King Babhruvahana and the Preta

Verse 1 (garuda.2.27.1)

तार्क्ष्य उवाच । कथं प्रेता वसन्त्यत्र कीदृग्रूपा भवन्ति ते । महाप्रेताः पिशाचाश्च कैःकैः कर्मफलैर्विभो । सर्वेषामनुकम्पार्थं ब्रूहि मे मधुसूदन

tārkṣya uvāca kathaṁ pretā vasantyatra kīdṛgrūpā bhavanti te mahāpretāḥ piśācāśca kaiḥkaiḥ karmaphalairvibho sarveṣāmanukampārthaṁ brūhi me madhusūdana

Tarkshya said: "How do pretas dwell here, and what form do they have? By what karmic fruits, O Madhusudana, do beings become great pretas and pishachas? Tell me, for the sake of compassion toward all."

Verse 2 (garuda.2.27.2)

प्रेतत्वान्मुच्यते येन दानेन च शुभे न च । तन्मे कथय देवेश मम चेदिच्छसि प्रियम्

pretatvānmucyate yena dānena ca śubhe na ca tanme kathaya deveśa mama cedicchasi priyam

"Tell me by what gift and by what auspicious act one is freed from pretahood, and by what one is not, O lord of gods, if you wish my good."

Verse 3 (garuda.2.27.3)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । साधु पृष्टं त्वया तार्क्ष्य मानुषाणां हिताय वै । शृणुचावहितो भूत्वा यद्वच्मि प्रेतलक्षणम्

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca sādhu pṛṣṭaṁ tvayā tārkṣya mānuṣāṇāṁ hitāya vai śṛṇucāvahito bhūtvā yadvacmi pretalakṣaṇam

Shri Krishna said: "Well have you asked, Tarkshya, for the benefit of mankind. Listen with attention as I describe the nature of the preta."

Verse 4 (garuda.2.27.4)

गुह्यद्गुह्यतरं ह्येतन्नाख्येयं यस्य कस्यचित् । भक्तस्त्वं हि महाबाहो तेन ते कथयाम्यहम्

guhyadguhyataraṁ hyetannākhyeyaṁ yasya kasyacit bhaktastvaṁ hi mahābāho tena te kathayāmyaham

"This is a secret deeper than secrets, not to be told to just anyone. But you, O mighty-armed one, are my devotee, and so I tell it to you."

Verse 5 (garuda.2.27.5)

पुरा त्रेतायुगे तात राजासीद्बभ्रुवाहनः । महोदयपुरे रम्ये धर्मनिष्ठो महाबलः

purā tretāyuge tāta rājāsīdbabhruvāhanaḥ mahodayapure ramye dharmaniṣṭho mahābalaḥ

"Long ago, my child, in the Treta Yuga, there was a king named Babhruvahana in the beautiful city of Mahodayapura, devoted to dharma and mighty in strength."

Verse 6 (garuda.2.27.6)

यज्वा दानपतिः श्रीमान्ब्रह्मण्यः साधुसंमतः । शीलाचारगुणोपेतो दयादाक्षिण्यसंयुतः

yajvā dānapatiḥ śrīmānbrahmaṇyaḥ sādhusaṁmataḥ śīlācāraguṇopeto dayādākṣiṇyasaṁyutaḥ

"He performed sacrifices, was lord of gifts, glorious, a friend to brahmins, esteemed by the good, endowed with fine character and conduct, full of compassion and generosity."

Verse 7 (garuda.2.27.7)

प्रजाः पालयते नित्यं पुत्रानिव महाबलः । क्षत्त्रधर्मरतो नित्यं स दण्ड्यान्दण्डयन्नृपः

prajāḥ pālayate nityaṁ putrāniva mahābalaḥ kṣattradharmarato nityaṁ sa daṇḍyāndaṇḍayannṛpaḥ

"That mighty king ever protected his subjects as if they were his own children; ever devoted to the duty of a kshatriya, he punished those who deserved punishment."

Verse 8 (garuda.2.27.8)

स कदाचिन्महाबाहुः ससैन्योमृगयां गतः । वनं विवेश गहनं नानावृक्षसमन्वितम्

sa kadācinmahābāhuḥ sasainyomṛgayāṁ gataḥ vanaṁ viveśa gahanaṁ nānāvṛkṣasamanvitam

"Once that mighty-armed king went hunting together with his army and entered a dense forest thick with many kinds of trees."

