King Babhruvahana and the Preta Sudeva

Verse 1 (garuda.2.9.1)

गरुड उवाच । उक्तमाद्यां क्रियां यावन्नृपोऽपीतित्वयानघ । कस्यचित्केनचिद्राज्ञा किमाद्या सा कृता पुरा

garuḍa uvāca | uktamādyāṁ kriyāṁ yāvannṛpo'pītitvayānagha | kasyacitkenacidrājñā kimādyā sā kṛtā purā

Garuda said: O sinless one, you have told me that even a king may perform this foremost rite. Did some king, in ancient times, ever perform this foremost rite for someone?

Verse 2 (garuda.2.9.2)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । सुपर्ण शृणु वक्ष्यामि यथा राज्ञा क्रिया कृता । आसीत्कृतयुगे राजा वाङ्गो वै बभ्रुवाहनः

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca | suparṇa śṛṇu vakṣyāmi yathā rājñā kriyā kṛtā | āsītkṛtayuge rājā vāṁgo vai babhruvāhanaḥ

Shri Krishna said: O Suparna, listen, I shall tell you how a king once performed this rite. In the Satya Yuga, in the land of Vanga, there was a king named Babhruvahana.

Verse 3 (garuda.2.9.3)

पृथिव्याश्चतुरन्ताया गोप्ता पक्षीन्द्र धर्मतः । चतुर्भागां भुवं कृत्स्नां स भुङ्के वसुधाधिपः

pṛthivyāścaturantāyā goptā pakṣīndra dharmataḥ | caturbhāgāṁ bhuvaṁ kṛtsnāṁ sa bhuṁke vasudhādhipaḥ

O lord of birds, he was the righteous guardian of the earth bounded by its four quarters; that lord of the land held sway over a full quarter of the whole earth.

Verse 4 (garuda.2.9.4)

न पापकृत्कश्चिदासीत्तस्मिन्राज्यं प्रशासति । नासीच्चौरभयं तार्क्ष्य न क्षुद्रभयमेव हि

na pāpakṛtkaścidāsīttasminrājyaṁ praśāsati | nāsīccaurabhayaṁ tārkṣya na kṣudrabhayameva hi

During his reign there was no one who committed sin. O Tarkshya, there was no fear of thieves, nor even any fear of petty disturbances.

Verse 5 (garuda.2.9.5)

नासीद्व्याधिभयञ्चापि तस्मिञ्जनपदेश्वरे । स्वधर्मे रेमिरे चासीत्तेजसा भास्करोपमः

nāsīdvyādhibhayañcāpi tasmiñjanapadeśvare | svadharme remire cāsīttejasā bhāskaropamaḥ

In the realm of that lord of the land there was no fear of disease either. His people delighted in their own respective duties; he was like the sun in splendor,

Verse 6 (garuda.2.9.6)

अक्षुब्धत्वेर्ऽचलसमः सहिष्णुत्वे धरासमः । स कदाचिन्महाबाहुः प्रभूतबलवाहनः

akṣubdhatver'calasamaḥ sahiṣṇutve dharāsamaḥ | sa kadācinmahābāhuḥ prabhūtabalavāhanaḥ

like a mountain in his imperturbability, like the earth in his forbearance. Once that mighty-armed king, attended by abundant troops and mounts,

Verse 7 (garuda.2.9.7)

वनं जगाम गहनं हयानाञ्च शतैर्वृतः । सिंहनादैश्च योधानां शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिः स्वनैः

vanaṁ jagāma gahanaṁ hayānāñca śatairvṛtaḥ | siṁhanādaiśca yodhānāṁ śaṁkhadundubhiniḥ svanaiḥ

surrounded by hundreds of horses, went into a dense forest — amid the lion-roars of warriors and the sounds of conches and war-drums.

Verse 8 (garuda.2.9.8)

आसीत्किलकिलाशब्दस्तस्मिन् गच्छती पार्थिवे । तत्रतत्र च विप्रेन्द्रैः स्तूयमानः समन्ततः

āsītkilakilāśabdastasmin gacchatī pārthive | tatratatra ca viprendraiḥ stūyamānaḥ samantataḥ

As that lord of the land proceeded, a great tumult of sound rose on every side, and here and there foremost brahmins praised him from all around.

