Garuda Purana

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.'

गायन्ति देवाः किल गीतकानि धन्यास्तु ये भारतभूमिभागे । स्वर्गापवर्गस्य फलार्जनाय भवन्ति भूयः पुरुषाः सुरत्वात् ॥ २,१.

The gods indeed sing songs—blessed are those who are born in the land of Bhārata; for the sake of gaining the fruits of heaven and liberation, people are born again and again here due to their merit.

प्रेतः कौक्षिप्यते कस्मात्पञ्चरत्नं मुखे कथम् । अधस्ताच्चालिता दर्भाः पादौ याम्यां व्यवस्थितौ ॥ २,१.

Why is a coin of five gems placed in the mouth of the dead? Why are darbha grasses arranged below, and why are the feet positioned towards the southern direction?

किमर्थं पुत्रपौत्राश्च तस्य तिष्ठन्ति चाग्रतः । किमर्थं दीयते दानं गोदानमपि केशव ॥ २,१.

For what reason do sons and grandsons stand before the deceased? For what purpose is charity given, and why, O Keśava, is the gift of a cow made?

बन्धुमित्राण्यमित्राश्च क्षमापयन्ति तत्कथम् । तिलालोहं हिरण्यं च कर्पासं लवणं तथा ॥ २,१.

How is it that relatives, friends, and even enemies are asked for forgiveness at that time? Why are sesame, iron, gold, cotton, and salt offered as well?

सप्तधान्यं क्षितिर्गावो दीयन्ते केनहेतुना । कथं हि म्रियते जन्तुर्मृतो वै कुत्र गच्छति ॥ २,१.

For what reason are seven kinds of grains, earth, and cows given? How does a living being die, and after death, where does he go?

अतिवाहशरीरं च कथं हि श्रयते तदा । शवं स्कन्धे वहेत्पुत्रो अग्निदाता च पौत्रकः ॥ २,१.

How does one then assume the subtle body for the journey? Why does the son carry the corpse on his shoulder, and the grandson become the giver of fire?

आज्येनाभ्यञ्जनं कस्मात्कुत एकाहुतिक्रिया । वसुन्धरा किमर्थं च कुतः स्त्रीशब्दकीर्तनम् ॥ २,१.

Why is the body anointed with ghee, and what is the reason for the single oblation? Why is earth offered, and why is the mention of the word 'woman' made?

यमसूक्तं किमर्थं च उदीच्या दिशमाहरेत् । पानीयमेकवस्त्रेण सूर्यबिम्बनिरीक्षणम् ॥ २,१.

For what purpose is the Yama hymn recited, and why is the body carried towards the northern direction? Why is water given with a single garment, and why is the sun's disk gazed upon?

यवसर्षपदूर्वास्तु पाषाणे निम्बपत्रकम् । वस्त्रं नरश्च नारी च विदध्यादधरोत्तरम् ॥ २,१.

Why are barley, mustard seeds, and dūrvā grass placed on a stone with neem leaves? Why are garments, a man, and a woman arranged above and below?

अन्नाद्यं गृहमागत्य न भोक्तव्यं जनैः सह । नवकांश्चैव पिण्डांश्च किमर्थं ददते सुताः ॥ २,१.

Why, upon returning home, should one not eat food with others? For what reason do the sons offer nine balls of rice?