Verse 9 (garuda.2.27.9)

शार्दूलशतसंजुष्टं नानापक्षिनिनादितम् । वनमध्ये तदा राजा मृगं दूरादपश्यत

śārdūlaśatasaṁjuṣṭaṁ nānāpakṣinināditam vanamadhye tadā rājā mṛgaṁ dūrādapaśyata

"In the midst of that forest, thronged with hundreds of tigers and resounding with the cries of many birds, the king saw a deer in the distance."

Verse 10 (garuda.2.27.10)

तेन विद्धो मृगोऽतीव बाणेन सुदृढेन च । बाणमादाय तं तस्य स वनेऽदर्शनं ययौ

tena viddho mṛgo'tīva bāṇena sudṛḍhena ca bāṇamādāya taṁ tasya sa vane'darśanaṁ yayau

"The king pierced it with a very firm arrow; the deer, still carrying that arrow, vanished from sight into the forest."

Verse 11 (garuda.2.27.11)

कक्षे तच्छोणितस्त्रावात्स राजानुजगाम तम् । ततो मृगप्रसङ्गेन वनमन्यद्विवेश सः

kakṣe tacchoṇitastrāvātsa rājānujagāma tam tato mṛgaprasaṅgena vanamanyadviveśa saḥ

"Following the trail of its blood, the king pursued it; and in that pursuit of the deer he entered another forest."

Verse 12 (garuda.2.27.12)

क्षुत्क्षामकण्ठो नृपतिः श्रमसन्तापमूर्छितः । जलस्थानं समासाद्य साश्व एवावगाहत

kṣutkṣāmakaṇṭho nṛpatiḥ śramasantāpamūrchitaḥ jalasthānaṁ samāsādya sāśva evāvagāhata

"The king, his throat parched with hunger, faint from exhaustion and heat, came upon a pool of water and plunged into it together with his horse."

Verse 13 (garuda.2.27.13)

पीत्वा तदु दकं शीतं पद्मगन्धाधिवासितम् । तत उत्तीर्य सलिलाद्विमलाद्बभ्रुवाहनः

pītvā tadu dakaṁ śītaṁ padmagandhādhivāsitam tata uttīrya salilādvimalādbabhruvāhanaḥ

"Having drunk that cool water scented with lotus fragrance, Babhruvahana then came up out of that clear water."

Verse 14 (garuda.2.27.14)

न्यग्रोधवृक्षमासाद्य शीतच्छायं मनोहरम् । महाविटपिनं हृद्यं पक्षिसङ्घातनादितम्

nyagrodhavṛkṣamāsādya śītacchāyaṁ manoharam mahāviṭapinaṁ hṛdyaṁ pakṣisaṅghātanāditam

"He came upon a delightful banyan tree with cool shade, mighty branches, charming to the heart, and resounding with flocks of birds,"

Verse 15 (garuda.2.27.15)

वनस्य तस्य सर्वस्य केतुभूतमिवोच्छ्रितम् । तं महातरुमासाद्य निषसाद महीपतिः

vanasya tasya sarvasya ketubhūtamivocchritam taṁ mahātarumāsādya niṣasāda mahīpatiḥ

"rising as if it were the very banner of that whole forest. Reaching that great tree, the king sat down beneath it."

Verse 16 (garuda.2.27.16)

अथ प्रेतं ददर्शासौ क्षुत्तृष्णाव्याकुलेन्द्रियम् । उत्कचं मलिनं कुब्जं (रूक्षं) निर्मांसं भीमदर्शनम्

atha pretaṁ dadarśāsau kṣuttṛṣṇāvyākulendriyam utkacaṁ malinaṁ kubjaṁ (rūkṣaṁ) nirmāṁsaṁ bhīmadarśanam

"Then he saw a preta, its senses distracted by hunger and thirst, disheveled, filthy, hunchbacked, gaunt, fleshless, and terrible to behold,"

Verse 17 (garuda.2.27.17)

स्नायुबद्धास्थिचरणं धावमानमितस्ततः । अन्यैश्च बहुभिः प्रेतैः समन्तात्परिवारितम्

snāyubaddhāsthicaraṇaṁ dhāvamānamitastataḥ anyaiśca bahubhiḥ pretaiḥ samantātparivāritam

"whose legs were mere bones held together by sinew, running here and there, surrounded on every side by many other pretas."

