The Account of the Preta-Shraddha in the Dialogue of Indra and Vishnu

Verse 1 (skanda.6.204.1)

आनर्त उवाच प्रोक्ताऽस्माकं त्वया विप्र शुद्धिर्नागरसंभवा वंशजा विस्तरेणैव यथा पृष्टोऽसि सुव्रत

ānarta uvāca proktā'smākaṁ tvayā vipra śuddhirnāgarasaṁbhavā vaṁśajā vistareṇaiva yathā pṛṣṭo'si suvrata

Anarta said: O brahmin, you have declared to us, at length, exactly as you were asked, O virtuous one, the certification of purity for a Nagara that arises from lineage.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.204.2)

सांप्रतं शीलजां ब्रूहि नष्टवंशश्च यो भवेत् पितामहं न जानाति न च मातामहीं निजाम् तस्य शुद्धिः कथं कार्या नागरोऽस्मीति यो वदेत्

sāṁprataṁ śīlajāṁ brūhi naṣṭavaṁśaśca yo bhavet pitāmahaṁ na jānāti na ca mātāmahīṁ nijām tasya śuddhiḥ kathaṁ kāryā nāgaro'smīti yo vadet

Now tell me of that certification which arises from character — for whoever has lost track of his own lineage, who knows neither his own grandfather nor his own grandmother, yet declares 'I am a Nagara' — how is his certification of purity to be carried out?

Verse 3 (skanda.6.204.3)

विश्वामित्र उवाच एतदर्थं पुरा पृष्टो भर्तृयज्ञश्च नागरैः नष्टवंशकृते राजन्यथा पृष्टोऽस्मि वै त्वया

viśvāmitra uvāca etadarthaṁ purā pṛṣṭo bhartṛyajñaśca nāgaraiḥ naṣṭavaṁśakṛte rājanyathā pṛṣṭo'smi vai tvayā

Vishvamitra said: On this very matter, Bhartriyajna was asked by the Nagaras of old, O king, exactly as I have been asked by you now, concerning one whose lineage is lost.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.204.4)

भर्तृयज्ञ उवाच नष्टवंशस्तु यो ब्रूयान्नागरोऽस्मीति संसदि तस्य शीलं प्रविज्ञेयं ततः शुद्धिं समादिशेत्

bhartṛyajña uvāca naṣṭavaṁśastu yo brūyānnāgaro'smīti saṁsadi tasya śīlaṁ pravijñeyaṁ tataḥ śuddhiṁ samādiśet

Bhartriyajna said: 'Whoever, his lineage lost, declares himself a Nagara in the assembly — his character is to be closely examined, and only then should certification of purity be ordained.'

Verse 5 (skanda.6.204.5)

नागराणां तु ये धर्मा व्यवहाराश्च केवलाः तेषु चेद्वर्तते नित्यं संभाव्यो नागरो हि सः

nāgarāṇāṁ tu ye dharmā vyavahārāśca kevalāḥ teṣu cedvartate nityaṁ saṁbhāvyo nāgaro hi saḥ

'If he abides constantly by the practices and conduct that belong solely to the Nagaras, then he is indeed to be recognized as a Nagara.'

Verse 6 (skanda.6.204.6)

तस्य शुद्धिकृते देयं धटं ब्राह्मणसत्तमाः धटे तु शुद्धिमापन्ने ततोऽसौ शुद्धतां व्रजेत्

tasya śuddhikṛte deyaṁ dhaṭaṁ brāhmaṇasattamāḥ dhaṭe tu śuddhimāpanne tato'sau śuddhatāṁ vrajet

'O best of brahmins, for his purification the water-pot ordeal should be given. Once he has attained purity through that ordeal, he then attains purity fully.'

Verse 7 (skanda.6.204.7)

श्राद्धार्हः कन्यकार्हश्च सोमार्हश्च विशेषतः सामान्यपदयोग्यश्च समस्ते स्थानकर्मणि

śrāddhārhaḥ kanyakārhaśca somārhaśca viśeṣataḥ sāmānyapadayogyaśca samaste sthānakarmaṇi

'He becomes fit for the shraddha, fit to receive a maiden in marriage, and, especially, fit for the Soma-rite; and he becomes fit for the ordinary standing in every affair of the community.'

