Garuda Purana

लोकांल्लोकयता लोके जगाहे विश्वमण्डलम् । तत्राजनि जनान्दृष्ट्वा दुः खेष्वेव निमज्जतः ॥ २,१.

Surveying the worlds, I entered the cosmic sphere; there, seeing people, I saw them sinking in suffering.

स्वान्ते मे दुर्धरा पीडा तत्पीडातो गरीयसी । त्रिदिवे दितिजातेभ्यो भूमौ मृत्युरुगादिभिः ॥ २,१.

In my heart is unbearable pain, and from that pain, a greater burden—on earth from death and disease, in heaven from the offspring of Diti.

इष्टवस्तुवियो गैश्च पाताले मामकं भयम् । एवं न निर्भयं स्थानमन्यदीश भवत्पदात् ॥ २,१.

In the netherworld, my fear is from the loss of desired things; thus, O Lord, there is no place of safety except at your feet.

असत्यं स्वप्नमायावत्कालेन कवलीकृतम् । तत्रापि भारते वर्षे बहुदुः खस्य भागिनः ॥ २,१.

Falsehood, dream, and illusion are all swallowed up by time; even in the land of Bhārata, many are the share of suffering.

जना दृष्टा मया रागद्वेषमोहादिविप्लुताः । केचिदन्धाः केकराक्षास्खलद्वाचस्तु पङ्गवः ॥ २,१.

I have seen people overcome by passion, hatred, and delusion; some are blind, some have deformed eyes, some stammer, and some are lame.

खञ्जाः काणाश्च बधिरा मूकाः कुष्ठाश्च लोमशाः । नानारोगपरीताश्च खपुष्पाच्चाभिमानिनः ॥ २,१.

The lame, the one-eyed, the deaf, the mute, those afflicted with leprosy, the excessively hairy, those beset by various diseases, and the impotent—yet proud—

तेषां दोषस्य वैचित्र्यं मृत्योर्गोचरतामपि । दृष्ट्वा प्रसुमनाः प्राप्तः को मृत्युश्चित्रता कथम् ॥ २,१.

Seeing the diversity of their faults, and that they too fall within the domain of death, who, upon attaining a cheerful mind, would wonder at the variety of death?

मृतिर्यस्य विधानेन मरणादप्यनन्तरम् । विधिनाब्दक्रिया यस्य न स दुर्गतिमाप्नुयात् ॥ २,१.

He whose death occurs according to proper rite, and for whom the annual rites are performed as prescribed, does not attain a bad state.

ऋषिभ्यस्तु मया पूर्वमिति सामान्यतः श्रुतम् । ज्ञानाय तद्द्विशेषस्य पृच्छामीदमिति प्रभो ॥ २,१.

I have previously heard this in general from the sages; now, O Lord, I ask you about the specifics for the sake of knowledge.

म्रियमाणस्य किं कृत्यं किं दानं वासवानुज । वाहमृत्योरन्तराले को विधिर्दहनस्य च ॥ २,१.

O younger brother of Vāsava, what should be done for one who is dying? What gifts should be given? What is the rite between death and cremation?

सद्यो विलम्बतो वा किं देहमन्यं प्रपद्यते । संयमन्यां क्रम्यमाणमावर्षं का मृतिक्रिया ॥ २,१.

Does he immediately or after some delay take on another body? What is the funeral rite for one who is passing through the path of Yama for a year?

प्रायश्चित्तं दुर्मतेः किं पञ्चकादिमृतस्य च । प्रसादं कुरु मे मोहं छेत्तुमर्हस्यशेषतः ॥ २,१.

What is the atonement for one of evil mind, and for one who dies at the beginning of the five (inauspicious times)? Be gracious to me; you should completely dispel my confusion.

सर्वमन्तेमया पृष्टं ब्रूहि लोकहिताय वै ॥ २,१.

I have asked you everything at the end; please speak for the welfare of the world.

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् २ श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । साधु पृष्टं त्वया भद्र मानुषाणां हिताय वै । शृणुष्वावहितो भूत्वा सर्वमेवौर्ध्वदैहिकम् ॥ २,२.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Well asked by you, O blessed one, truly for the benefit of humankind. Listen attentively as I explain all the rites after death.

सम्यग्विभेदरहितं श्रुतिस्मृतिसमुद्धृतम् । यन्न दृष्टं सुरैः सेन्द्रैर्योगिभिर्योगचिन्तकैः ॥ २,२.

I will tell you exactly, without distortion, what is drawn from the Vedas and Smṛtis, which has not been seen by the gods with Indra, nor by yogis absorbed in meditation.