Verse 18 (garuda.2.27.18)

तं दृष्ट्वा विकृतं घोरं विस्मितो बभ्रुवाहनः । प्रेतोऽपि दृष्ट्वा तां घोरामटवीमागतं नृपम्

taṁ dṛṣṭvā vikṛtaṁ ghoraṁ vismito babhruvāhanaḥ preto'pi dṛṣṭvā tāṁ ghorāmaṭavīmāgataṁ nṛpam

"Seeing that deformed, terrible preta, Babhruvahana was astonished; and the preta too saw the king who had come into that fearsome wilderness,"

Verse 19 (garuda.2.27.19)

तदा हृष्टमना भूत्वा तस्यान्तिकमुपागतः । अब्रवीत्स तदा तार्क्ष्य प्रेतराजो नृपं वचः

tadā hṛṣṭamanā bhūtvā tasyāntikamupāgataḥ abravītsa tadā tārkṣya pretarājo nṛpaṁ vacaḥ

"and then, glad at heart, approached him. O Tarkshya, that lord of pretas then spoke these words to the king:"

Verse 20 (garuda.2.27.20)

प्रेतभावो मया त्यक्तः प्राप्तोऽस्मि परमां गतिम् । त्वत्संयोगान्महाबाहो नास्तिधन्यतरो मम

pretabhāvo mayā tyaktaḥ prāpto'smi paramāṁ gatim tvatsaṁyogānmahābāho nāstidhanyataro mama

"'I have cast off the state of a preta; I have attained the supreme state. O mighty-armed one, through this meeting with you none is more blessed than I.'"

Verse 21 (garuda.2.27.21)

नृपतिरुवाच । कृष्णवर्णः करालास्यस्त्वं प्रेत इव लक्ष्यसे । कथयस्व मम प्रीत्या यथैवं चासि तत्त्वतः

nṛpatiruvāca kṛṣṇavarṇaḥ karālāsyastvaṁ preta iva lakṣyase kathayasva mama prītyā yathaivaṁ cāsi tattvataḥ

The king said: "You appear dark of hue and fearsome of face, just like a preta. Out of affection for me, tell me truly how this is really so."

Verse 22 (garuda.2.27.22)

तथा पृष्टः स वै राज्ञा प्रोवाच सकलं स्वकम्

tathā pṛṣṭaḥ sa vai rājñā provāca sakalaṁ svakam

Thus questioned by the king, he told him his entire story.

Verse 23 (garuda.2.27.23)

प्रेत उवाच । कथयामि नृपश्रेष्ठ सर्वमेवादितस्तव । प्रेतत्वे कारणं श्रुत्वा दयां कर्तुं ममार्हसि

preta uvāca kathayāmi nṛpaśreṣṭha sarvamevāditastava pretatve kāraṇaṁ śrutvā dayāṁ kartuṁ mamārhasi

The preta said: "I shall tell you everything from the beginning, O best of kings. Hearing the cause of my pretahood, you should have compassion on me."

Verse 24 (garuda.2.27.24)

वैदिशं नाम नगरं सर्वसम्पत्समन्वितम् । नानाजनपदाकीर्णं नानारत्नसमाकुलम् । नानापुण्यसमायुक्तं नानावृक्षसमाकुलम्

vaidiśaṁ nāma nagaraṁ sarvasampatsamanvitam nānājanapadākīrṇaṁ nānāratnasamākulam nānāpuṇyasamāyuktaṁ nānāvṛkṣasamākulam

"There was a city named Vaidisha, full of every prosperity, thronged with people from many lands, filled with many jewels, rich in many meritorious works, and covered with many trees."

Verse 25 (garuda.2.27.25)

तत्राहं न्यवसं भूयो देवार्चनरतः सदा । वैश्यो जात्या सुदेवोऽहं नाम्ना विदितमस्तु ते

tatrāhaṁ nyavasaṁ bhūyo devārcanarataḥ sadā vaiśyo jātyā sudevo'haṁ nāmnā viditamastu te

"There I lived, ever devoted to the worship of the gods; by birth I was a vaishya, and my name — let it be known to you — was Sudeva."