Verse 8 (skanda.6.204.8)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यत्पृष्टोऽस्मि नरोत्तम द्वितीया जायते शुद्धिर्यथा नष्टान्वये द्विजे तस्माद्वद महाराज यद्भूयः श्रोतुमर्हसि

etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ yatpṛṣṭo'smi narottama dvitīyā jāyate śuddhiryathā naṣṭānvaye dvije tasmādvada mahārāja yadbhūyaḥ śrotumarhasi

O best of men, all this has now been told to you, as you asked — how this second kind of certification of purity comes about for a brahmin of lost lineage. Now, O great king, tell me what more you wish to hear.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.204.9)

आनर्त उवाच तस्मात्ते नागरा भूत्वा विप्राश्चाष्टकुलोद्भवाः सर्वेषामुत्तमा जाताः प्राधान्येन व्यवस्थिताः

ānarta uvāca tasmātte nāgarā bhūtvā viprāścāṣṭakulodbhavāḥ sarveṣāmuttamā jātāḥ prādhānyena vyavasthitāḥ

Anarta said: For this reason, then, those brahmins born of the eight lineages, having become Nagaras, stand established, foremost among them all, by their pre-eminence.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.204.10)

तपसः किं प्रभावः स तेषां वा यजनोद्भवः विद्योद्भवोऽथवा विप्र किं वा दानसमुद्भवः

tapasaḥ kiṁ prabhāvaḥ sa teṣāṁ vā yajanodbhavaḥ vidyodbhavo'thavā vipra kiṁ vā dānasamudbhavaḥ

Is this the power of austerity, O brahmin, or does it arise from their sacrifices? Or does it arise from learning, or perhaps from acts of giving?

Verse 11 (skanda.6.204.11)

विश्वामित्र उवाच ते सर्वे गुणसंपन्ना यथान्ये नागरास्तथा विशेषश्चापरस्तेषां ते शक्रेण प्रतिष्ठिताः

viśvāmitra uvāca te sarve guṇasaṁpannā yathānye nāgarāstathā viśeṣaścāparasteṣāṁ te śakreṇa pratiṣṭhitāḥ

Vishvamitra said: They are all endowed with virtues, just as the other Nagaras are; but there is this further distinction for them — they were established by Indra himself.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.204.12)

तेन ते गौरवं प्राप्ताः सर्वेषां तु द्विजन्मनाम्

tena te gauravaṁ prāptāḥ sarveṣāṁ tu dvijanmanām

For this reason they have attained honour above all other brahmins.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.204.13)

आनर्त उवाच कस्मिन्काले तु ते विप्राः शक्रेणात्र प्रतिष्ठिताः किमर्थं च वदास्माकं विस्तरेण महामते

ānarta uvāca kasminkāle tu te viprāḥ śakreṇātra pratiṣṭhitāḥ kimarthaṁ ca vadāsmākaṁ vistareṇa mahāmate

Anarta said: At what time were those brahmins established here by Indra, and for what purpose? Tell us, O wise one, at length.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.204.14)

विश्वामित्र उवाच हिरण्याक्ष इति ख्यातः पुराऽऽसीद्दानवोत्तमः अभवत्तस्य संग्रामः शक्रेण सह दारुणः

viśvāmitra uvāca hiraṇyākṣa iti khyātaḥ purā''sīddānavottamaḥ abhavattasya saṁgrāmaḥ śakreṇa saha dāruṇaḥ

Vishvamitra said: Long ago there was a foremost among the danavas, renowned as Hiranyaksha. A dreadful battle took place between him and Indra.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.204.15)

तत्र देवासुरे युद्धे मृता भूरिदिवौकसः दानवाश्च महाराज परस्परजिगीषवः

tatra devāsure yuddhe mṛtā bhūridivaukasaḥ dānavāśca mahārāja parasparajigīṣavaḥ

O great king, in that war between the gods and the demons, countless denizens of heaven, and countless danavas too, each seeking to conquer the other, perished.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.204.16)

