Garuda Purana

क्रियते मानुषाणान्तु स वा आहुतिपूर्वकः । विप्रैर्विधिरतः कार्यो मन्त्रैस्तु विधिपूर्वकम्

For humans, the rite is performed with offerings into the fire; the procedure should be carried out by brāhmaṇas with mantras, according to the proper method.

शवस्थानसमीपे तु क्षेप्तव्याः पुत्तलास्ततः । दर्भकॢप्तास्तु चत्वार ऋक्षमन्त्राभिमन्त्रिताः

Near the place where the body lies, four effigies made of darbha grass, consecrated with nakṣatra mantras, should be placed.

ततो दाहः प्रकर्तव्यस्तैश्च पुत्तलकैः सह । सूतकान्ते तदा पुत्त्रैः कार्यं शान्तिकपौष्टिकम्

Then the cremation should be performed together with those effigies; at the end of the impurity period, the sons should perform rites for peace and prosperity.

पञ्चकेषु मृतो योऽसौ न सतिं लभते नरः । तिलान् गाञ्च सुवर्णञ्च तमुद्दिश्य घृतं ददेत्

A man who dies during the five nakṣatras does not obtain a wife in the next life; for him, sesame seeds, cows, gold, and ghee should be offered.

विप्राणां दापयेद्दानं सर्वविघ्नविनाशनम् । भोजनोपानहौच्छत्त्रं हेममुद्रा च वाससी

One should give gifts to brāhmaṇas to remove all obstacles: food, footwear, umbrellas, gold coins, and garments.

दक्षिणा दीयते विप्रे पातकस्य प्रमोचनः । मयातेऽयं समाख्यातो विधिः पञ्चहरः स्थितः । संयमिन्यां यथायानं यथावर्षं मृतक्रिया

A fee should be given to the brāhmaṇa for the release from sin; thus I have explained the procedure for the five nakṣatras, as established, and the rites for the deceased according to the season and the journey of the soul.

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् ५ श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । एवं दग्ध्वा नरं प्रेतं स्नात्वा कृत्वा तिलोदकम् । अग्रतः स्त्रीजनो गच्छेद्व्रजेयुः पृष्ठतो नराः ॥ २,५.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: After burning the dead body, having bathed and performed the water offering with sesame, the women should go in front and the men should follow behind.

प्राशयेन्निम्बपत्राणि रुदन्तो नामपूर्वकम् । विधातव्यं चाचमनं पाषाणोपरि संस्थिते ॥ २,५.

They should chew neem leaves, weeping and reciting the name of the deceased; then, purification should be performed while standing on a stone.

ते प्रविश्य गृहं सर्वे सुताद्याश्च सपिण्डकाः । भवेयुर्दशरात्रं वै यत आशौचकं खग ॥ २,५.

All the sons and other relatives, having entered the house, should observe the ten-day period of impurity, O bird.

क्रीतलब्धाशनाः सर्वे स्वपेयुस्ते पृथक्पृथक् । अक्षारलवणान्नाः स्युर्निमज्जेयुश्च ते त्र्यहम् ॥ २,५.

All should eat food that is purchased or obtained, and sleep separately; their food should be without salt or spices, and they should bathe for three days.

अमांसभोजनाश्चाधः शयीरन्ब्रह्मचारिणः । परस्परं न संस्पृष्टा दानाध्ययनवर्जिताः ॥ २,५.

They should eat no meat, sleep on the ground, observe celibacy, avoid touching each other, and refrain from giving gifts or studying.

मलिनाश्चाधोमुखाश्च दीना भोगविवर्जिताः । अङ्गसंवाहनं केशमार्जनं वर्जयन्ति ते ॥ २,५.

They are unclean, downcast, dejected, and deprived of enjoyment; they avoid massaging the body and combing the hair.

मृन्मये पत्रजे वापि भुञ्जीरंस्ते च भाजने । उवासन्तु ते कुर्युरेकाहमथ वा त्र्यहम् ॥ २,५.

They should eat from clay or leaf vessels, and remain apart for one or three days.

गरुड उवाच । आशौचिन इति प्रोक्तमाशौचस्य च वै प्रभो । लक्षणं किं कियत्कालं भाव्यं वा तद्युतैर्नरैः ॥ २,५.

Garuḍa said: 'This is called impurity. O Lord, what are the signs of impurity, how long should it last, and who should observe it?'

