Garuda Purana

अथयामि क्रमप्राप्तं प्रष्टु वा वर्तते स्पृहा ॥ २,३.

Now I will explain what comes next in order, if you have the desire to ask.

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् ४ श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । ज्ञानतोऽज्ञानतो वापियन्नरैः कलुषं कृतम् । तस्य पापस्य शुद्ध्यर्थं विधेया निष्कृतिर्नरैः

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Whether knowingly or unknowingly, whatever sin is committed by men, for the purification of that sin, atonement must be performed by them.

भस्मादिस्नानदशकमादौ कुर्याद्विचक्षणः । यथाशक्ति षडब्दादिप्रत्याम्नायाच्चरेदपि

The wise should first perform the tenfold bath with ashes and so on; according to their ability, they should also observe the prescribed rites for six years and beyond.

तदर्धं वा तदर्धं वा तदर्धार्धमथापि वा । यथाशक्त्या ततः कुर्याद्दश दानानि वै शृणु

Or half of that, or half of that again, or even half of that half; according to one's capacity, one should then give ten gifts—listen.

गोभूतिलहिरण्याज्यवासोधन्यगुडास्तथा । रजतं लवणं चैव दानानि दश वै विदुः

Cows, land, sesame, gold, clarified butter, garments, grain, and jaggery, as well as silver and salt—these ten are known as gifts.

प्रायश्चित्ते त्वागता ये तेभ्यो दद्यान्नरो दश । ततो यमद्वारपथे पूयशोणितसंकुले

To those who have come for expiation, a man should give these ten; then, on the path to Yama's gate, filled with pus and blood,

नदीं वैतरणीं तर्तुं दद्याद्वैतरणीं च गाम् । कृष्णस्तनी सकृष्णाङ्गी सा वै वैतरणी स्मृता

To cross the river Vaitaraṇī, one should give a Vaitaraṇī cow—a black cow with black limbs is known as the Vaitaraṇī.

तिला लोहं हिरण्यं च कर्पासं लवणं तथा । सप्तधान्यं क्षितिर्गाव एकैकं पावनं स्मृतम्

Sesame, iron, gold, cotton, salt, seven grains, earth, and cows—each one is considered purifying.

एतान्यष्टौ महादानान्युत्तमाय द्विजातये । आतुरेण तु देयानि पदरूपाणि मे शृणु

These eight great gifts are best for the twice-born; hear from me what should be given in the form of feet by one who is ill.

छत्रो पानहवस्त्राणि मुद्रिका च कमण्डलुः । आसनं भाजनं पदं चाष्टविधं स्मृतम्

An umbrella, a water pot, garments, a ring, a water jar, a seat, a vessel, and a foot—these eight are considered as such.

तिलापात्रं सर्पिः पात्रं शय्या सोपस्करा तथा । एतत्सर्वं प्रदातव्यं यदिष्टं चात्मनोऽपि तत्

A vessel of sesame, a vessel of clarified butter, and a bed with its furnishings—these should all be given, even if one desires them for oneself.

अश्वो रथश्च महीषी व्यञ्जनं वस्त्रमेव च । ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रदातव्यं ब्रह्मपूर्वमपि स्वयम्

A horse, a chariot, a queen, ornaments, and even garments should be given to Brahmins, beginning with the recitation of sacred formulas, and by oneself.

दाना न्यन्यान्यपि खग तर्पयेत्स्वीयशक्तितः । प्रायाश्चित्तं कृतं येन दश दानान्यपि क्षितौ

Other gifts also, O Bird, should be offered according to one's ability; by him who has performed expiation, even ten gifts are to be made on earth.

दानं गोर्वैतरण्याश्च दानान्यष्टौ तथापि वा । तिलपात्रं सर्पिः पात्रं शय्यादानं तथैव च

The gift of a cow, of the Vaitaraṇī cow, and eight other gifts as well; a vessel of sesame, a vessel of clarified butter, and the gift of a bed likewise.