अथ ते दानवाः संख्ये शक्रेण विनिपातिताः विद्याबलेन ताञ्छुक्रः सजीवान्कुरुते पुनः

atha te dānavāḥ saṁkhye śakreṇa vinipātitāḥ vidyābalena tāñchukraḥ sajīvānkurute punaḥ

Then those danavas, felled in battle by Indra, were made alive again by Shukra, through the power of his knowledge.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.204.17)

देवाश्च निधनं प्राप्ता न जीवंति कथंचन कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य विष्णुं प्रोवाच वृत्रहा

devāśca nidhanaṁ prāptā na jīvaṁti kathaṁcana kasyacittvatha kālasya viṣṇuṁ provāca vṛtrahā

But the gods who had met their deaths could not, by any means, be revived. Then, after some time, the slayer of Vritra spoke to Vishnu.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.204.18)

धारातीर्थमृतानां च प्रहारैः सन्मुखैः प्रभो या गतिश्च समादिष्टा तां मे वद जनार्दन

dhārātīrthamṛtānāṁ ca prahāraiḥ sanmukhaiḥ prabho yā gatiśca samādiṣṭā tāṁ me vada janārdana

'O lord, tell me, O Janardana, what destiny has been ordained for those who die facing the enemy, struck by blows at the very edge of the sword.'

Verse 19 (skanda.6.204.19)

पराङ्मुखा मृता ये च पलायनपरायणाः तेषामपि गतिं ब्रूहि यादृग्जायेतवाच्युत

parāṅmukhā mṛtā ye ca palāyanaparāyaṇāḥ teṣāmapi gatiṁ brūhi yādṛgjāyetavācyuta

'And tell me also, O Achyuta, what destiny comes about for those who die with backs turned, given over to flight.'

Verse 20 (skanda.6.204.20)

विष्णुरुवाच धारातीर्थमृतानां च सन्मुखानां महाहवे यथा चोच्छिन्नबीजानां पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते

viṣṇuruvāca dhārātīrthamṛtānāṁ ca sanmukhānāṁ mahāhave yathā cocchinnabījānāṁ punarjanma na vidyate

Vishnu said: For those who die facing the enemy at the very edge of the sword, in a great battle, there is no rebirth, just as there is none for seeds whose germinating power has been destroyed.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.204.21)

ये पुनः पृष्ठदेशे तु हन्यते भयविक्लवाः भुज्यमानाः परैस्ते च प्रेताः स्युस्त्रिदशाधिप

ye punaḥ pṛṣṭhadeśe tu hanyate bhayaviklavāḥ bhujyamānāḥ paraiste ca pretāḥ syustridaśādhipa

But whoever, overcome with fear, is struck down upon the back, being cut down by the enemy — O lord of the thirty gods, such men become pretas, restless ghosts.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.204.22)

इन्द्र उवाच केचिद्देवा मृता युद्धे युध्यमानाश्च सन्मुखाः तथैवान्ये मया दृष्टा हन्यमानाः पराङ्मुखाः प्रेतत्वं दानवानां च सर्वेषां स्यान्न वा प्रभो

indra uvāca keciddevā mṛtā yuddhe yudhyamānāśca sanmukhāḥ tathaivānye mayā dṛṣṭā hanyamānāḥ parāṅmukhāḥ pretatvaṁ dānavānāṁ ca sarveṣāṁ syānna vā prabho

Indra said: 'Some gods died in battle fighting face-to-face; and likewise I saw others struck down with backs turned. O lord, does the state of pretahood befall the danavas too, all of them, or not?'

Verse 23 (skanda.6.204.23)

विष्णुरुवाच असंशयं सहस्राक्ष हता युद्धे पराङ्मुखाः प्रेतत्वे यांति ते सर्वे देवा वा मानुषा यदि

viṣṇuruvāca asaṁśayaṁ sahasrākṣa hatā yuddhe parāṅmukhāḥ pretatve yāṁti te sarve devā vā mānuṣā yadi

Vishnu said: 'O thousand-eyed one, without doubt, all those slain in battle with backs turned go to the state of pretahood — whether they be gods or men.'