Verse 9 (garuda.2.9.9)

निर्ययौ परया प्रीत्या वनं मृगजिघांसया । स गच्छन्ददृशे धीमान्नन्दनप्रतिमं वनम्

niryayau parayā prītyā vanaṁ mṛgajighāṁsayā | sa gacchandadṛśe dhīmānnandanapratimaṁ vanam

With the greatest delight he set out, desiring to hunt deer. Going along, that wise king beheld a forest resembling Nandana, the garden of the gods,

Verse 10 (garuda.2.9.10)

बिल्वार्कखदिराकीर्णं कपित्थध्वजसंयुतम् । विषमैः पर्वतैश्चैव सर्वतश्च समन्वितम्

bilvārkakhadirākīrṇaṁ kapitthadhvajasaṁyutam | viṣamaiḥ parvataiścaiva sarvataśca samanvitam

thronged with bilva, arka, and khadira trees, filled with kaitha and dhvaja trees, encircled on every side by uneven mountains,

Verse 11 (garuda.2.9.11)

निर्जलं निर्मनुष्यञ्च बहुयोजनमायतम् । मृगसिंहैर्महाघोरैन्यैश्चापि वनेचरैः

nirjalaṁ nirmanuṣyañca bahuyojanamāyatam | mṛgasiṁhairmahāghorainyaiścāpi vanecaraiḥ

waterless, without people, extending over many yojanas, thronged with most terrible lions and deer and other forest-dwelling creatures.

Verse 12 (garuda.2.9.12)

तद्वनं मनुज व्याघ्रः सभृत्यबलवाहनः । लीलया लोडयामास सूदयन्विविधान्मृगान्

tadvanaṁ manuja vyāghraḥ sabhṛtyabalavāhanaḥ | līlayā loḍayāmāsa sūdayanvividhānmṛgān

That tiger among men, together with his servants, army, and mounts, killing various deer, churned that forest at his ease.

Verse 13 (garuda.2.9.13)

मृगस्य कस्यचित्कुक्षिं ततो विव्याध भूमिपः । राजा मृगप्रसङ्गेन तमनु प्राविशद्वनम्

mṛgasya kasyacitkukṣiṁ tato vivyādha bhūmipaḥ | rājā mṛgaprasaṁgena tamanu prāviśadvanam

Then that lord of the land shot an arrow into the belly of a certain deer. Chasing that deer, the king entered further into the forest,

Verse 14 (garuda.2.9.14)

एकाकी वै हृतबलः क्षुत्प्रिपासासमन्वितः । स वनस्यान्तमासाद्य महच्चारण्यमासदत्

ekākī vai hṛtabalaḥ kṣutpripāsāsamanvitaḥ | sa vanasyāntamāsādya mahaccāraṇyamāsadat

alone, cut off from his army, tormented by hunger and thirst. Reaching the edge of that forest, he came upon a vast wilderness.

Verse 15 (garuda.2.9.15)

तृषया परयाविष्टोऽन्विष्यज्जलमितस्ततः । स दूरात्पूरचक्राह्वं हंससारसनादितैः

tṛṣayā parayāviṣṭo'nviṣyajjalamitastataḥ | sa dūrātpūracakrāhvaṁ haṁsasārasanāditaiḥ

Overcome by intense thirst, searching for water on every side, he perceived from a distance, made known by the calls of geese and cranes,

Verse 16 (garuda.2.9.16)

सूचितं सर आगत्य साश्व एव व्यगाहत । पद्मानाञ्च परागेण उत्पलानां रजेन च

sūcitaṁ sara āgatya sāśva eva vyagāhata | padmānāñca parāgeṇa utpalānāṁ rajena ca

a lake, and, together with his very horse, he plunged into it. With the pollen of lotuses and the dust of blue water-lilies,

Verse 17 (garuda.2.9.17)

सुगन्धममलं शीतं पीत्वाम्भो निर्जगाम ह । मार्गश्रमपरिश्रान्तस्तडागतटमण्डपम्

sugandhamamalaṁ śītaṁ pītvāmbho nirjagāma ha | mārgaśramapariśrāntastaḍāgataṭamaṇḍapam

having drunk that fragrant, pure, and cool water, he emerged. Wearied by the exertion of the journey, seeing beside the lake a pavilion-like,

Verse 18 (garuda.2.9.18)

न्यग्रोधं वीक्ष्य तस्याशु जटास्वश्वं बबन्ध ह । स तत्रास्तरमास्तीर्य खेटकानुपधाय च

nyagrodhaṁ vīkṣya tasyāśu jaṭāsvaśvaṁ babandha ha | sa tatrāstaramāstīrya kheṭakānupadhāya ca

wide-spreading nyagrodha (banyan) tree, he quickly tied his horse among its hanging roots. There, spreading out a bed and using his shield as a pillow,

Verse 19 (garuda.2.9.19)

सूष्वाप वायुना तत्र सेव्यामातस्तदा क्षणम् । क्षणं सुप्ते नृपे तत्र प्रेतो वै प्रेतवाहनः

sūṣvāpa vāyunā tatra sevyāmātastadā kṣaṇam | kṣaṇaṁ supte nṛpe tatra preto vai pretavāhanaḥ

soothed by the breeze there, that exhausted king rested for a moment. As the king lay sleeping for a moment, there a preta named Pretavahana,