Verse 26 (garuda.2.27.26)

हव्येन तर्पिता देवाः कव्येन पितरस्तथा । विविधैर्दानयोगैश्च विप्राः सन्तर्पिता मया

havyena tarpitā devāḥ kavyena pitarastathā vividhairdānayogaiśca viprāḥ santarpitā mayā

"I satisfied the gods with oblations and the ancestors with offerings; I satisfied brahmins too through gifts of many kinds."

Verse 27 (garuda.2.27.27)

आवाहाश्च विवाहाश्च मया वै सुनिवेशिताः । दीनानाथविशिष्टेभ्यो मया दत्तमनेकधा

āvāhāśca vivāhāśca mayā vai suniveśitāḥ dīnānāthaviśiṣṭebhyo mayā dattamanekadhā

"Invocations and weddings were properly arranged by me; to the poor, the helpless, and the worthy I gave gifts of many kinds."

Verse 28 (garuda.2.27.28)

तत्सर्वं विफलं तात मम दैवादुपागतम् । यथा मे निष्फलं जातं सुकृतं तद्वदामि ते

tatsarvaṁ viphalaṁ tāta mama daivādupāgatam yathā me niṣphalaṁ jātaṁ sukṛtaṁ tadvadāmi te

"But all that, my friend, became fruitless through my fate; I shall tell you how my merit came to nothing."

Verse 29 (garuda.2.27.29)

न मेऽस्ति सन्ततिस्तात न सुहृन्न च बान्धवः । न च मित्रं हि मे तादृग्यः कुर्यादौर्ध्वदैहिकम्

na me'sti santatistāta na suhṛnna ca bāndhavaḥ na ca mitraṁ hi me tādṛgyaḥ kuryādaurdhvadaihikam

"I have no offspring, my friend, no true friend, no kinsman — and none of the kind who would perform my after-death rites."

Verse 30 (garuda.2.27.30)

प्रेतत्वं सुस्थिरं तेन मम जातं नृपोत्तम । एकादशं त्रिपक्षं च षाण्मासिकमथाब्दिकम् । प्रतिमास्यानि चान्यानि एवं श्राद्धानि षोडश

pretatvaṁ susthiraṁ tena mama jātaṁ nṛpottama ekādaśaṁ tripakṣaṁ ca ṣāṇmāsikamathābdikam pratimāsyāni cānyāni evaṁ śrāddhāni ṣoḍaśa

"By this, O best of kings, my state as a preta has become fixed. The eleventh-day rite, the three-fortnight rite, the six-month rite, the yearly rite, and the other monthly rites — sixteen shraddhas in all."

Verse 31 (garuda.2.27.31)

यस्यैतानि न दीयन्ते प्रेतश्राद्धानि भूपते । प्रेतत्वं सुस्थिरं तस्य दत्तैः श्राद्धशतैरपि

yasyaitāni na dīyante pretaśrāddhāni bhūpate pretatvaṁ susthiraṁ tasya dattaiḥ śrāddhaśatairapi

"O king, for one to whom these preta-shraddhas are not given, his pretahood remains fixed even if a hundred other shraddhas are offered instead."

Verse 32 (garuda.2.27.32)

एवं ज्ञात्वा महाराज प्रेतत्वादुद्धरस्व माम् । वर्णानां चापि सर्वेषां राजा बन्धुरिहोच्यते

evaṁ jñātvā mahārāja pretatvāduddharasva mām varṇānāṁ cāpi sarveṣāṁ rājā bandhurihocyate

"Knowing this, great king, deliver me from this pretahood; a king is called the kinsman here of every varna."

Verse 33 (garuda.2.27.33)

तन्मां तारय राजेन्द्र मणिरत्नं ददामि ते । यथा मम शुभावाप्तिर्भवेन्नृपवरोत्तम

tanmāṁ tāraya rājendra maṇiratnaṁ dadāmi te yathā mama śubhāvāptirbhavennṛpavarottama

"Therefore save me, O lord of kings; I shall give you a jeweled gem, so that I may attain my good fortune, O finest of kings."

