Dark path

Dhumo ratris tatha krishnah shan-masa dakshiyanam, tatra candramasam jyotir yogi prapya nivartate

The mystic who passes away in smoke, in the night, in the dark fortnight, or in the six months when the sun travels the southern path — attains the lunar sphere and then returns. The path of smoke (pitriyana) — associated with darkness, night, the dark fortnight, and the southern solstice — leads to a temporary celestial sojourn followed by rebirth.

Shukla-krishne gati hy ete jagatah shashvate mate, ekaya yaty anavrittim anyayavartate punah

These two paths — the bright and the dark — are said to be the world's two eternal paths. By one, one goes and does not return; by the other, one returns again. These two paths, the path of light and the path of smoke, are eternal cosmic paths. One leads to permanent liberation; the other to eventual rebirth.