Verse 20 (garuda.2.9.20)

कश्चिदत्राजगामाथ युक्तः प्रेतशतेन च । अस्थिचर्मशिराशेषशरीरः परिविभ्रमन्

kaścidatrājagāmātha yuktaḥ pretaśatena ca | asthicarmaśirāśeṣaśarīraḥ parivibhraman

surrounded by hundreds of pretas, arrived there from somewhere — his body reduced to bone, skin, and skull, wandering about,

Verse 21 (garuda.2.9.21)

भक्ष्यंपेयं मार्गमाणो न बध्नाति धृतिं क्वचित् । तमपूर्वं नृपो दृष्ट्वाकरोदस्त्रं शरासने

bhakṣyaṁpeyaṁ mārgamāṇo na badhnāti dhṛtiṁ kvacit | tamapūrvaṁ nṛpo dṛṣṭvākarodastraṁ śarāsane

searching for food and drink, finding steadiness nowhere. Seeing this unprecedented sight, the king fitted an arrow to his bow.

Verse 22 (garuda.2.9.22)

दृष्ट्वा सोऽपि चिरं भूपं तस्थौ स्थाणुपिवाग्रतः । तमवस्थितमालोक्य राजा प्राप्तकुतूहलः

dṛṣṭvā so'pi ciraṁ bhūpaṁ tasthau sthāṇupivāgrataḥ | tamavasthitamālokya rājā prāptakutūhalaḥ

Seeing him, that preta too stood, motionless as a post, before the king for a long while. Seeing him standing thus, the king, filled with curiosity,

Verse 23 (garuda.2.9.23)

पप्रच्छ तञ्च कोऽसीति कुतो वा विकृतिं गतः । प्रेत उवाच । प्रेतभावो मया त्यक्तो गतिं प्राप्तोऽस्म्यहं पराम्

papraccha tañca ko'sīti kuto vā vikṛtiṁ gataḥ | preta uvāca | pretabhāvo mayā tyakto gatiṁ prāpto'smyahaṁ parām

asked him — 'Who are you, and by what cause have you come to this deformed state?' The preta said: 'I have now given up the state of a preta; I have attained the highest destiny.

Verse 24 (garuda.2.9.24)

त्वत्संयोगान्महाबाहो नास्ति धन्यतरो मया । बभ्रुवाहन उवाच । किमेतद्विपिने घोरे सर्वत्रातिभयानके

tvatsaṁyogānmahābāho nāsti dhanyataro mayā | babhruvāhana uvāca | kimetadvipine ghore sarvatrātibhayānake

O mighty-armed one, nothing is more blessed for me now than this meeting with you.' Babhruvahana said: 'What is this — in this terrible forest, frightening on every side,

Verse 25 (garuda.2.9.25)

दोधूयमाने वातेन वात्यारूपेण कोणप । पतङ्गा मशकाः क्षुद्राः कवन्धाश्च शिरांसि च

dodhūyamāne vātena vātyārūpeṇa koṇapa | pataṁgā maśakāḥ kṣudrāḥ kavandhāśca śirāṁsi ca

trembling with wind blowing as though in a whirlwind, O demon — moths, tiny gnats, headless trunks and severed heads,

Verse 26 (garuda.2.9.26)

मत्स्याः कूर्माः कृकलासा वृश्चिका भ्रमराहयः । अधोमुखोर्ध्वपादास्ते क्रन्दमानाः सुदारुणम्

matsyāḥ kūrmāḥ kṛkalāsā vṛścikā bhramarāhayaḥ | adhomukhordhvapādāste krandamānāḥ sudāruṇam

fish, tortoises, lizards, scorpions, and bees — heads downward and feet upward, they cry out most terribly,

Verse 27 (garuda.2.9.27)

प्रवान्ति वायवो रूक्षा ज्वलन्तो विद्युदग्नयः । इतस्ततो भ्रमन्तीव वायुना तृणसन्ततिः

pravānti vāyavo rūkṣā jvalanto vidyudagnayaḥ | itastato bhramantīva vāyunā tṛṇasantatiḥ

a harsh wind blows, fires of lightning blaze; as though driven by that wind, streams of straw seem to whirl about hither and thither,

Verse 28 (garuda.2.9.28)

दृश्यन्ते विविधा जीवा नागाश्च शलभव्रजाः । श्रूयन्ते बहुधा रावा न दृश्यन्ते क्वचित्क्वचित्

dṛśyante vividhā jīvā nāgāśca śalabhavrajāḥ | śrūyante bahudhā rāvā na dṛśyante kvacitkvacit

manifold creatures are seen — serpents and swarms of locusts. Many kinds of roars are heard, yet nowhere is anything to be seen.

