Garuda Purana

ज्ञानार्थो लभते ज्ञानं सर्वसंसारमर्दनम् । इदं स्वस्त्ययनं धन्यं गारुडं गरुडेरितम् ॥ १,२४०.

One seeking knowledge attains knowledge that destroys all worldly bondage; this Garuḍa Purāṇa, spoken by Garuḍa, is auspicious and blessed.

नाकाले मरणं तस्य श्लोकमेकं तु यः पठेत् । श्लोकार्धपठनादस्य दुष्टशत्रुक्षयो ध्रुवम् ॥ १,२४०.

For the one who recites even a single verse, untimely death does not occur; by reciting half a verse, the destruction of wicked enemies is certain.

सूताच्छ्रुत्वा शौनकस्तुनौमिषे मुनिभिः क्रतौ । अहं ब्रहेति संध्यायन्मुक्तोभूद्गरुडध्वजात् ॥ १,२४०.

Having heard from Sūta, Śaunaka praised him along with the sages in the sacrifice; Sandhyāyana, saying 'I am Brahman,' was liberated by Garuḍa's banner.

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् श्रीगणेशाय नमः । तत्रादिमे द्वितीयांशे प्रेतकाण्डो धर्मकाण्डनामारभ्यते । ओं नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय । नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् । देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव ततो जयमुदीरयेत् ॥ २,१.म ॥ धर्मन्दृढबद्धमूलो वेदस्कन्धः पुराणशाखाढ्यः । क्रतुकुसुमो मोक्षफलो मधुसूदनपादपो जयति ॥ २,१.

The Great Garuḍa Purāṇa: Salutation to Śrī Gaṇeśa. In this second part, the section called the Book of the Dead, the Dharma Section, begins. Om, obeisance to the Blessed Vāsudeva. Having bowed to Nārāyaṇa, the supreme man, and also to the goddess Sarasvatī, then let victory be proclaimed. Victorious is the tree of dharma, firmly rooted, with the Vedas as its trunk, adorned with the branches of the Purāṇas, blossoming with sacrifices, bearing the fruit of liberation, and standing as the tree of Madhusūdana.

नैमिषेऽनिमिषक्षेत्रे शौनकाद्या मुनीश्वराः । कर्मणामन्तरे सूतं स्वासीनमिदमब्रुवन् ॥ २,१.

In Naimiṣa, the field of the sleepless, the great sages led by Śaunaka, while performing a ritual, spoke these words to Sūta, who was seated.

सूत जानासि सकलं वस्तु व्यासप्रसादतः । तेन नः सन्दिहानानां सन्देहं छेत्तुमर्हसि ॥ २,१.

O Sūta, you know all things by the grace of Vyāsa; therefore, you should dispel the doubts of us who are uncertain.

यथा तृणजलौकेति न्यायमा श्रित्य कञ्चन । देहिनोऽन्यतनुप्राप्तिं केचित्त्वेवं वदन्ति हि ॥ २,१.

Relying on the analogy of grass, water, and a boat, some indeed say that the embodied soul attains another body.

केचित्पुनर्यातनानां यामीनामुपभोगतः । पश्चाद्देहान्तरप्राप्तिं वदन्ति किमु तत्रसत् ॥ २,१.

Others say that, after experiencing the results of punishments in the realms of Yama, one attains another body; what is the truth in this matter?

सूत उवाच । साधु पृष्टं महाभागाः शृणुध्वं भवतां पुनः । सन्देहो नोपपद्येत लोकार्थं किल पृच्छताम् ॥ २,१.

Sūta said: Well asked, O blessed ones! Listen again. No doubt should arise for those who ask for the sake of the world.

तदहं कृष्णगरुडसंवादद्वारकं द्विजाः । अपाकरिष्ये सन्देहं भवतां भावितात्मनाम् ॥ २,१.

Therefore, O twice-born, through the dialogue between Kṛṣṇa and Garuḍa, I will remove your doubts, you who are devoted in mind.

नमः कृष्णाय मुनये य एनं समुपाश्रिताः । अञ्जस्तरन्ति संसारसागरं कुनदीमिव ॥ २,१.

Salutation to Kṛṣṇa, the sage, by approaching whom people easily cross the ocean of worldly existence, as if it were a small river.

एकदा वैनतेयस्य लोकानां लोकनस्पृहा । बभूव सोऽथ बभ्राम तेषु नाम हरेर्गृणन् ॥ २,१.

Once, Garuda, desiring to see the worlds that are coveted by all, wandered among them, chanting the names of Hari.

स पातालं भुवं स्वर्गं भ्रान्त्वालब्धशमाशयः । लोकदुः खेनातिदुः खी पुनर्वैकुण्ठमागमत् ॥ २,१.

Having roamed the netherworld, the earth, and heaven, yet finding no satisfaction, he, wearied by the suffering of the worlds, returned again to Vaikuntha.