Verse 24 (skanda.6.204.24)

विषादग्नेः कुलघ्नानां तया चैवात्मघातिनाम् दंष्ट्रिभिर्हतदेहानां शृंगिभिश्च सुरेश्वर प्रेतत्वं जायते नूनं सत्यमेतदसंशयम्

viṣādagneḥ kulaghnānāṁ tayā caivātmaghātinām daṁṣṭribhirhatadehānāṁ śṛṁgibhiśca sureśvara pretatvaṁ jāyate nūnaṁ satyametadasaṁśayam

'O lord of the gods, for those who die by poison or by fire, for the destroyers of their own families, for those who take their own lives, and for those whose bodies are slain by fanged or horned beasts — for them too, the state of pretahood surely comes about. This is the truth, without doubt.'

Verse 25 (skanda.6.204.25)

इन्द्र उवाच कथं तेषां भवेन्मुक्तिः प्रेतत्वाद्दारुणाद्विभो एतन्मे सर्वमाचक्ष्व येन यत्नं करोम्यहम्

indra uvāca kathaṁ teṣāṁ bhavenmuktiḥ pretatvāddāruṇādvibho etanme sarvamācakṣva yena yatnaṁ karomyaham

Indra said: 'O lord, how might liberation from this dreadful state of pretahood come to them? Tell me all of this, so that I may make the effort.'

Verse 26 (skanda.6.204.26)

श्रीभगवानुवाच तेषां संयुज्यते श्राद्धं कन्यासंस्थे दिवाकरे कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दश्यां नभस्यस्य सुरेश्वर

śrībhagavānuvāca teṣāṁ saṁyujyate śrāddhaṁ kanyāsaṁsthe divākare kṛṣṇapakṣe caturdaśyāṁ nabhasyasya sureśvara

The Blessed Lord said: 'O lord of the gods, when a shraddha-rite is duly performed for them, with the sun in Virgo, on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada,'

Verse 27 (skanda.6.204.27)

गयायां भक्तिपूर्वं तु पितामहवचो यथा ततः प्रयांति ते मोक्षं सत्यमेतदसंशयम्

gayāyāṁ bhaktipūrvaṁ tu pitāmahavaco yathā tataḥ prayāṁti te mokṣaṁ satyametadasaṁśayam

'— performed with devotion at Gaya, exactly as the Grandsire has declared, then they attain liberation. This is the truth, without doubt.'

Verse 28 (skanda.6.204.28)

इन्द्र उवाच कस्मात्तत्र दिने श्राद्धं क्रियते मधुसूदन शस्त्रैर्विनिहतानां च सर्वं मे विस्तराद्वद

indra uvāca kasmāttatra dine śrāddhaṁ kriyate madhusūdana śastrairvinihatānāṁ ca sarvaṁ me vistarādvada

Indra said: 'Why, O Madhusudana, is the shraddha for those slain by weapons performed upon that particular day? Tell me all of this at length.'

Verse 29 (skanda.6.204.29)

श्रीभगवानुवाच भूतप्रेतपिशाचैश्च कूष्मांडै राक्षसैरपि पुरा संप्रार्थितः शंभुर्दिने तत्र समागते अद्यैकं दिवसं देव कन्यासंस्थे दिवाकरे

śrībhagavānuvāca bhūtapretapiśācaiśca kūṣmāṁḍai rākṣasairapi purā saṁprārthitaḥ śaṁbhurdine tatra samāgate adyaikaṁ divasaṁ deva kanyāsaṁsthe divākare

The Blessed Lord said: 'Long ago, when that particular day had come, Shambhu was entreated by the bhutas, pretas, pishachas, kushmandas, and rakshasas too — grant us, today, this one day, with the sun in Virgo —'

Verse 30 (skanda.6.204.30)

अस्माकं देहि येन स्यात्तृप्तिर्वर्षसमुद्भवा प्रदत्ते वंशजैः श्राद्धे दीनानां त्वं दयां कुरु

asmākaṁ dehi yena syāttṛptirvarṣasamudbhavā pradatte vaṁśajaiḥ śrāddhe dīnānāṁ tvaṁ dayāṁ kuru

'— grant us that satisfaction which arises from a year's offering, when the shraddha is given by our own descendants. Have mercy upon us wretched ones.'