Verse 29 (garuda.2.9.29)

दृष्ट्वेदं विकृतं सर्वं वेपते हृदयंमम । प्रते उवाच । येषां नैवाग्निसंस्कारो न श्राद्धं नोदकक्रियाः

dṛṣṭvedaṁ vikṛtaṁ sarvaṁ vepate hṛdayaṁmama | prate uvāca | yeṣāṁ naivāgnisaṁskāro na śrāddhaṁ nodakakriyāḥ

Seeing all this deformity, my heart trembles.' The preta said: 'Those for whom there was neither the fire-rite, nor shraddha, nor the water-rite,

Verse 30 (garuda.2.9.30)

षट्पिण्डा दश गात्राणि सपिण्डीकरणं न हि । विश्वासघातिनो ये च सुरापाः स्वर्णहारिणः

ṣaṭpiṇḍā daśa gātrāṇi sapiṇḍīkaraṇaṁ na hi | viśvāsaghātino ye ca surāpāḥ svarṇahāriṇaḥ

neither the six pindas, nor the ten limbs, nor the sapindikarana — betrayers of trust, drinkers of liquor, thieves of gold,

Verse 31 (garuda.2.9.31)

मृता दुर्मरणाद्ये च ये चासूयापरा जनाः । प्रायश्चित्तविहीना ये अगम्यागमने रताः

mṛtā durmaraṇādye ca ye cāsūyāparā janāḥ | prāyaścittavihīnā ye agamyāgamane ratāḥ

those who died an evil death, those given to envy, those without atonement, those devoted to forbidden unions —

Verse 32 (garuda.2.9.32)

कर्मभिर्भ्राम्यमाणास्ते प्राणिनः स्वकृतैरिह । दुर्लभाहारपानीया दृश्यन्ते पीडिता भृशम्

karmabhirbhrāmyamāṇāste prāṇinaḥ svakṛtairiha | durlabhāhārapānīyā dṛśyante pīḍitā bhṛśam

such creatures wander here, driven by their own deeds. Finding food and drink hard to come by, they appear most sorely afflicted.

Verse 33 (garuda.2.9.33)

एतेषां कृपया राजंस्त्वं कुरुष्वौर्ध्वदेहिकम् । येषां न माता न पिता न पुत्रो न च बान्धवाः

eteṣāṁ kṛpayā rājaṁstvaṁ kuruṣvaurdhvadehikam | yeṣāṁ na mātā na pitā na putro na ca bāndhavāḥ

O king, take pity on these and perform their funerary rites. Those who have neither mother, nor father, nor son, nor kinsmen,

Verse 34 (garuda.2.9.34)

तेषा राजा स्वयं कुर्यात्कर्माणि तु यतो नृपः । आत्मनश्च शुभं कर्म कर्तव्यं पारलौकिकम्

teṣā rājā svayaṁ kuryātkarmāṇi tu yato nṛpaḥ | ātmanaśca śubhaṁ karma kartavyaṁ pāralaukikam

for them the king himself should perform the rites, for the king is [the refuge of all]. One should also perform the auspicious rite pertaining to the next world for oneself,

Verse 35 (garuda.2.9.35)

विमुक्तः सर्वदुः खेभ्यो येनाञ्जो दुर्गातिं तरेत् । भ्रातरः कस्य के पुत्रास्त्रियोऽपि स्वार्थकोविदाः

vimuktaḥ sarvaduḥ khebhyo yenāñjo durgātiṁ taret | bhrātaraḥ kasya ke putrāstriyo'pi svārthakovidāḥ

by which one, freed from every suffering, may easily cross beyond an evil state. Whose brothers, whose sons, whose wives — all are skilled only in their own self-interest.

Verse 36 (garuda.2.9.36)

न कार्यस्तेषु विश्रम्भ स्वकृतं भुज्यतेयतः । गृहेष्वर्था निवर्न्त्तन्ते श्मशाने चैव बान्धवाः

na kāryasteṣu viśrambha svakṛtaṁ bhujyateyataḥ | gṛheṣvarthā nivarnttante śmaśāne caiva bāndhavāḥ

One should place no trust in them, for what one has done oneself is what one alone must experience. Wealth remains behind in the house, and kinsmen too are left behind at the cremation ground;

Verse 37 (garuda.2.9.37)

शरीरं काष्ठामादत्ते पापं पुण्यं सह व्रजेत् । तस्मादाशु त्वया सम्यगात्मनः श्रेय इच्छता

śarīraṁ kāṣṭhāmādatte pāpaṁ puṇyaṁ saha vrajet | tasmādāśu tvayā samyagātmanaḥ śreya icchatā

the body is consumed with the wood, and only sin and merit accompany the soul onward. Therefore, one desiring one's own welfare should promptly and properly,

Verse 38 (garuda.2.9.38)

