Garuda Purana

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.

तावतो राजितांल्लोकानाप्नुवन्ति हि पुष्कलान् । चतुर्भिस्तुरगैर्युक्तं सर्वोपकरणैर्युतम्

They indeed attain many splendid worlds, yoked with four horses and furnished with all equipment.

रथं द्विजातये दत्त्वा राजसूयफलं लभ्त्

By giving a chariot to a twice-born, one obtains the fruit of a rājasūya sacrifice.

दुग्धाधिकां च महिषीं नवमेघवर्णां सन्तुष्टतर्णकवलीं जघनाभिरामाम् । दत्त्वा सुवर्णतिलकां द्विजपुङ्गवाय लोकोदयं स जयतीति किमत्र चित्रम्

And what wonder is it that, by giving to a foremost Brāhmaṇa a buffalo cow, yielding abundant milk, dark as a fresh cloud, content with her fodder, pleasing in her haunches, adorned with a golden mark, he attains the rise of worlds?

तालवृन्तस्य दानेन वायुना वीज्यते पथि । कान्तियुक्सुभगः श्रीमान् भवत्यम्बरदानतः

By giving a palm-leaf fan, one is fanned by the wind along the path; by giving a garment, one becomes radiant, fortunate, and prosperous.

रसान्नोपस्करयुतं गृहं विप्राय योर्ऽपयेत् । न हीयते तस्य वंशः स्वर्गं प्राप्नोत्यनुत्तमम्

Whoever offers to a Brāhmaṇa a house equipped with utensils and food, his lineage does not decline and he attains the highest heaven.

भवत्यत्र खगश्रेष्ठ फलगौखलाघवम् । श्रद्धाश्रद्धाविभेदेन दानगौरवलाघवात्

Here, O best of birds, the fruit is light or heavy according to the presence or absence of faith, and the weight or lightness of the gift.

ततो येनाम्बुदानानि कृतान्यत्र रसास्तथा । तदा खग तथाह्लादमापदि प्रतिपद्यते

Then, O bird, by whom water-jars and likewise liquids are given, he obtains such delight in adversity.

अन्नानि येन दत्तानि श्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा । सोऽपि तृप्तिमवाप्नोति विनाप्यन्नेन वै तदा

He who gives food with a mind purified by faith also attains satisfaction, even without food at that time.

आसन्ने मरणे कुर्यात्संन्यासं चेद्विधानतः । आवर्तेत पुनर्नासौ ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते

If, at the approach of death, one properly undertakes renunciation, he does not return again; he is not fit for becoming Brahman otherwise.

आसन्नमरणो मत्यश्चेत्तीर्थं प्रतिनयिते । तीर्थप्राप्तौ भवेन्मुक्तिर्म्रियते यदि मार्गगः । पदेपदे क्रतुसमं भवेत्तस्य न संशयः

If, when death is near, a man is taken to a sacred place, upon reaching the holy place he is liberated; if he dies on the way, at every step it is equal to a sacrifice—of this there is no doubt.

गृह्णीयाच्चेदनशनं व्रतं विधिवदागते । मृत्यौ न सोऽपि संसारे भूयः पर्यटति द्विज

If, when the proper time comes, one observes fasting and vows according to rule, at death, O twice-born, he does not wander again in the cycle of birth.

किं दानमिति तुर्यस्य प्रश्नस्योत्तरमीरितम् । दाहमृत्योरन्तरे किमितिप्रश्नोत्तरं शृणु

The answer to the question, 'What is the gift for the fourth?' has been stated; now hear the answer to the question, 'What is between burning and death?'

गतप्राणं ततो ज्ञात्वा स्नात्वा पुत्रादिराशु तम् । शवं जलेन शुद्धेन क्षालयेदविचारयन्

Then, knowing that life has departed, after bathing, the son and others should quickly wash the corpse with pure water, without hesitation.

परिधाप्याहते वस्त्रे चन्दनैः प्रोक्षयेत्तनुम् । ततो मृतस्य स्थाने वै एकोद्दिष्टं समाचरेत्

Clothing the body in clean garments, sprinkling it with sandalwood, then, at the place of the dead, one should perform the ekoddiṣṭa rite.

प्रयोगपूर्वं दाहस्य योग्यतादिर्यथा भवेत् । आंसनं प्राक्षण च स्यान्न स्यादेतच्चतुष्टयम्

Before the funeral rite, whatever is proper regarding fitness and so on, there should be carrying and placing, but not these four things.

आवाहनार्चन चैव पान्त्रालम्भावगाहने । भवेद्दानान्नसङ्कल्पः पिण्डदानं सदा भवेत्

There should be invocation and worship, as well as taking up the vessel and immersion; the resolve for giving food should be made, and the offering of rice-balls should always be performed.

पदार्थपञ्चकं न स्याद्रेखा प्रत्यवनेजनम् । दद्यादक्षय्यमुदकं न स्यादेतत्त्रयं पुनः

The fivefold substance should not be used, nor the drawing of lines or wiping; one should give inexhaustible water, and these three should not be done again.

स्वधावाचनमाशीश्च तिलकं च खगोत्तम । घटं दद्यात्समाषान्नं दद्याल्लोहस्य दक्षिणाम्

O best of birds, one should recite the svadhā, offer blessings, and a tilaka; one should give a pot, cooked food, and a gift of iron.

पिण्डस्य चालनं प्रोक्तं नैव प्रोक्तमिदं त्रिकम् । प्रच्छादनविसर्गौ च स्वस्तिवाचनकं तथा

The movement of the rice-ball is prescribed, but these three are not: covering, releasing, and the recitation for auspiciousness.

एषु षट्सु विधिः प्रोक्तः श्राद्धेषु मलिनेषु ते । षडेव मरणस्थाने द्वारि चात्वरिके तथा

These six rites are prescribed for impure śrāddha ceremonies: only six at the place of death, at the door, and at the crossroads.