पददानं च विधिवन्नासौ निरयगर्भगः । स्वातन्त्र्येणापि लवणदानमिच्छन्ति सूरयः

And the gift of a footpath, properly performed, does not lead to the womb of hell; even the independent gift of salt is desired by the wise.

विष्णुदेहसमुत्पन्नो यतोऽयं लवणो रसः । आतुरस्य यदा प्राणा न यान्ति वसुधातले

Because this taste of salt arises from the body of Viṣṇu, when the life-breaths of a sick person no longer remain on earth—

लवणं च तदा देयं द्वारस्योद्वाटनं दिवः । यानिकानि च दानानि स्वयं दत्तानि मानवैः

Then salt should be given, and the threshold of the door should be smeared; whatever gifts are given by men themselves—

तानितानि च सर्वाणि उपतिष्ठन्ति चाग्रतः । प्रायश्चित्तं कृतं येन साङ्गं खग स वै पुमान्

All those gifts, indeed, stand before him; he who has performed expiation in full, O Bird, that man—

पापानि भस्मसात्कृत्वा स्वर्गलोके महीयते । अमृतं तु गवां क्षीरं यतः पतगसत्तम्

Having reduced sins to ashes, is honored in the world of heaven; the milk of cows, O best of birds, is indeed immortal.

तस्माद्ददाति यो धेनुममृतत्वं स गच्छति । दानान्यष्टौ तु दत्त्वा वै गन्धर्वनिलये वसेत्

Therefore, he who gives a cow attains immortality; and by giving eight gifts, he dwells in the abode of the Gandharvas.

आलयस्तत्र रौद्रे हि दह्यते येन मानवः । छत्रदानेन सुच्छाया जायते पथि तुष्टिदा

There, in the fierce abode, the man who is burned—by the gift of an umbrella, pleasant shade is produced, giving delight on the path.

असिपत्रवनं धारमतिक्रामति वै सुखम् । अश्वारूढश्च व्रजति ददते यद्युपानहौ

He easily crosses the sword-leaf forest; and if one gives sandals, he proceeds mounted on a horse.

भोजनासनदानेन सुखं मार्गे भुनक्ति वै । प्रदेशे निर्जले दाता सुखी स्याद्वै कमण्डलोः

By the gift of food and a seat, he enjoys comfort on the journey; in a place without water, the giver of a water-pot becomes happy.

यमदूता महारौद्राः करालाः कृष्णपिङ्गलाः । न पीडयन्ति दाक्षिण्याद्वस्त्राभरणदानतः

The messengers of Yama, very fierce, terrible, dark and tawny, do not torment out of compassion, because of the gift of garments and ornaments.

तिलपात्रं तु विप्राय दत्तं पत्ररथ ध्रुवम् । नाशयेत्त्रिविधं षापं वाङ्मनः कायसम्भवम्

A vessel of sesame, when given to a Brahmin, O Patraratha, surely destroys the threefold sin arising from speech, mind, and body.

घृतपात्रप्रदाने रुद्रलोके वसेन्नरः । सर्वोपस्करसंयुक्तां शय्यां दत्त्वा द्विजातये

By giving a vessel of ghee, a man dwells in the world of Rudra; by giving a bed equipped with all furnishings to a twice-born—

नानाप्सरोभिराकीर्णं विमानमधिरोहति । षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि क्रीडित्वा शक्रमन्दिरे

He ascends a celestial chariot crowded with various Apsarases; after playing for sixty thousand years in Indra's mansion—

इन्द्रलोकात्परिभ्रष्ट इह लोके नृपो भवेत् । सर्वोपस्करणोपेतं युवानं दोषवर्जितम्

Falling from Indra's world, he becomes a king in this world, endowed with all objects, youthful, and free from faults.

योऽश्वं ददाति विप्राय स्वर्गलोके च तिष्ठति । यावन्ति रोमाणि हये भवन्ति हि खगेश्वर

He who gives a horse to a Brahmin, O Lord of Birds, dwells in the world of heaven for as many years as there are hairs on the horse.