अस्थिरेण शरीरेण कर्तव्यञ्चौर्ध्वदोहिकम् । राजोवाच । कृशरूपः करालाक्षस्त्वं प्रेत इव लक्ष्यसे

asthireṇa śarīreṇa kartavyañcaurdhvadohikam | rājovāca | kṛśarūpaḥ karālākṣastvaṁ preta iva lakṣyase

while this unstable body still endures, perform the funerary rite.' The king said: 'O king of pretas, you appear emaciated, terrible-eyed, and like a preta yourself;

Verse 39 (garuda.2.9.39)

कथयस्वः मम प्रीत्या प्रेतराज यथातथम् । तथा पृष्टः स वै राज्ञा उवाच सकलं स्वकम्

kathayasvaḥ mama prītyā pretarāja yathātatham | tathā pṛṣṭaḥ sa vai rājñā uvāca sakalaṁ svakam

out of kindness to me, tell me your true state.' Thus questioned by the king, he told him everything about himself.

Verse 40 (garuda.2.9.40)

प्रेत उवाच । कथयामि नृपश्रेष्ठ सर्वमेवादितस्तव । प्रेतत्वे कारणं श्रुत्वा दयां कर्तुमिहार्हसि

preta uvāca | kathayāmi nṛpaśreṣṭha sarvamevāditastava | pretatve kāraṇaṁ śrutvā dayāṁ kartumihārhasi

The preta said: 'O foremost of kings, I shall tell you everything from the beginning. Hearing the cause of my preta-hood, you will find it fit to show me compassion.'

Verse 41 (garuda.2.9.41)

वैदिशं नाम नगरं सर्वसम्पत्सुखावहम् । नानाजनपदाकीर्णं नानारत्नसमाकुलम्

vaidiśaṁ nāma nagaraṁ sarvasampatsukhāvaham | nānājanapadākīrṇaṁ nānāratnasamākulam

'There was a city called Vaidisha, bringer of every prosperity and comfort, thronged with people from many lands, filled with manifold jewels,'

Verse 42 (garuda.2.9.42)

नानापुष्पवनाकीर्णं नानापुण्यजनावृतम् । तत्राहं न्यवसं भूप देवार्चनरतः सदा

nānāpuṣpavanākīrṇaṁ nānāpuṇyajanāvṛtam | tatrāhaṁ nyavasaṁ bhūpa devārcanarataḥ sadā

'thronged with forests of manifold flowers, surrounded by manifold virtuous people. O king, I dwelt there, ever intent on the worship of the gods,'

Verse 43 (garuda.2.9.43)

वैश्यजातिः सुदेवोऽहं नाम्ना विदितमस्तु ते । हव्येन तर्पिता देवाः कव्येन पितरो मया

vaiśyajātiḥ sudevo'haṁ nāmnā viditamastu te | havyena tarpitā devāḥ kavyena pitaro mayā

'of the vaishya caste; know me by the name Sudeva. With havya I satisfied the gods, with kavya the ancestors,'

Verse 44 (garuda.2.9.44)

विविधैर्दानयोगैश्च विप्राः सन्तर्पिता मया । आहारश्च विहारश्च मया वै सुनिवेशितः

vividhairdānayogaiśca viprāḥ santarpitā mayā | āhāraśca vihāraśca mayā vai suniveśitaḥ

'and with various kinds of gifts I satisfied the brahmins as well. I well ordered both my food and my recreation,'

Verse 45 (garuda.2.9.45)

दीनानाथविशिष्टेभ्यो मया दत्तमनेकधा । तत्सर्वं निष्फलं जातं मम दैवादुपागतम्

dīnānāthaviśiṣṭebhyo mayā dattamanekadhā | tatsarvaṁ niṣphalaṁ jātaṁ mama daivādupāgatam

'and gave gifts in many ways to the wretched, the helpless, and the distinguished. Yet all of it came to nothing, through my own ill fortune —'

Verse 46 (garuda.2.9.46)

न मेऽस्ति सन्ततिस्तात न सुहृन्न च बान्धवाः । न च मित्रं हितस्तादृग्यः कुर्यादौर्ध्वदैहिकम्

na me'sti santatistāta na suhṛnna ca bāndhavāḥ | na ca mitraṁ hitastādṛgyaḥ kuryādaurdhvadaihikam

'for I have, dear one, no offspring, no friend, no kinsmen, and no such well-wishing friend who might perform my funerary rite.'