न रजो न तमश्चैव सत्त्वं ताभ्यां च मिश्रितम् । यत्र प्रवर्तते नैव सत्त्वमेव प्रवर्तते ॥ २,१.

There, neither rajas nor tamas exist, nor even a mixture of the two; only sattva prevails, and nothing else operates.

न यत्र माया नाशश्च न चै रागादयो मलाः । श्यामावदाताः सुरुचः शतपत्रविलोचनाः ॥ २,१.

There, neither illusion nor destruction, nor stains such as passion, are found; the beings are dark and fair, radiant, with eyes like a hundred-petaled lotus.

सुरासुरार्चिता यत्र गणा विष्णोः सुपेशसः । पिशङ्गवस्त्राभारणा मणियुङ्निष्कभूषिताः ॥ २,१.

There, the splendid attendants of Vishnu, worshipped by gods and demons, are adorned with tawny garments and ornaments, and decorated with jeweled necklaces.

चतुर्भुजाः कुण्डलिनो मौलिनो मालिनस्तथा । भ्राजिष्णुभिर्विमानानां पङ्किभिर्ये महात्मनाम् ॥ २,१.

They have four arms, wear earrings and crowns and garlands, and shine in rows of resplendent aerial chariots belonging to the great-souled.

द्योतन्ते द्योतमानानां प्रमदानां च पङ्क्तिभिः । श्रीर्यत्र नानाविभवैर्हरेः पादौ मुदार्चति ॥ २,१.

They shine forth in the company of radiant women, and there, Shri, with her manifold powers, joyfully worships the feet of Hari.

हरिं गायति दोलास्थं गीयमानालिभिः स्वयम् । ददर्श श्रीहरिं तत्र श्रीपतिं सात्वतां पतिम् ॥ २,१.

There, Hari is seen seated on a swing, singing himself while being sung to by groups of attendants; Garuda beheld Shri Hari there, the Lord of Shri and the leader of the Sattvatas.

जगत्पतिं यज्ञपतिं पार्षदैः परिषेवितम् । सुनन्दनन्दप्रबलार्हणमुख्यैर्निरन्तरम् ॥ २,१.

He saw the Lord of the universe, the Lord of sacrifice, attended by his companions, especially by Sunanda, Nanda, Prabala, Arhana, and others, in constant service.

भृत्यप्रसादसुमुखमायतारुणलोचनम् । किरीटिनं कुण्डलिनं श्रिया वक्षसि लक्षितम् ॥ २,१.

He saw him gracious to his servants, with a pleasant face, long reddish eyes, crowned and adorned with earrings, marked by Shri on his chest.

पीतांशुकं चतुर्बाहुं प्रसन्नहसिताननम् । अभ्यर्हणासनासीनं ताभिः शक्तिभिरावृतम् ॥ २,१.

Clad in yellow garments, with four arms, a cheerful and smiling face, seated on a worshipful throne, surrounded by those powers.

प्रधानपुरुषाभ्यां च महता चाहमा तथा । एकादशोन्द्रियैश्चैव पञ्चभूतैस्तथैव च ॥ २,१.

Along with the chief Purushas, the great Mahat, myself, the eleven senses, and the five elements as well.

स्वरूपेरममाणं तमीश्वरं विनतासुतः । तद्दर्शनाह्लादयुतस्वान्तो हृष्यत्तनूरुहः ॥ २,१.

Vainateya beheld that Lord in his true form; his heart filled with joy at the sight, his body thrilled with delight.

लोचनाभ्यामश्रु मुञ्चन्प्रेममग्नो ननाम ह । नमागतं नतं स्वीय वाहनं विष्णुरब्रवीत् । भूमिः का लङ्घिता पक्षिंस्त्वयेयन्तमनेहसम् ॥ २,१.

With tears streaming from his eyes, overwhelmed by love, he bowed down; and Vishnu spoke to his own vehicle, who had come and bowed: 'O bird, which realm did you cross as you journeyed unhindered?'

गरुड उवाच । तव प्रसादाद्वैकुण्ठ त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम् ॥ २,१.

Garuda said: 'By your grace, O Vaikuntha, I have seen the three worlds, with all their moving and unmoving beings.'

मया विलोकितं सर्वं जगत्स्थावरजङ्गमम् । भूर्लोकात्सत्यपर्यन्तं पुरं याम्यं विना प्रभो ॥ २,१.

'I have beheld all the worlds, both stationary and moving, from Bhurloka up to Satyaloka, except for the city of Yama, O Lord.'

भूर्लोकः सर्वलोकानां प्रचुरः सर्वजन्तुषु । मानुष्यं सर्वभूतानां भुक्तिमुक्त्यालयं शुभम् ॥ २,१.

'Bhurloka is the most abundant of all worlds in living beings; among all creatures, human birth is the auspicious abode of enjoyment and liberation.'

अतः सुकृतिनां लोको न भूतो न भविष्यति ॥ २,१.

'Therefore, there has never been, nor will there be, a world like this for the virtuous.'