Garuda Purana

शालग्रामं च संस्थाप्य वैष्णवं श्राद्धमाचरेत् । वृषं सम्पूज्य तत्रैव वस्त्रालङ्कारभूषणैः ॥ २,१४.

Having installed a Śālagrāma stone, one should perform a Vaiṣṇava śrāddha; there, having worshipped a bull with cloth, ornaments, and decorations,

चतस्रो वत्सतर्यश्च पूर्वं समधिवासयेत् । प्रदक्षिणं ततः कुर्याद्धोमान्ते च विसर्जनम् ॥ २,१४.

One should first consecrate four calves; then one should circumambulate, and at the end of the fire offering, perform the dismissal.

इमं मन्त्रं समुच्चार्य उत्तराभिमुखः स्थितः । धर्म त्वं वृषरूपेण ब्रह्मणा निर्मितः पुरा ॥ २,१४.

Standing facing north, one should recite this mantra: 'O Dharma, you were formerly created by Brahmā in the form of a bull.'

तवोत्सर्गप्रभावान्मामुद्धरस्वभवार्णावात् । अबिषिच्य शुभैर्मन्त्रैः पावनैर्विधिपूर्वकम् ॥ २,१४.

By the power of your release, lift me up from the ocean of worldly existence; having anointed with auspicious and purifying mantras according to the rite.

तनक्रीडन्तिमन्त्रेण वृषोत्सर्गं तु कारयेत् । अभिषिञ्चेत्ततो नीलं रुद्रकुम्भो दकेन तु ॥ २,१४.

With the mantra for the play of the calf, one should perform the release of the bull; then one should anoint the bull with water from a Rudra vessel, using the right hand.

नाभिमूले समास्थाय तदम्बु मूर्धनि न्यसेत् । अन्न (आत्म) श्राद्धं ततः कुर्याद्दद्याद्दानं द्विजोत्तमे ॥ २,१४.

Seated at the root of the navel, one should place that water on the head; then one should perform the śrāddha with food (or self), and give gifts to an excellent Brāhmaṇa.

उदकेचैव गन्तव्यं जलं तत्र प्रदापयेत् । यदिष्टं जीवतस्त्वासीत्तच्च दद्यात्स्वशक्तितः ॥ २,१४.

One should go to the water and offer water there; if the desired person is alive, that too should be given according to one's ability.

न्यूनं संपूर्णतां याति वृषोत्सर्गे कृते सति । सुतृप्तो दुस्तरे मार्गे मृतो याति न संशयः ॥ २,१४.

Whatever is lacking becomes complete when the release of the bull is performed; the deceased, fully satisfied, traverses the difficult path without doubt.

यमलोकं न पश्यन्ति सदा दानरता नराः । यावन्न दीयते जन्तोः श्राद्धं चैकादशाहिकम् ॥ २,१४.

Those men who are always devoted to giving gifts do not see the world of Yama, until the eleven-day śrāddha is performed for the departed.

स्वदत्तं परदत्तं वा नेहामुत्रोपतिष्ठति । त्रयोदशा तथा सप्त पञ्च त्रीणी क्रमेण तु ॥ २,१४.

Whatever is given by oneself or by others does not accrue here or hereafter; one should give thirteen, seven, five, or three, in order.

पददानानि कुर्वीत श्रद्धाभक्तिसमन्वितः । तिलपात्राणि कुर्वीत सप्त पञ्च यथाक्रमम् ॥ २,१४.

One should give gifts of foot coverings with faith and devotion; one should make offerings of sesame in seven, five, or as appropriate.

ब्राह्मणान् भोजयेत्पश्चादेकां गां च प्रदापयेत् । वृषं हि शन्नोदेवीति वेदोक्तविधिना ततः ॥ २,१४.

Afterwards, one should feed Brāhmaṇas and give a cow; then, according to the Vedic injunction, a bull should be given, reciting the 'śanno devī' hymn.

चतसृभिर्वत्सतरीभिः परिणयनमाचरेत् । वामे चक्रं प्रदातव्यं त्रिशूलं दक्षिणे तथा ॥ २,१४.

One should conduct the procession with four calves; on the left, a discus should be given, and on the right, a trident.

मूल्यं दद्याद्वृषस्यापि तं वृषं च विसर्जयेत् । एकोद्दिष्टविधानेन स्वाहाकारेण वुद्धिमान् ॥ २,१४.

One should give the price of the bull and then release that bull, performing the offering with the proper invocation for a single recipient, with the word 'svāhā,' as prescribed.

कुर्यादेकादशाहं च द्वादशाहं च यत्नतः । सपिण्डीकरणादर्वाक्कुर्याच्छ्राद्धानि षोडश ॥ २,१४.