Verse 47 (garuda.2.9.47)

प्रेतत्वं सुस्थिरं तेन मम जातं नृपोत्तम । एकादशं त्रिपक्षञ्च षाण्मासिकमथाब्दिकम्

pretatvaṁ susthiraṁ tena mama jātaṁ nṛpottama | ekādaśaṁ tripakṣañca ṣāṇmāsikamathābdikam

'For this very reason, O foremost of kings, my state as a preta has become utterly fixed. The eleventh-day rite, the three-fortnight rite, the six-monthly, then the yearly,'

Verse 48 (garuda.2.9.48)

प्रतिमास्यानि चान्या नि ह्येवं श्राद्धानि षोडश । यस्यैतानि न दीयन्ते प्रेतश्राद्धानि भूपते

pratimāsyāni cānyā ni hyevaṁ śrāddhāni ṣoḍaśa | yasyaitāni na dīyante pretaśrāddhāni bhūpate

'and the other monthly shraddhas as well — thus sixteen shraddhas are declared. O lord of the earth, for whom these preta-shraddhas are not given,'

Verse 49 (garuda.2.9.49)

प्रेतत्वं सुस्थिरं तस्यः दत्तैः श्राद्धशतैरपि । एवं ज्ञात्वा महाराज प्रेतत्वादुद्धरस्व माम्

pretatvaṁ susthiraṁ tasyaḥ dattaiḥ śrāddhaśatairapi | evaṁ jñātvā mahārāja pretatvāduddharasva mām

'his state as a preta remains utterly fixed, even if hundreds of shraddhas are given. O great king, knowing this, deliver me from my state as a preta.'

Verse 50 (garuda.2.9.50)

वर्णानाञ्चैव सर्वेषां राजा बन्धुरिहोच्यते । तन्मां तारय राजेन्द्र मणिरत्नं ददामि ते

varṇānāñcaiva sarveṣāṁ rājā bandhurihocyate | tanmāṁ tāraya rājendra maṇiratnaṁ dadāmi te

'Here the king is called the kinsman of all the varnas; therefore, O king of kings, deliver me across — I give you a jewel-gem,'

Verse 51 (garuda.2.9.51)

यथा मम शुभावाप्तिर्भवेन्नृपवरोत्तम । तथा कार्यं महीपाल दयां कृत्वा मयि प्रभो

yathā mama śubhāvāptirbhavennṛpavarottama | tathā kāryaṁ mahīpāla dayāṁ kṛtvā mayi prabho

'so that I may obtain that auspicious state, O foremost of kings; do just this, O lord of the earth, showing me your compassion.'

Verse 52 (garuda.2.9.52)

सपिण्डैर्वा सगोत्रैर्वा निष्टुरैर्न कृतो हिमे । वृषोत्सर्गस्ततो दुष्टं प्रेतत्वं प्राप्तवानहम्

sapiṇḍairvā sagotrairvā niṣṭurairna kṛto hime | vṛṣotsargastato duṣṭaṁ pretatvaṁ prāptavānaham

'None among my kinsmen or those of my gotra, hard-hearted as they were, performed the vrishotsarga for me; therefore I attained this dreadful state of a preta.'

Verse 53 (garuda.2.9.53)

क्षुत्तृषाविष्टदेहश्च भक्ष्यं पानं न चाप्नुयाम् । अतो विकृतिरेषा वै कृशात्वादिरमांसका

kṣuttṛṣāviṣṭadehaśca bhakṣyaṁ pānaṁ na cāpnuyām | ato vikṛtireṣā vai kṛśātvādiramāṁsakā

'My body afflicted by hunger and thirst, I obtain neither food nor drink; hence this deformity, this emaciation, this fleshlessness,'

Verse 54 (garuda.2.9.54)

क्षुत्तृड्जन्यं महादुः खमनुभवामि पुनः पुनः । अकल्याणं हि प्रेतत्वं वृषोत्सर्गं विना कृतम्

kṣuttṛḍjanyaṁ mahāduḥ khamanubhavāmi punaḥ punaḥ | akalyāṇaṁ hi pretatvaṁ vṛṣotsargaṁ vinā kṛtam

'and this great suffering born of hunger and thirst — this I endure again and again. The state of a preta attained without vrishotsarga is a most inauspicious thing;'

Verse 55 (garuda.2.9.55)

तस्माद्राजन्दयासिन्धो प्रार्थयामि तवाग्रतः । राजोवाच । वर्तते मत्कुले प्रेत इति ज्ञेयं कथं नरैः

tasmādrājandayāsindho prārthayāmi tavāgrataḥ | rājovāca | vartate matkule preta iti jñeyaṁ kathaṁ naraiḥ

'therefore, O king, ocean of compassion, this is my prayer before you.' The king said: 'How might men know that a preta exists within their own family?'

Verse 56 (garuda.2.9.56)

तन्ममाचक्ष्व हि प्रेत प्रेतत्वान्मुच्यते कथम् । प्रेत उवाच । लिङ्गेन पीडया प्रेतोऽनुमातव्यो नरैः सदा

tanmamācakṣva hi preta pretatvānmucyate katham | preta uvāca | liṁgena pīḍayā preto'numātavyo naraiḥ sadā

'O preta, tell me this, and also how one is released from the state of a preta.' The preta said: 'By the signs of affliction alone should men always infer the presence of a preta.'

