Garuda Purana

विष्णुलोके स वै याति मन्त्रहीनोऽपि मानवः । तूलीं कृत्वा कृतौ पादौ संस्थितौ क्षितिपृष्ठतः ॥ २,२.

Even without mantras, a person thus goes to Viṣṇu's realm; having made a cushion, with feet placed upon the earth.

प्रायाश्चित्तं विशुद्धाग्नौ संसारेऽसारसागरे । गोमयेनोपलिम्पेत्तु दर्भास्तरणसंस्थिते ॥ २,२.

A rite of atonement should be performed with pure fire in this ocean of worldly existence devoid of essence; one should anoint the ground with cow dung and arrange darbha grass as a seat.

यने दत्तेन दानेन सर्वं पापं व्यपोहति । लवणं तद्रसं दिव्यं सर्वकामप्रदं नृणाम् ॥ २,२.

By giving this as a gift, all sin is removed; that salt, with its divine taste, grants all desires to people.

यस्मादन्नरसाः सर्वे नोत्कटा लवणं विना । पितॄणां च प्रियं भव्यं तस्मात्स्वर्गप्रदं भवेत् ॥ २,२.

Because all flavors of food are not pleasing without salt, and it is dear and auspicious to the ancestors, therefore it bestows heaven.

विष्णुदेहसमुद्भूतो यतोऽयं लवणो रसः । एतत्सलवणं दानं तेन शंसन्ति योगिनः ॥ २,२.

Since this essence of salt arose from the body of Vishnu, the yogis praise the giving of this salt as a gift.

ब्राह्मणक्षत्त्रियविशां स्त्रीणां शूद्रजनस्य च । आतुरस्य यदा प्राणा न यान्ति वसुधातले ॥ २,२.

When the life-breath does not depart from the body for Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, women, Shudras, and the sick—

लवणं तु तदा देयं द्वारस्योद्वाटनं दिवः । अन्यच्च शृणु पक्षीन्द्र मृत्यो रूपं प्रपञ्चतः ॥ २,२.

—then salt should be given, and the threshold of the house should be smeared with it; and now, O king of birds, listen further as I describe the form of death in detail.

यस्य कालेन नो यायाद्वियोगः प्राणदेहयोः । प्राणिनश्च स्वसमये मृत्युरत्यन्तविस्मृतिः ॥ २,२.

For whom, at the appointed time, the separation of life and body does not occur, for living beings, death at its proper time is an utter loss of memory.

यथा वायुर्जलधरान्विकर्षति यतस्ततः । तद्वज्जलदवत्तार्क्ष्य कालस्यैव वशानुगाः ॥ २,२.

Just as the wind drives the clouds from place to place, so too, O Tārkṣya, beings are subject to the power of time, like water held by clouds.

सात्त्विका राजसाश्चैव तामसा ये च केचन । भावाः कालात्मकाः सर्वे प्रवर्तन्ते हि जन्तुषु ॥ २,२.

All dispositions—whether sattvic, rajasic, tamasic, or any others—arise in beings from the nature of time.

आदित्यश्चन्द्रमाः शम्भुरापो वायुः शतक्रतुः । अग्निः खं पृथिवी मित्र ओषध्यो वसवस्तथा ॥ २,२.

The sun, the moon, Shiva, the waters, the wind, Indra, fire, space, earth, Mitra, plants, and the Vasus—

सरितः सागराश्चैव भावाभावौ च सर्पहन् । सर्वे कालेन सृज्यन्ते संक्षिप्यन्ते यथा पुनः ॥ २,२.

—rivers, oceans, existence and non-existence, and the serpent-king—all are created and again withdrawn by time.

कालेन संह्रियन्ते च नृनं मृत्यावुपस्थिते । दैवयोगात्त्दा व्याधिः कश्चिदुत्पद्यते खग ॥ २,२.

By time, all are dissolved when death approaches men; by the conjunction of fate, disease arises in someone, O bird.

वैकल्यमिन्द्रियाणां च बलौ जोरंहसां भवेत् । युगपद्वश्चिककोटिशूकदंशो भवेद्यदि ॥ २,२.

Weakness of the senses and loss of strength occur from the force of severe fever; if one were stung at once by a multitude of scorpions and needles—

तदानुमीयते तेन पीडा मृत्युभवा खग । ततः क्षणेन चैतन्ये विकले जडतां गते ॥ २,२.

