Garuda Purana

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?

किमर्थं चत्वरे दुग्धं यात्रे पक्वे च मृन्मये । काष्ठत्रयं गणाबद्धं कृत्वा रात्रौ चतुष्पथे ॥ २,१.

Why is milk placed at the crossroads in an earthen vessel at the time of the journey? Why are three pieces of wood tied together and set at the four-way crossing at night?

निशायां दीयते दीपो यावदब्दं दिनेदिन । दाहोदकं किमर्थं च किमर्थं च जनैः सह ॥ २,१.

Why is a lamp given at night every day for a year? For what reason is water for charity offered, and why is it done with others?

भगवन्नाति वाहश्च नव पिण्डाः प्रदापयेत् । कथं देयं पितृभ्यश्च वाहस्यावाहनं कथम् ॥ २,१.

O Lord, if the journey is long, should nine rice balls be offered? How should they be given to the ancestors, and how is the journey's conveyance arranged?

इदञ्चेत्क्रियते देव कस्मात्पिण्डं प्रदापयेत् । किं तत्प्रदीयते तस्य पिण्डदानाद्यनन्तरम् ॥ २,१.

If this is done, O Lord, why should the rice ball be offered? What is given to him immediately after the offering of the rice ball?

अस्थिसञ्चयनं चैव घटस्फोटं तथैव च । द्वितीयेऽह्नि कुतः स्नानं चतुर्थे साग्निके द्विजे ॥ २,१.

Why is the collection of bones and the breaking of the pot performed? On the second day, why is bathing prescribed, and on the fourth, the fire ritual for the twice-born?

दशमे किं मलस्नानं कार्यं सर्वजनैः सह । कस्मात्तैलोद्वर्तनं च स्कन्धवाहगृहं नयेत् ॥ २,१.

On the tenth day, why should everyone bathe to remove impurity? Why is oil anointment done, and why is the house of the bearer visited?

तैलोद्वर्तनकं चापि दधुः स्थूलजलाशये । दशमेऽहनि यत्पिण्डं तद्दद्या दामिषेण तु ॥ २,१.

Why is oil anointment performed in a large water tank? On the tenth day, the rice ball should be given with a vessel made of clay.

पिणाञ्चैकादशे कस्माद्वृषोत्सर्गादिपूर्वकम् । भाजनोपानहौ च्छत्रं वासांसि त्वङ्गुलीयकम् ॥ २,१.

Why, on the eleventh day, is the rice ball offered after releasing a bull? Why are vessels, sandals, an umbrella, garments, and a ring given?

त्रयोदशेऽह्नि देयं स्यात्पददानं किमर्थकम् । श्राद्धानि षोडशैतानि अब्दं यावत्कुतो घटः ॥ २,१.

On the thirteenth day, the offering of water for the feet should be given; what is the purpose of this? These sixteen śrāddha rites are to be performed for a year—what is the reason for this vessel?

अन्नाद्येनोदकेनैव षष्ट्याधिकशतत्रयम् । दिनेदिने च दातव्यं घटान्नं प्रेततृप्तये ॥ २,१.

With food and water, one hundred and sixty-three vessels should be offered, one each day, for the satisfaction of the departed.