Verse 57 (garuda.2.9.57)

वक्ष्यामि पीडास्ता राजन्या वै प्रेतकृता भुवि । ऋतुः स्यादफलः स्त्रीणां यदा वंशो न वर्धते

vakṣyāmi pīḍāstā rājanyā vai pretakṛtā bhuvi | ṛtuḥ syādaphalaḥ strīṇāṁ yadā vaṁśo na vardhate

'O king, I shall tell you the afflictions that a preta causes upon the earth. When women's fertile season proves fruitless, and the lineage does not grow,'

Verse 58 (garuda.2.9.58)

म्रियन्ते चाल्पवयसः सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा । अकस्माद्वृत्तिहरणमप्रतिष्ठा जनेषु वै

mriyante cālpavayasaḥ sā pīḍā pretasambhavā | akasmādvṛttiharaṇamapratiṣṭhā janeṣu vai

'and children die at a young age — that affliction arises from a preta. If livelihood is suddenly taken away, and standing among people is lost,'

Verse 59 (garuda.2.9.59)

अकस्माद्गृहदाहः स्यात्सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा । स्वगेहे कलहो नित्यं स्याच्च मिथ्याभिशंसनम्

akasmādgṛhadāhaḥ syātsā pīḍā pretasambhavā | svagehe kalaho nityaṁ syācca mithyābhiśaṁsanam

'if the house suddenly catches fire — that affliction too arises from a preta. If quarrel ever besets one's own household, and false accusation is made,'

Verse 60 (garuda.2.9.60)

राजयक्ष्मादिसम्भूतिः सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा । अपि स्वयं धनं मुक्तं प्रयत्नादनवे पथि

rājayakṣmādisambhūtiḥ sā pīḍā pretasambhavā | api svayaṁ dhanaṁ muktaṁ prayatnādanave pathi

'the arising of consumption and similar diseases — that affliction too arises from a preta. Even wealth earned by one's own effort, by a proper path,'

Verse 61 (garuda.2.9.61)

नैव लभ्येत नश्येतः सा पीडा प्रेतसंमवा । सुवृष्टौ कृषिनाशः स्याद्वाणिज्याद्वृत्तिनाशनम्

naiva labhyeta naśyetaḥ sā pīḍā pretasaṁmavā | suvṛṣṭau kṛṣināśaḥ syādvāṇijyādvṛttināśanam

'yet fails to be attained, or is destroyed — that affliction too arises from a preta. If, despite good rainfall, the crop fails, or trade destroys one's livelihood,'

Verse 62 (garuda.2.9.62)

कलत्रं प्रतिकूलं स्यात्सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा । एवन्तु पीडया राजन्प्रेतज्ञानं भवेन्नृणाम्

kalatraṁ pratikūlaṁ syātsā pīḍā pretasambhavā | evantu pīḍayā rājanpretajñānaṁ bhavennṛṇām

'if one's wife becomes hostile — that affliction too arises from a preta. O king, thus, by these afflictions, men should come to know of a preta's presence.'

Verse 63 (garuda.2.9.63)

वृषोत्सर्गो यदि भवेत्प्रेतत्वान्मुच्यते तदा । तस्मान्नृप त्वमप्येवं वृषोत्सर्गं कुरु प्रभो

vṛṣotsargo yadi bhavetpretatvānmucyate tadā | tasmānnṛpa tvamapyevaṁ vṛṣotsargaṁ kuru prabho

'If the vrishotsarga is performed, then he is freed from the state of a preta. Therefore, O king, O Lord, you too should perform this vrishotsarga —'

Verse 64 (garuda.2.9.64)

मामुद्दिश्य नृपेऽप्यत्राधिकारोऽत्यनुकम्पया । राजपुत्रो हतः कश्चिन्मयैवाप्तस्ततो मया

māmuddiśya nṛpe'pyatrādhikāro'tyanukampayā | rājaputro hataḥ kaścinmayaivāptastato mayā

'dedicated to me — you have, out of special compassion, the right to act in this matter. A certain prince was slain by me myself, and so I obtained wealth from him;'

Verse 65 (garuda.2.9.65)

कुरुष्व त्वं गृहीत्वा मे तद्धनेन वृषोत्सवम् । कार्तिक्यां पौर्णमास्यां वाऽश्वयुङ्मध्येऽथवा नृप

kuruṣva tvaṁ gṛhītvā me taddhanena vṛṣotsavam | kārtikyāṁ paurṇamāsyāṁ vā'śvayuṁmadhye'thavā nṛpa

