Garuda Purana

पान्थो द्वारि भवेत्तेन प्रीता स्याद्वास्तुदेवता । चत्वरे खेचरस्तेन तुष्येद्भृतादिदेवता

A traveler stands at the door, and thus the house-deity is pleased; at the crossroads, a sky-roaming being, and thus the carrier-deities are satisfied.

विश्रामे भूतसंज्ञोऽयं तुष्टस्तेन दिशो दश । चितायां साधक इति सञ्चितौ प्रेत उच्यते

At the resting place, this is called 'spirit', and thus the ten directions are satisfied; at the funeral pyre, 'sādhaka', and at the gathering, 'preta' is said.

तिलदर्भघृतेधांसि गृहीत्वा तु सुतादयः । गाथां यमस्य सूक्तं वाप्यधीयाना व्रजन्ति हि

Taking sesame, darbha grass, clarified butter, and lamps, the sons and others recite a verse of Yama or a hymn, and proceed.

अहरहर्नीयमानो गामश्वं पुरुषं वृषम् । वैवस्वतो न तृप्येत सुरया त्विव दुर्मतिः

Even if a cow, horse, man, or bull is offered daily, Vaivasvata would not be satisfied, just as a fool is never satisfied with liquor.

इमां गाथमपेतेति सूक्तं वा पथि संपठेत् । दक्षिणस्यां दिश्यरण्यं व्रजेयुः सर्वबान्धवाः

Recite this verse or hymn on the path; all relatives should proceed to the southern direction, to the forest.

पथि श्राद्धद्वयं कुर्यात्पूर्वोक्तविधिना खग । ततः शनैर्भूतले वै दक्षिणाशिरसं शवम्

On the path, two śrāddha rites should be performed according to the previously stated method, O bird; then, slowly place the corpse on the ground with its head to the south.

स्थापयित्वा चिताभूमौ पूर्वोक्तं श्राद्धमाचरेत् । तृणकाष्ठतिलाज्यादि स्वयं निन्युः सुतादयः

After placing it on the funeral ground, perform the śrāddha as previously described; the sons and others themselves bring grass, wood, sesame, clarified butter, and so on.

शूद्रानीतैः कृतं कर्म सर्वं भवति निष्फलम् । प्राचीनावीतिना भाव्यं दक्षिणाभिमुकेन च

All rites performed by Śūdras become fruitless; it should be done with the prācīnāvīta and facing south.

वेदी तत्र प्रकर्तव्या यथाशास्त्रमथाण्डज । प्रतेवस्त्रं द्विधा कृत्वार्धेन तं छादयेत्ततः

There, an altar should be constructed according to the scriptures, O egg-born; the shroud should be divided in two, and half should be used to cover it.

अर्धं श्मशानवासार्थं भूमावेव विनिः क्षिपेत् । ततः पूर्वोक्तविधिना पिण्डं प्रेतकरे न्यसेत्

Half is for the use of the cremation ground, and should be placed on the earth; then, according to the previously stated method, place the rice-ball in the hand of the deceased.

आज्येनाभ्यञ्जनं कार्यं सर्वाङ्गेषु शवस्य च । दाहमृत्योरन्तराले विधिः पिण्डस्य तं शृणु

Anoint the entire body of the corpse with clarified butter; listen to the rite for the rice-ball between the placing and the burning.

पूर्वोक्तैः पञ्चभिः पिण्डैः शवस्याहुतियोग्यता । अन्यथा चोपघाताच्च राक्षसाद्या भवन्ति हि

With the five rice-balls previously mentioned, the corpse becomes fit for offering; otherwise, due to error, beings like demons arise.

संमृज्य चोपलिप्याथ उल्लिख्योद्धृत्य वेदिकाम् । अभ्युक्ष्योपसमाधाय वह्निं तत्र विधानतः

After cleaning, smearing, marking, and raising the altar, sprinkle and arrange the fire there according to the prescribed method.

पुष्पाक्षतैश्च संपूज्य देवं क्रव्यादसंज्ञकम् । श्रौतेन तु विधानेन ह्याहिताग्निं दहेद्वुधः

Worship the deity called 'devourer of flesh' with flowers and unbroken rice; then, according to the Vedic method, burn the corpse with the sacred fire.