Verse 34 (garuda.2.27.34)

तथा कार्यं महाबाहो कृपा यदि मयीष्यते । आत्मनश्च कुरु क्षिप्रं सर्वमेवौर्ध्वेदैहिकम्

tathā kāryaṁ mahābāho kṛpā yadi mayīṣyate ātmanaśca kuru kṣipraṁ sarvamevaurdhvedaihikam

"O mighty-armed one, if you have compassion for me, do this, and also quickly arrange all your own after-death rites for yourself."

Verse 35 (garuda.2.27.35)

नृपतिरुवाच । कथं प्रेता भवन्तीह कृतैरप्यौर्ध्वदैहिकैः । पिशाचाश्च भवन्तीह कर्मभिः कैश्च तद्वद

nṛpatiruvāca kathaṁ pretā bhavantīha kṛtairapyaurdhvadaihikaiḥ piśācāśca bhavantīha karmabhiḥ kaiśca tadvada

The king said: "How do beings become pretas here even when their after-death rites have already been performed? And by what deeds do they become pishachas as well — tell me that too."

Verse 36 (garuda.2.27.36)

प्रेत उवाच । देवद्रव्यं च ब्रह्मस्वं स्त्रीबालधनसञ्चयम् । ये हरन्ति नृपश्रेष्ठ प्रेतयोनिं व्रजन्ति ते

preta uvāca devadravyaṁ ca brahmasvaṁ strībāladhanasañcayam ye haranti nṛpaśreṣṭha pretayoniṁ vrajanti te

The preta said: "O best of kings, those who steal the property of gods, the wealth of brahmins, or the accumulated wealth of women and children go to the state of a preta."

Verse 37 (garuda.2.27.37)

तापसीं च सगोत्रां च अगम्यां ये भजन्ति हि । भवन्ति ते महाप्रेता अम्बुजानि हरन्ति ये

tāpasīṁ ca sagotrāṁ ca agamyāṁ ye bhajanti hi bhavanti te mahāpretā ambujāni haranti ye

"Those who violate an ascetic woman or a forbidden woman of their own gotra become great pretas; so too do those who steal offerings of lotuses."

Verse 38 (garuda.2.27.38)

प्रवालवज्रहर्तारो ये च वस्त्रापहारकाः । तथा हिरण्यहर्तारः संयुगेऽसन्मुखागताः

pravālavajrahartāro ye ca vastrāpahārakāḥ tathā hiraṇyahartāraḥ saṁyuge'sanmukhāgatāḥ

"Thieves of coral and diamonds, those who steal clothing, thieves of gold, and those who turn their backs in battle to an unworthy foe —"

Verse 39 (garuda.2.27.39)

कृतघ्ना नास्तिका रौद्रास्तथा साहसिका नराः । पञ्चयज्ञविनिर्मुक्ता महादानरताश्च ये

kṛtaghnā nāstikā raudrāstathā sāhasikā narāḥ pañcayajñavinirmuktā mahādānaratāśca ye

"the ungrateful, the atheists, the cruel, and the recklessly violent, those who neglect the five daily sacrifices yet parade about making great gifts,"

Verse 40 (garuda.2.27.40)

स्वामिद्रोहकरा मित्रब्राह्मद्रोहकराश्च ये । तीर्थपापकरा राजञ्जायन्ते प्रेतयोनयः । एवमाद्या महाराज जायन्ते प्रेतयोनयः

svāmidrohakarā mitrabrāhmadrohakarāśca ye tīrthapāpakarā rājañjāyante pretayonayaḥ evamādyā mahārāja jāyante pretayonayaḥ

"those who betray their master, their friend, or a brahmin, and those who sin at holy places, O king — these attain the state of a preta. Thus, great king, do all these become pretas."

Verse 41 (garuda.2.27.41)

राजोवाच । कथं मुक्ता भवन्तीह प्रेतत्वात्त्वं च तेऽपि च । कथं चापि मया कार्यमौर्ध्वदैहिकमात्मनः । विधिना केन तत्कार्यं सर्वमेतद्वदस्व मे

rājovāca kathaṁ muktā bhavantīha pretatvāttvaṁ ca te'pi ca kathaṁ cāpi mayā kāryamaurdhvadaihikamātmanaḥ vidhinā kena tatkāryaṁ sarvametadvadasva me

The king said: "How are you, and others like you, freed from this pretahood? And how should I myself perform my own after-death rites? By what procedure should this be done — tell me all this."

