Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.199

c8.199

After that Kaśyapa made him take the bath and worship with proper Vedic rites in the month of Vaiśākha. The King became old and died. At once the servants of Kāla (King of Death) came to fetch the soul of Mahiratha. But angels from Mahāviṣṇu came and thrusting aside the agents of Kāla took charge of the soul of Mahiratha. Nymphs from above sang in praise of the King whose sin had waned because of Vaiśākhapratassnāna (early morning bath in the month of Vaiśākha). The angels from Viṣṇu carrying the soul of the King to Svarga took him through hell. The King heard the agonising cries of those suffering from different kinds of torture in hell. The King made enquiries and feeling compassionate requested those in charge of the hell to release those there in hell then by accepting a portion of the puṇya acquired by him. The angels agreed to that and the King gave away the Puṇya he had acquired during one day by observing the Vaiśākhavrata. At once all those in hell were released from the agony and were sent to heaven. (Vaiśākhamāhātmyaprakaraṇa, Padma Purāṇa, Pātāla-khaṇḍa).