चण्डालाग्निं चिताग्निं च पतिताग्निं परित्यजेत् । त्वं भूतकृज्जगद्योनिस्त्वं लोकपरिपालकः

One should avoid the fire of outcastes, the funeral fire, and the fire of the fallen; you are the creator of beings, the origin of the world, and the protector of the realms.

उपसंहर तस्मात्त्वमेनं स्वर्गं नयामृतम् । इति क्रव्यादमभ्यर्च्य शरीराहुतिमाचरेत्

Therefore, withdraw him and lead him to heaven, to immortality; having thus worshipped the devourer of flesh, one should offer the body as an oblation.

अर्धदग्धे तथा देहे दद्यादाज्याहुतिं ततः । अस्मात्त्वमधिजातोऽसि त्वदयं जायतां पुनः

When the body is half-burnt, then one should offer a libation of ghee, saying: 'From this you have arisen; from you may this be born again.'

असौ स्वर्गाय लोकाय स्वाहेत्युक्त्वा तु नामतः । एवमाज्याहुतिं दत्त्वा तिलमिश्रां समन्त्रकम्

Saying, 'This one, for the heavenly world, svāhā,' and naming him, thus offering a ghee oblation mixed with sesame and mantra.

रोदितव्यं ततो गाढमेवं तस्य सुखं भवेत् । दाहस्यानन्तरं तत्र कृत्वा सञ्चयनिक्रियाम्

Then, one should weep deeply; in this way, happiness comes to him. After the burning, there, the gathering of the remains should be performed.

प्रेतपिण्डं प्रदद्याच्च दाहार्तिशमनं खग । ततः प्रदक्षिणं कृक्त्वा चिताप्रस्थानवीक्षकाः

One should offer the funeral rice-ball, O bird, to soothe the pain of burning; then, having circumambulated, those who witnessed the cremation depart.

कनिष्ठपूर्वाः स्नानार्थं गच्छेयुः सूक्तजापकाः । ततो जालसमीपे तु गत्वा प्रक्षाल्य चांशुकम्

The youngest first, those who recite the hymns, should go to bathe; then, going near the water's edge, they should wash their garments.

परिधाय पुनस्तच्च ब्रृयुस्तं पुरुषं प्रति । उदकं तु करिष्यामः सचैलं पुरुषास्ततः

Having put on those garments again, they should say to that person: 'We will perform the water-rite, with garments, O men.'

कुरुध्वमित्येव वदेच्छतवर्षावरे मृते । पुत्राद्या वृद्धपूर्वास्ते एकवस्त्राः शिखां विना

One should say only, 'Do it,' when a person of a hundred years has died; sons and others, beginning with the eldest, should enter the water in a single cloth, without the topknot.

प्राचीनावीतिनः सर्वे विशेयुर्मौनिनो जलम् । अपनः शोशुचदघमनेन पितृदिङ्मुखाः

All, facing the south, silent, with the sacred thread over the right shoulder, should enter the water; thus, facing the ancestors' direction, they remove their sins and grief.

जलावघट्टनं चव न कुर्युः स्नानकारकाः । ततस्तटे समागत्य शिखां बद्ध्वा ऋजून् कुशान्

Those performing the bathing should not strike the water; then, coming to the bank, tying up their hair, and holding straight blades of kuśa grass.

दक्षिणाग्रहस्तयोस्तु कृत्वाथ सतिलं जलम् । आदायाञ्जलिना याम्यां दुः खी पैतृकतीर्थतः

With both hands to the south, taking water with sesame in the joined palms, they should offer it in the southern direction, at the ancestral ford, with sorrow.

एकवारं त्रिवारं वा दशवारमथापि वा । भूमावश्मनि वा सर्वे क्षिपेयुर्वाग्यताः खग

Once, thrice, or even ten times, all should silently pour it on the ground or on a stone, O bird.

तृप्यन्तु तृप्यतां वापि तर्पयाम्युपतिष्ठताम् । प्रेतैतदमुकगोत्रेत्युक्तेष्वेवं समुच्चरेत्

Let them be satisfied, or may they be satisfied; I offer to those who are present—thus, saying, 'For this departed one of such a lineage,' one should perform accordingly.

जलाञ्जलौ कृते पश्चाद्विधेयं दन्तधावनम् । त्यजन्ति गोत्रिणः सर्वे दिनानि नव काश्यप

After making the water offering, tooth-cleaning should be done; all those of the same lineage abstain for nine days, O Kāśyapa.