गुह्यद्गुह्यतरं तच्च नाख्यातं कस्यचित्क्वचित् । भक्तस्त्वं हि महाभाग वैनतेयं ब्रवीमि ते ॥ २,२.

This is most secret, more secret than the secret, and has never been revealed to anyone, anywhere. But you are a devoted one, O highly fortunate son of Vinatā, so I will tell you.

अपुत्रस्य गतिर्नास्तु स्वर्गो नैव च नैव च । येन केनाप्युपायेन कार्यं जन्म सुतस्य हि ॥ २,२.

For one without a son, there is no path, no heaven, truly none at all. By any means possible, the birth of a son must be ensured.

तारयेन्नरकात्पुत्त्रो यदि मोक्षो न विद्यते । स्कन्धः पुत्रेण कर्तव्यो ह्यग्निदाता च पौत्रकः ॥ २,२.

A son delivers his father from hell if liberation is not attained; the son must perform the shoulder-carrying rite, and the grandson must offer the funeral fire.

तिलदर्भैश्च भूम्यां वै कुटी ऋतुमती भवेत् । पञ्च रत्नानि वक्त्रे तु येन जीवः प्ररोहति ॥ २,२.

With sesame seeds and darbha grass on the earth, a hut should be made, pure with ritual power. The five gems are placed in the mouth, by which the soul ascends.

यदा पुष्पं प्रनष्टं हि क्व तदा गर्भधारणम् । आदराच्च ततो भूमौ येन गर्भं प्रधार्यते ॥ २,२.

When the flower (of life) is lost, where then is conception? Yet, out of respect, the earth is prepared, by which the embryo is supported.

लेप्या तु गोमयैर्भूमिस्तिलान्दर्भान्विनिः क्षिपेत् । तस्यामेवातुरो मुक्तः सर्वं दहति किल्बिषम् ॥ २,२.

The ground should be smeared with cow dung, and sesame seeds and darbha grass scattered. There, the deceased, when released, burns away all his sins.

दर्भतूली नयेत्स्वर्गमातुरस्य न संशयः । दर्भांस्तत्र क्षिपेद्वाथ तूलीगेन्दुकमध्यतः ॥ २,२.

A mat of darbha grass leads the dying to heaven, without doubt. There, darbha grass should be placed, or a cotton pillow at the center.

सर्वत्र वसुधापूता यत्र लेपो न विद्यते । यत्र लेपः स्थितस्तत्र पुनर्लेपेन शुध्यति ॥ २,२.

Everywhere, the earth is purified where there is no smearing; where smearing is present, it is purified again by further smearing.

यातुधानाः पिशाचाश्च राक्षसाः क्रूरकर्मिणः । अलेपं ह्यातुरं मुक्तं विशन्त्येते वियोनयः ॥ २,२.

Yātudhānas, piśācas, and rākṣasas of cruel deeds enter the sick, unprotected, and unpurified; these spirits invade those who are vulnerable.

नित्यहोमस्तथा श्राद्धं पादशौचं द्विजे तथा । मण्डलेन विना भूम्यामातुरो मुच्यते न हि ॥ २,२.

Without a protective circle on the ground, even with daily fire offerings, ancestral rites, and ritual foot washing by a twice-born, the sick person is not freed.

ब्रह्मा विष्णुश्च रुद्रश्च श्रीर्हुताशस्तथैव च । मण्डले चोपतिष्ठन्ति तस्मात्कुर्वीत मण्डलम् ॥ २,२.

Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Rudra, Śrī, and Agni are present within the circle; therefore, one should make the circle.

अन्यथा म्रियते वालो वृद्धस्तार्क्ष्ययुवाथवा । योन्यन्तरं न गच्छेत्स क्रीडते वायुना सह ॥ २,२.

Otherwise, the child, elder, or youth dies; he does not attain another birth, but instead wanders, playing with the wind.

मिश्रितं लोहितामिश्रं तदेवं जन्म जीयते । तस्यैव वायुभूतस्य न श्राद्धं नोदकक्रिया ॥ २,२.

Born mixed with blood and flesh, such a birth occurs; for one who has become wind, there is neither ancestral rite nor water offering.

मम स्वेदसमुद्भूतास्तिलास्तार्क्ष्य पवित्रकाः । असुरा दानवा दैत्या विद्रवन्ति तिलैस्तथा ॥ २,२.

O Tārkṣya, the sesame seeds arising from my sweat are pure; asuras, dānavas, and daityas flee from these seeds.