Verse 42 (garuda.2.27.42)

प्रेत उवाच । शृणु राजेन्द्र संक्षेपाद्विधिं नारायणात्मकम् । सच्छास्त्रश्रवणं विष्णोः पूजा सज्जनसंगतिः

preta uvāca śṛṇu rājendra saṁkṣepādvidhiṁ nārāyaṇātmakam sacchāstraśravaṇaṁ viṣṇoḥ pūjā sajjanasaṁgatiḥ

The preta said: "Listen, O lord of kings, in brief, to the rite centered on Narayana — the hearing of true scripture, the worship of Vishnu, and the company of the good —"

Verse 43 (garuda.2.27.43)

प्रेतयोनिविनाशाय भवन्तीति मया श्रुतम् । अतो वक्ष्यामि ते विष्णुपूजां प्रेतत्वनाशिनीम्

pretayonivināśāya bhavantīti mayā śrutam ato vakṣyāmi te viṣṇupūjāṁ pretatvanāśinīm

"these, I have heard, bring about the destruction of the preta-state; therefore I shall tell you of the worship of Vishnu that destroys pretahood."

Verse 44 (garuda.2.27.44)

सुवर्णद्वयमाहृत्य मूर्तिं भूप प्रकल्पयेत् । नारायणस्य देवस्य सर्वाभरणभूषिताम्

suvarṇadvayamāhṛtya mūrtiṁ bhūpa prakalpayet nārāyaṇasya devasya sarvābharaṇabhūṣitām

"O king, with two measures of gold one should have an image of the god Narayana fashioned, adorned with every ornament,"

Verse 45 (garuda.2.27.45)

पीतवस्त्रयुगाच्छन्नां चन्दनागुरुचर्चिताम् । स्नापयेद्विविधैस्तोयैरधिवास्य यजेत्ततः

pītavastrayugācchannāṁ candanāgurucarcitām snāpayedvividhaistoyairadhivāsya yajettataḥ

"clothed in a pair of yellow garments and anointed with sandal and aguru. One should bathe it with various waters, consecrate it, and then worship it."

Verse 46 (garuda.2.27.46)

पूर्वे तु श्रीधरं देवं दक्षिणे मधुसूदनम् । पश्चिमे वानमं देवमुत्तरे च गदाधरम्

pūrve tu śrīdharaṁ devaṁ dakṣiṇe madhusūdanam paścime vānamaṁ devamuttare ca gadādharam

"In the east one should place the god Shridhara; in the south, Madhusudana; in the west, the god Vamana; and in the north, Gadadhara."

Verse 47 (garuda.2.27.47)

मध्ये पितामहं पूज्य तथा देवं महेश्वरम् । पूजयेच्च विधानेन गन्धपुष्पादिभिः पृथक्

madhye pitāmahaṁ pūjya tathā devaṁ maheśvaram pūjayecca vidhānena gandhapuṣpādibhiḥ pṛthak

"In the center one should worship Pitamaha, the Grandsire, and likewise the god Maheshvara, worshipping each separately and properly with scent, flowers, and the rest."

Verse 48 (garuda.2.27.48)

ततः प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य अग्नौ सन्तर्प्य देवताः । घृतेन दध्ना क्षीरेण विश्वान्देवांस्तथा नृप

tataḥ pradakṣiṇīkṛtya agnau santarpya devatāḥ ghṛtena dadhnā kṣīreṇa viśvāndevāṁstathā nṛpa

"Then, having circumambulated it, one should satisfy the gods and the Vishvadevas in the fire with ghee, curd, and milk, O king."

Verse 49 (garuda.2.27.49)

ततः स्नातो विनीतात्मा यजमानः समाहितः । नारायणाग्रे विधिवत्स्वक्रियामौर्ध्वदैहिकीम्

tataḥ snāto vinītātmā yajamānaḥ samāhitaḥ nārāyaṇāgre vidhivatsvakriyāmaurdhvadaihikīm

"Then, having bathed, the humble and composed sacrificer should, before Narayana, duly [begin] his own after-death rite,"

Verse 50 (garuda.2.27.50)

आरभेत विनीतात्मा क्रोधलोभविवर्जितः । श्राद्धानि कुर्यात्सर्वाणि वृषस्योत्सर्जनं तथा

ārabheta vinītātmā krodhalobhavivarjitaḥ śrāddhāni kuryātsarvāṇi vṛṣasyotsarjanaṁ tathā

"free of anger and greed. He should perform all the shraddhas, and likewise the release of the bull."