Verse 31 (skanda.6.204.31)

श्रीभगवानुवाच यः करिष्यति वै श्राद्धमस्मिन्नहनि संस्थिते कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दश्यां नभस्यस्य च वंशजः भविष्यति परा प्रीतिर्यावत्संवत्सरः स्थितः

śrībhagavānuvāca yaḥ kariṣyati vai śrāddhamasminnahani saṁsthite kṛṣṇapakṣe caturdaśyāṁ nabhasyasya ca vaṁśajaḥ bhaviṣyati parā prītiryāvatsaṁvatsaraḥ sthitaḥ

The Blessed Lord said: 'Whatever descendant performs the shraddha-rite upon this appointed day, on the fourteenth of the dark fortnight of Bhadrapada — for him there shall be the deepest satisfaction among the ancestors, lasting for the whole year through.'

Verse 32 (skanda.6.204.32)

यः पुनस्तु गयां गत्वा युष्मद्वंशसमुद्भवः करिष्यति तथा श्राद्धं तेन मुक्तिमवाप्स्यथ

yaḥ punastu gayāṁ gatvā yuṣmadvaṁśasamudbhavaḥ kariṣyati tathā śrāddhaṁ tena muktimavāpsyatha

'And whatever descendant of yours, having gone to Gaya, performs the shraddha there as well — by that, you shall attain liberation.'

Verse 33 (skanda.6.204.33)

शस्त्रेण निहतानां च स्वर्गस्थानामपि ध्रुवम् न करिष्यति यः श्राद्धं तस्मिन्नहनि संस्थिते

śastreṇa nihatānāṁ ca svargasthānāmapi dhruvam na kariṣyati yaḥ śrāddhaṁ tasminnahani saṁsthite

'And whoever fails to perform the shraddha upon that appointed day, for those slain by weapons, even for those now dwelling in heaven —'

Verse 34 (skanda.6.204.34)

क्षुत्पिपासार्तदेहाश्च पितरस्तस्य दुःखिताः स्थास्यंति वत्सरं यावदेतदाह पितामहः

kṣutpipāsārtadehāśca pitarastasya duḥkhitāḥ sthāsyaṁti vatsaraṁ yāvadetadāha pitāmahaḥ

'— his ancestors, their bodies tormented by hunger and thirst, shall remain wretched for a full year. This the Grandsire himself has declared.'

Verse 35 (skanda.6.204.35)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन तस्मिन्नहनि कारयेत् अन्यमुद्दिश्य तत्सर्वं प्रेतानामिह जायते

tasmātsarvaprayatnena tasminnahani kārayet anyamuddiśya tatsarvaṁ pretānāmiha jāyate

'Therefore, with every effort, the rite should be performed upon that day. All of this, offered on behalf of another, avails the pretas in this world.'

Verse 36 (skanda.6.204.36)

ततो भगवता दत्ता तेषां चैव तु सा तिथिः श्राद्धकर्मणि संजाते विना शस्त्रहतं जनम्

tato bhagavatā dattā teṣāṁ caiva tu sā tithiḥ śrāddhakarmaṇi saṁjāte vinā śastrahataṁ janam

That day was thus granted by the Blessed Lord to them, for the performance of the shraddha-rite — even apart from those slain by weapons.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.204.37)

संमुखस्यापि संग्रामे युध्यमानस्य देहिनः कदाचिच्चलते चित्तं तीक्ष्णशस्त्रहतस्य च

saṁmukhasyāpi saṁgrāme yudhyamānasya dehinaḥ kadāciccalate cittaṁ tīkṣṇaśastrahatasya ca

For even one who fights facing the enemy in battle, his mind may sometimes waver, when struck by a sharp weapon.