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । अपनोद्यन्त्विदं कालादिभिराशु निषेधकृत् । पिण्डाध्ययनदानादेः पुङ्गतोऽतिशयो हि तत् ॥ २,५.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: 'This is quickly removed by the prescribed periods and prohibitions; it is especially so regarding offerings, study, and gifts.'

दशाहं शावमाशौचं सपिण्डेषु विधीयते । जननेऽप्येवमेव स्यान्निपुणं शुद्धिमिच्छताम् ॥ २,५.

For those sharing the same funeral cake, impurity due to death lasts ten days; it is the same at birth for those who desire thorough purity.

जन्मन्येकोदकानान्तुत्रिरात्राच्छुद्धिरिष्यते । शावस्य शेषाच्छुध्यन्ति त्र्यहादुदकदायिनः ॥ २,५.

For those related only by shared water, purity is attained after three nights at birth; for the rest at death, those who offer water become pure after three nights.

आदन्तजननत्सद्य आ चौलान्नैशिकी स्मृता । त्रिरात्रमा व्रतादेशाद्दशरात्रमतः परम् ॥ २,५.

At the birth of a child with teeth, or after the first tonsure, impurity lasts for one night; for those under vows, three nights, and for others, ten nights.

आशौचं ते समाख्यातं संक्षेपात्प्रकृतं ब्रुवे । जलं त्रिदिवमाकाशे स्थाप्यं क्षीरञ्च मृन्मये ॥ २,५.

I have briefly described the essential rules of impurity; water should be placed in the open air, and milk in a clay vessel.

अत्र स्नाहि पिबात्रेति मन्त्रेणानेन काश्यप । काष्ठत्रये गुणैर्बद्धे प्रीत्यै रात्रौ चतुष्पथे ॥ २,५.

With the mantra 'Bathe here, drink here,' O Kāśyapa, water tied with three wooden sticks for satisfaction is to be placed at the crossroads at night.

प्रथमेऽह्नि तृतीये वा सप्तमे नवमे तथा । अस्थिसंचयनं कार्यं दिने तद्गोत्रजैः सह ॥ २,५.

On the first, third, seventh, or ninth day, the collection of bones should be performed, together with relatives of the same lineage.

तदूर्ध्वमङ्गसंस्पर्शः सपिण्डानां विधीयते । योग्याः सर्वक्रियाणां च समानसलिलास्तथा ॥ २,५.

After that, touching of the body is permitted for those sharing the funeral cake, and all rituals and sharing of water may be performed.

प्रेतपिण्डं बहिर्दद्याद्दर्भमात्रविवर्जितम् । प्रागुदीच्यां चरुं कृत्वा स्नात्वा प्रयतमानसः ॥ २,५.

The funeral cake for the departed should be offered outside, without even a blade of darbha grass, after preparing the oblation in the northeast, having bathed with a pure mind.

भूमावसंस्कृतानां च संस्कृतानां कुशेषु च । नवभिर्दिवसैः पिण्डान्नव दद्यात्समाहितः ॥ २,५.

For those cremated on the ground or on kuśa grass, nine funeral cakes should be offered over nine days with concentration.

दशमं पिण्डमुत्सृज्य रात्रिशेषे शुचिर्भवेत् । असगोत्रः सगोत्रो वा यदि स्त्री यति वा पुमान् ॥ २,५.

After offering the tenth cake, one becomes pure at the end of the night, whether of the same lineage or not, whether woman, ascetic, or man.

प्रथमेऽहनि यो दद्यात्स दशाहं समापयेत् । शालिना सक्तुभिर्वापि शाकैर्वाप्यथ निर्वपेत् ॥ २,५.

Whoever offers on the first day completes the ten-day period; it may be offered with rice, flour, or vegetables.

प्रथमेऽहनि यद्द्रव्यं तदेव स्याद्दशाहिकम् । यावदाशौचमेकैकस्याञ्जलेर्दानमुच्यते ॥ २,५.

The substance used on the first day should be used for all ten days; for each day of impurity, one handful is to be given.

यद्वा यस्मिन्दिने दानं तस्मिंस्तद्दिनसंख्यया । दशाहेऽञ्जलयः पक्षिन्पञ्चाशदन्तिमे ॥ २,५.

Alternatively, the number of handfuls given should correspond to the day; in ten days, fifty handfuls are given, five each day.

द्विवृद्ध्या वा भवेत्पक्षिन्नञ्जलीनां शतं पुनः । यदा हि त्र्यहमाशौचं तदा वाञ्जलयो दश ॥ २,५.

Or, by doubling, a hundred handfuls may be given; when impurity lasts three days, then ten handfuls are given.