—then, from that pain, it is inferred that death is near, O bird; then, in a moment, when consciousness fails and dullness sets in—

प्रिचाल्यन्ते ततः प्राणा याम्यैर्निकटवर्तिभिः । बीभत्सं तु तदा रूपं प्राणैः कण्ठगतैर्भवेत् ॥ २,२.

—then the life-breaths are agitated by the messengers of Yama who stand nearby; at that time, the form becomes dreadful as the breaths reach the throat.

फेमुद्गिरते सोऽथ मुखं लालाकुलं भवेत् । अङ्गुष्ठमात्रपुरुषो हाहा कुर्वंस्ततस्तनोः ॥ २,२.

He then spits froth, and his mouth is filled with saliva; a being the size of a thumb, crying 'ha ha,' emerges from the body.

तदैव नीयते द्वतैर्याम्यैर्वोक्षन्स्वकं गृहम् । भूय एव हिते तात मृत्युकालदशामिमाम् ॥ २,२.

At that very moment, he is led away by two of Yama's messengers, weeping for his own home; again, dear one, I will describe this state at the time of death.

अष्मा प्रकुपितः काये तीव्रवायुसमीरितः । भिनत्ति मर्मस्थानानि दीप्यमानो निरिन्धनः ॥ २,२.

A stone-like pain, stirred by a violent wind in the body, breaks the vital points, blazing intensely without fuel.

उदानो नाम पवनस्ततश्चोर्ध्वं प्रवर्तते । भक्तानामबुभुक्षाणामधोगतिनिरोधकृत् ॥ २,२.

Udāna is the name of the wind which then moves upward; for devotees who are hungry, it blocks the downward path.

यैर्नानृतानि चोक्तानि प्रीतिभेदः कृतो न च । आस्तिकः श्रद्दधानश्च स सुखं मृत्युमृच्छति ॥ २,२.

Those who have not spoken falsehoods, who have not caused discord, who are faithful and believing, attain death peacefully.

यो न कामान्न संरंभान्न द्वेषाद्धर्ममुत्सृजेत् । यथोक्तकारी सौम्यश्च स सुखं मृत्युमृच्छति ॥ २,२.

One who does not abandon righteousness out of desire, anger, or hatred, who acts as instructed and is gentle, attains death peacefully.

मोहज्ञानप्रदातारः प्राप्नुवन्ति महत्तमः । कूटसाक्षी मृषावादी ये च विश्वासघातकाः ॥ २,२.

Those who give false knowledge out of delusion, who are false witnesses, who speak lies, and who betray trust, attain the greatest darkness.

ते मोहं मृत्युमृच्छन्ति तथा ये वेदनिन्दकाः । विभीषकाः पूतिगन्धा यष्टिमुद्गरपाणयः ॥ २,२.

They meet death in delusion, as do those who revile the Vedas, who terrify others, who emit foul odors, and who wield sticks or clubs.

आगच्छन्ति दुरात्मानो यमस्य पुरुषास्तदा । प्राप्ते त्वीदृक्पथे घोरे जायते तस्य वेपथुः ॥ २,२.

Then, wicked souls, the servants of Yama, arrive; when one reaches such a dreadful path, trembling arises in him.

क्रन्दत्यविरतं सोऽपि पितृमातृसुतानपि । सास्य वागस्फुटा यत्नेनैकवर्णा विभासते ॥ २,२.

He cries out incessantly, even for his father, mother, and children; his speech, with effort, becomes clear only as a single syllable.

दृष्टिर्वै भ्राम्यते त्रासाच्छ्वासाच्छुष्यति चाननम् । स ततो वेदनाविष्टस्तच्छरीरं विमुञ्चति ॥ २,२.

His vision spins from fear, his mouth dries from breathing; then, overwhelmed by pain, he leaves that body.

अस्पृश्यं कुत्सनीयं च तत्क्षणादेव जायते । उक्तं मृत्योः स्वरूपं तु प्रसङ्गादन्यदप्यथ ॥ २,२.

That body instantly becomes untouchable and despicable; thus the nature of death is described, and now something else is explained.

वैचित्र्यस्योत्तरं प्रश्रे द्वितीयस्य वदामि ते । कर्मणां प्राक्तनानां तु तदसत्त्वेनं भदेतः ॥ २,२.

I will tell you the answer to the second question about variety; by the presence or absence of past actions, O fortunate one.