Verse 51 (garuda.2.27.51)

त्रयोदशानां विप्राणां वस्त्रच्छत्राण्युपानहौ । अङ्गुलीयकमुक्तानि भाजनासनभोजनैः

trayodaśānāṁ viprāṇāṁ vastracchatrāṇyupānahau aṅgulīyakamuktāni bhājanāsanabhojanaiḥ

"To thirteen brahmins he should give garments, umbrellas, sandals, rings and pearls, together with vessels, seats, and food."

Verse 52 (garuda.2.27.52)

सान्नाश्च सोदका देया घटाः प्रेतहिताय वै । शय्यादानमथो दत्त्वा घटं प्रेतस्य निर्वपेत्

sānnāśca sodakā deyā ghaṭāḥ pretahitāya vai śayyādānamatho dattvā ghaṭaṁ pretasya nirvapet

"Pots filled with food and water should be given for the welfare of the preta. Having given the gift of a bed, one should then offer the water-pot for the preta."

Verse 53 (garuda.2.27.53)

नारायणेति सन्नाम संपुटस्थं समर्चयेत् । एवं कृत्वाथ विधिवच्छुभाशुभफलं लभेत्

nārāyaṇeti sannāma saṁpuṭasthaṁ samarcayet evaṁ kṛtvātha vidhivacchubhāśubhaphalaṁ labhet

"It should be sealed and worshipped under the sacred name 'Narayana'; done thus, according to rule, one obtains an auspicious result."

Verse 54 (garuda.2.27.54)

राजोवाच । कथं प्रेतघटं कुर्याद्दद्यात्केन विधानतः । ब्रूहि सर्वानुकम्पार्थं घटं प्रेतविमुक्तिदम्

rājovāca kathaṁ pretaghaṭaṁ kuryāddadyātkena vidhānataḥ brūhi sarvānukampārthaṁ ghaṭaṁ pretavimuktidam

The king said: "How should the preta water-pot be made, and to whom, and by what procedure, should it be given? Tell me, for the sake of compassion for all, of the pot that liberates the preta."

Verse 55 (garuda.2.27.55)

प्रेत उवाच । साधु पृष्टं महाराज कथयामि निबोध ते । प्रेतत्वं न भवेद्येन दानेन सुदृढेन च

preta uvāca sādhu pṛṣṭaṁ mahārāja kathayāmi nibodha te pretatvaṁ na bhavedyena dānena sudṛḍhena ca

The preta said: "Well asked, great king; listen, I shall tell you — the firm gift by which pretahood does not occur,"

Verse 56 (garuda.2.27.56)

दानं प्रेतघटं नाम सर्वाशुभविनाशनम् । दुर्लभं सर्वलोकानां दुर्गतिक्षयकारकम्

dānaṁ pretaghaṭaṁ nāma sarvāśubhavināśanam durlabhaṁ sarvalokānāṁ durgatikṣayakārakam

"that gift is called the 'preta-ghata', which destroys all misfortune; it is rare among all the worlds, and it removes evil states of rebirth."

Verse 57 (garuda.2.27.57)

सन्तप्तहाटकमयं तु घटं विधाय ब्रह्मोशकेशवयुतं सह लोकपालैः । क्षीराज्यपूर्णविवरं प्रणिपत्य भक्त्या विप्राय देहि तव दानशतैः किमन्यैः

santaptahāṭakamayaṁ tu ghaṭaṁ vidhāya brahmośakeśavayutaṁ saha lokapālaiḥ kṣīrājyapūrṇavivaraṁ praṇipatya bhaktyā viprāya dehi tava dānaśataiḥ kimanyaiḥ

"Having had a pot made of heated gold, bearing Brahma, Isha, and Keshava together with the guardians of the quarters, its hollow filled with milk and ghee, bow to it with devotion and give it to a brahmin — what need is there of a hundred other gifts beside this one?"