One should carefully perform the rites of eleven days and twelve days, and then conduct the sixteen śrāddha ceremonies, including the sapiṇḍīkaraṇa, in the proper order.

ब्राह्मणान् भोजयित्वा तु पददानानि दापयेत् । कापोसोपरि संस्थाप्य ताम्रपात्रे तथाच्युतम् ॥ २,१४.

After feeding the brāhmaṇas, one should give gifts of footrests, placing them upon a wooden plank, and also offer copper vessels filled accordingly.

वस्त्रेणाच्छाद्य तत्रस्थमर्घं दद्याच्छुभैः फलैः । नावमिक्षुमयीं कृत्वा पट्टसूत्रेण वेष्टयेत् ॥ २,१४.

Covering what is placed there with a cloth, one should offer arghya with auspicious fruits; making a boat of sugarcane, it should be bound with a silk thread.

कांस्यपात्रे घृतं स्थाप्य वैतरण्या निमित्ततः । नावारोहणं कुर्यात्पूजयेद्गरुडध्वजम् ॥ २,१४.

Placing ghee in a bronze vessel for the sake of crossing the Vaitaraṇī, one should perform the rite of embarking on the boat and worship the banner of Garuḍa.

आत्मवित्तानुसारेण तच्च दानमनन्तकम् । भवसागरमग्नानां शोकतापार्तिदुः खिनाम् ॥ २,१४.

According to one's means, that endless gift should be given for those who are immersed in the ocean of worldly existence, afflicted by grief, heat, and suffering.

धर्मप्लवविहीनानां तारको हि जनार्दनः । तिला लोहं हिरण्यं च कार्पासं लवणं तथा ॥ २,१४.

For those lacking the raft of dharma, Janārdana is the savior; sesame, iron, gold, cotton, and also salt—

सप्तधान्यं क्षितिर्गावो ह्येकैकं पावनं स्मृतम् । तिलपात्राणि कुर्वीत शय्यादानं च दापयेत् ॥ २,१४.

The seven grains, earth, and cows—each is considered purifying; one should make offerings of sesame vessels and also give a bed as a gift.

दीनानाथविशिष्टेभ्यो दद्याच्छक्त्या च दक्षिणाम् । एवं यः कुरुते तार्क्ष्य पुत्रवानप्यपुत्रवान् ॥ २,१४.

One should give gifts and offerings to the poor, the destitute, and the distinguished, according to one's ability; whoever does so, O Tārkṣya, whether he has sons or not—

स सिद्धिं समवाप्नोति यथा ते ब्रह्मचारिणः । नित्यं नैमित्तिकं कुर्याद्यावज्जीवति मानवः ॥ २,१४.

He attains success just as those celibate students do; a person should always perform the regular and occasional rites as long as he lives.

यः कश्चित्क्रियते धर्मस्तत्फलं चाक्षयं भवेत् । तीर्थयात्राव्रतादीनां श्राद्धं संवत्सरस्य हि ॥ २,१४.

Whatever act of dharma is performed, its fruit becomes inexhaustible; among pilgrimages, vows, and the like, the śrāddha performed annually—

देवतानां गुरूणां च मातापित्रोस्तथैव च । पुण्यं देयं प्रयत्नेन प्रत्यहं वर्धते खग ॥ २,१४.

For the gods, teachers, and likewise for mother and father, merit should be given with effort; it increases daily, O bird.

अस्मिन्यज्ञेः हियः कश्चिद्भूरिदानं प्रयच्छति । तत्तस्य चाक्षयं सर्वं वेदिकायां यथा किल ॥ २,१४.

Whoever gives abundant gifts in this sacrifice, all that becomes inexhaustible for him, just as it is on the sacrificial altar.

यथा पूज्यतमा लोके यतयो ब्रह्मचारिणः । तथैव प्रतिपूज्यन्ते लोके सर्वे च नित्यशः ॥ २,१४.

Just as ascetics and celibate students are most revered in the world, so too are all such persons always honored everywhere.

वरदोऽहं सदा तस्य चतुर्वक्त्रस्तथा हरः । ते यान्ति परमांल्लोकानिति सत्यं वचो मम ॥ २,१४.

I am always the bestower of boons to him, as are the four-faced one and Hara; they attain the highest worlds—this is my true word.

उत्सृष्टो वृषभो यत्र पिबत्यपो जलाशये । शृङ्गेणालिखते वापि भूमिं नित्यं प्रहर्षितः ॥ २,१४.

Wherever the released bull drinks water in a pond, or joyfully marks the earth with its horn—