'take that very wealth and perform my bull-festival. On the full moon of Kartika, or in the middle of Ashvina,'

Verse 66 (garuda.2.9.66)

रेवतीयुक्तदिवसे कृषीष्ठा मे वृषोत्सवम् । पुण्यान्विप्रान्समाहूय वह्निं स्थाप्य विधानतः

revatīyuktadivase kṛṣīṣṭhā me vṛṣotsavam | puṇyānviprānsamāhūya vahniṁ sthāpya vidhānataḥ

'on the day joined with the Revati nakshatra, perform my bull-festival. Summon virtuous brahmins, establish the fire according to rite,'

Verse 67 (garuda.2.9.67)

मन्त्रैर्होमस्तथा कार्यः षड्भिर्नृप विधानतः । बहून्विप्रान् भोजयेथास्तद्रत्नाप्तधनेन वै । एवं कृते महीपाल मम मुक्तिर्भविष्यति

mantrairhomastathā kāryaḥ ṣaḍbhirnṛpa vidhānataḥ | bahūnviprān bhojayethāstadratnāptadhanena vai | evaṁ kṛte mahīpāla mama muktirbhaviṣyati

'and, O king, oblation should be duly offered with six mantras. With the wealth obtained from that jewel, feed many brahmins. O lord of the earth, thus done, my liberation shall come about.'

Verse 68 (garuda.2.9.68)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । तथेति प्रतिजग्राह मणिं राजा ततः खग

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca | tatheti pratijagrāha maṇiṁ rājā tataḥ khaga

Shri Krishna said: Saying 'so be it', the king then accepted that jewel, O bird.

Verse 69 (garuda.2.9.69)

क्रियाधिकारस्तस्यैव यो धनग्राहको भवेत् । कुर्वतोस्तु तयोर्वार्तामेवं प्रेतमहीक्षितोः

kriyādhikārastasyaiva yo dhanagrāhako bhavet | kurvatostu tayorvārtāmevaṁ pretamahīkṣitoḥ

The right to perform the rite belongs to him who accepts the wealth. As those two, the preta and the king, were thus conversing,

Verse 70 (garuda.2.9.70)

झणत्कारस्तु घण्टानां भेरीणां भाङ्कृतिस्तथा । जातस्तदा राजसेना चतुरङ्गा समापतत्

jhaṇatkārastu ghaṇṭānāṁ bherīṇāṁ bhāṁkṛtistathā | jātastadā rājasenā caturaṁgā samāpatat

the jangling of bells and the booming of war-drums was heard — at that moment the king's four-fold army arrived there.

Verse 71 (garuda.2.9.71)

तस्यामागतमात्रायां प्रेतश्चादृश्यतां गतः । तस्माद्वनाद्विनिःसृत्य राजापि पुरमागमत्

tasyāmāgatamātrāyāṁ pretaścādṛśyatāṁ gataḥ | tasmādvanādviniḥsṛtya rājāpi puramāgamat

As soon as that army arrived, the preta vanished from sight. Then, departing from that forest, the king too returned to his capital.

Verse 72 (garuda.2.9.72)

स कार्तिक्यां पूर्णिमायां प्रेतमुद्दिश्य संव्यधात् । वृषोत्सर्गं विधानेन तन्मण्याप्तधनेन च

sa kārtikyāṁ pūrṇimāyāṁ pretamuddiśya saṁvyadhāt | vṛṣotsargaṁ vidhānena tanmaṇyāptadhanena ca

On the full moon of Kartika, dedicated to that preta, with the wealth obtained from that jewel, he duly performed the vrishotsarga.

Verse 73 (garuda.2.9.73)

प्रेतोऽप्ययं सपदिलब्धसुवर्णदेहः कर्मान्त आगत इति प्रणनाम भूपम् । देव त्वदीयमहिमायमिति स्तुवन् स यातो दिवं गरुड भूपतिना कृतज्ञः

preto'pyayaṁ sapadilabdhasuvarṇadehaḥ karmānta āgata iti praṇanāma bhūpam | deva tvadīyamahimāyamiti stuvan sa yāto divaṁ garuḍa bhūpatinā kṛtajñaḥ

That preta too, instantly attaining a body radiant as gold, and saying 'the rite is now complete', came there and bowed before the king — praising him, saying 'O god, this is your own glory alone' — and went on to heaven, O Garuda, grateful to that lord of the earth.

Verse 74 (garuda.2.9.74)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यथा भूपतिनापि सः । उद्धृतः प्रेतभावाद्वै किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छसि

etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ yathā bhūpatināpi saḥ | uddhṛtaḥ pretabhāvādvai kimanyacchrotumicchasi

All this I have told you — how that being was delivered from the state of a preta by the king. What else do you wish to hear?