Verse 58 (garuda.2.27.58)

ब्रह्मा मध्ये तथा विष्णुः शङ्करः शङ्करोऽव्ययः । प्राच्यादिषु च तत्कण्ठे लोकपालान्क्रमेण तु

brahmā madhye tathā viṣṇuḥ śaṅkaraḥ śaṅkaro'vyayaḥ prācyādiṣu ca tatkaṇṭhe lokapālānkrameṇa tu

"In the middle one should place Brahma, and likewise Vishnu, and Shankara the imperishable; on its neck, in the eastern direction and the others, the guardians of the quarters should be placed in order."

Verse 59 (garuda.2.27.59)

सम्पूज्य विधिवद्राजन्धूपैः कुसुमचन्दनैः । ततो दुग्धाज्यसहितं घटं देयं हिरण्मयम्

sampūjya vidhivadrājandhūpaiḥ kusumacandanaiḥ tato dugdhājyasahitaṁ ghaṭaṁ deyaṁ hiraṇmayam

"Having duly worshipped it with incense, flowers, and sandal, O king, one should then give that golden pot, together with milk and ghee, as a gift."

Verse 60 (garuda.2.27.60)

सर्वदानाधिकञ्चैतन्महापातकनाशनम् । कर्तव्यं श्रद्धया राजन्प्रेतत्वविनिवृत्तये

sarvadānādhikañcaitanmahāpātakanāśanam kartavyaṁ śraddhayā rājanpretatvavinivṛttaye

"This is superior to every other gift and destroys the greatest sins; O king, it should be performed with faith, so that pretahood is brought to an end."

Verse 61 (garuda.2.27.61)

श्रीभागवानुवाच । एवं संजल्षतस्तस्य प्रेतेन नियतात्मनः । सेनाजगामानुपदं हस्त्यश्वरथसंकुला

śrībhāgavānuvāca evaṁ saṁjalṣatastasya pretena niyatātmanaḥ senājagāmānupadaṁ hastyaśvarathasaṁkulā

The Blessed Lord said: "While the self-controlled preta was thus speaking, the king's army, crowded with elephants, horses, and chariots, arrived close behind."

Verse 62 (garuda.2.27.62)

ततो बले समायाते दत्त्वा राज्ञे महामणिम् । नमस्कृत्य पुनः प्रार्थ्य प्रेतोऽदर्शनमीयिवान्

tato bale samāyāte dattvā rājñe mahāmaṇim namaskṛtya punaḥ prārthya preto'darśanamīyivān

"Then, when the army had arrived, having given the king a great jewel, and having bowed and made his plea once more, the preta vanished from sight."

Verse 63 (garuda.2.27.63)

तस्माद्वनाद्विनिष्क्रम्य राजापि स्वपुरं ययौ । स्वपुरं स समासाद्य सर्वं तत्प्रेतभाषितम्

tasmādvanādviniṣkramya rājāpi svapuraṁ yayau svapuraṁ sa samāsādya sarvaṁ tatpretabhāṣitam

"Coming out of that forest, the king too went to his own city; and reaching his city, in accordance with everything the preta had told him,"

Verse 64 (garuda.2.27.64)

चकार विधिवत्पक्षिन्नौर्ध्वदेहादिकं विधिम् । तस्य पुण्यप्रदानेन प्रेतो मुक्तो दिवं ययौ

cakāra vidhivatpakṣinnaurdhvadehādikaṁ vidhim tasya puṇyapradānena preto mukto divaṁ yayau

"O bird, he duly performed the after-death rites and all that was prescribed. By the merit of that gift, the preta was freed and went to heaven."

Verse 65 (garuda.2.27.65)

श्राद्धेन परदत्तेन गतः प्रेतोऽपि सद्गतिम् । किं पुनः पुत्रदत्तेन पिता यातीति चात्भुतम्

śrāddhena paradattena gataḥ preto'pi sadgatim kiṁ punaḥ putradattena pitā yātīti cātbhutam

"Even by a shraddha given by a stranger, the preta attained a good state — how much more, then, when it is given by a son, does the father attain it! This indeed is wondrous."

Verse 66 (garuda.2.27.66)

इतिहासमिमं पुण्यं शृणोति श्रावयेच्च यः । न तौ प्रेतत्वमायातः पापाचारयुतावपि

itihāsamimaṁ puṇyaṁ śṛṇoti śrāvayecca yaḥ na tau pretatvamāyātaḥ pāpācārayutāvapi

"Whoever hears, or causes another to hear, this sacred narrative — both of them, even if given to sinful conduct, do not attain the state of a preta."