वराज्यरक्षणार्थं (probable misprint in Wikisource; the Appendix text reads svarāṣṭrarakṣaṇārthaṃ). Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3807-3808. Line 3807 ends grāmārthaṃ sarveṣāṃ ca vidhīyate in the Appendix.

Verse 21 (13.242.21)

मोक्तुकामस्त्यजेत्प्राणान्युद्धमार्गे यथाविधि । सुसन्नद्धो व्यवसितः सम्प्रविश्यापराङ्मुखः । एवं राजा मृतः सद्यः स्वर्गलोके महीयते ॥

moktukāmastyajetprāṇānyuddhamārge yathāvidhi | susannaddho vyavasitaḥ sampraviśyāparāṅmukhaḥ | evaṃ rājā mṛtaḥ sadyaḥ svargaloke mahīyate

Wishing to lay down his life, let him give up his breath on the path of battle, as the rule requires, well armed and resolute, entering the fray without turning his back. A king who dies thus is at once honoured in the world of heaven.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3809-3811.

Verse 22 (13.242.22)

तादृशी सुगतिर्नास्ति क्षत्रियस्य विशेषतः । भृत्यो वा भर्तृपिण्डार्थं भर्तृकर्मण्युपस्थिते ॥

tādṛśī sugatirnāsti kṣatriyasya viśeṣataḥ | bhṛtyo vā bhartṛpiṇḍārthaṃ bhartṛkarmaṇyupasthite

There is no such good end as this, especially for a kshatriya. Or a servant, for the sake of his master's food, when his master's work is at hand,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3812-3813.

Verse 23 (13.242.23)

कुर्वंस्तत्र तु साहाय्यमात्मप्राणानपेक्षया । स्वाम्यर्थं संत्यजेत्प्राणान्पुण्याँल्लोकान्स गच्छति ॥

kurvaṃstatra tu sāhāyyamātmaprāṇānapekṣayā | svāmyarthaṃ saṃtyajetprāṇānpuṇyām̐llokānsa gacchati

giving his help there without regard for his own life, and giving up his breath for his master, goes to the worlds of merit.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3814-3815.

Verse 24 (13.242.24)

स्पृहणीयः सुरगणैस्तत्र नास्ति विचारणा । एवं गोब्राह्मणार्थं वा दीनार्थं वा त्यजेत्तनुम् ॥

spṛhaṇīyaḥ suragaṇaistatra nāsti vicāraṇā | evaṃ gobrāhmaṇārthaṃ vā dīnārthaṃ vā tyajettanum

He is longed for by the hosts of gods; there is no doubt of it. So too one may give up the body for cows and Brahmins, or for the wretched;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3816-3817.

Verse 25 (13.242.25)

सोपि पुण्यमवाप्नोति आनृशंस्यव्यपेक्षया । इत्येते जीवितत्यागे मार्गास्ते समुदाहृताः ॥

sopi puṇyamavāpnoti ānṛśaṃsyavyapekṣayā | ityete jīvitatyāge mārgāste samudāhṛtāḥ

he too gains merit, out of regard for compassion. Thus these paths for the giving up of life have been set out for you.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3818-3819.

Verse 26 (13.242.26)

कामक्रोधाद्भयाद्वाऽपि यदि चेत्संत्यजेत्तनुम् । सोऽनन्तं नरकं याति आत्महन्तृत्वकारणात् ॥

kāmakrodhādbhayādvā'pi yadi cetsaṃtyajettanum | so'nantaṃ narakaṃ yāti ātmahantṛtvakāraṇāt

But if out of desire, anger or fear he gives up his body, he goes to endless hell, because he has been his own slayer.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3820-3821. Line 3820 reads kāmāt krodhād bhayān mohād yadi cet saṃtyajet tanum in the Appendix (Wikisource: kāmakrodhād bhayād vāpi, kept).

Verse 27 (13.242.27)

स्वभावं मरणं नाम न तु चात्मेच्छया भवेत् । यथा मृतानां यत्कार्यं तन्मे शृणु यथाविधि ॥

svabhāvaṃ maraṇaṃ nāma na tu cātmecchayā bhavet | yathā mṛtānāṃ yatkāryaṃ tanme śṛṇu yathāvidhi

Death that is natural is the one that does not come by one's own wish. Now hear from me, according to rule, what is to be done for the dead.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3822-3823.

Verse 28 (13.242.28)

तत्रापि मरणं त्यागो मूढत्यागाद्विशिष्यते । भूमौ संवेशयेद्देहं नरस्य विनशिष्यतः ॥

tatrāpi maraṇaṃ tyāgo mūḍhatyāgādviśiṣyate | bhūmau saṃveśayeddehaṃ narasya vinaśiṣyataḥ

Even there, dying, the giving up of the body, is better than giving it up in folly. For a man who is about to perish, let them lay the body on the ground,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3824-3825. Line 3824 reads tatrāpi bodhasaṃtyāgān mūḍhatyāgo viśiṣyate in the Appendix (Wikisource: tatrāpi maraṇaṃ tyāgo mūḍhatyāgād viśiṣyate, kept).

Verse 29 (13.242.29)

निर्जीवं वृणुयात्सद्यो वाससा तु कलेवरम् । माल्यगन्धैरलङ्कृत्य सुवर्णेन च भामिनि ॥

nirjīvaṃ vṛṇuyātsadyo vāsasā tu kalevaram | mālyagandhairalaṅkṛtya suvarṇena ca bhāmini

and when it is lifeless, at once cover the body with a cloth, adorning it with garlands, perfumes and gold, fair lady,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3826-3827.

Verse 30 (13.242.30)

श्मशाने दक्षिणे देशे चिताग्नौ प्रदहेन्मृतम् । अथवा निक्षिपेद्भूमौ शरीरं जीववर्जितम् ॥

śmaśāne dakṣiṇe deśe citāgnau pradahenmṛtam | athavā nikṣipedbhūmau śarīraṃ jīvavarjitam

then burn the dead on the pyre in the cremation ground, in the southern region; or else lay the lifeless body in the earth.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3828-3829.

Verse 31 (13.242.31)

दिवा च शुक्लपक्षश्च उत्तरायणमेव च । मुमूर्षूणां प्रशस्तानि विपरीतं तु गर्हितम् ॥

divā ca śuklapakṣaśca uttarāyaṇameva ca | mumūrṣūṇāṃ praśastāni viparītaṃ tu garhitam

Day, the bright fortnight, and the sun's northern course are auspicious for the dying; the opposite is condemned.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3830-3831.

Verse 32 (13.242.32)

औदकं चाष्टकाश्राद्धं बहुभिर्बहुभिः कृतम् । आप्यायनं मृतानां तत्परलोके भवेच्छुभम् । एतत्सर्वं मया प्रोक्तं मानुषाणां हितं वचः ॥

audakaṃ cāṣṭakāśrāddhaṃ bahubhirbahubhiḥ kṛtam | āpyāyanaṃ mṛtānāṃ tatparaloke bhavecchubham | etatsarvaṃ mayā proktaṃ mānuṣāṇāṃ hitaṃ vacaḥ

The water-offering and the Ashtaka shraddha, performed by many again and again, bring refreshment to the dead and become a blessing for them in the other world. All this I have told you, words for the good of human beings.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3832-3834. Line 3832 reads bahubhir bahuśaḥ kṛtam in the Appendix; line 3834 ends mānuṣāṇāṃ hitāya ca.