Garuda Purana

संक्रान्तीनां सहस्राणि सूर्यपर्वशतानि च । दत्त्वा यत्फलमाप्नोति तद्वै नीलविसर्जने ॥ २,१४.

The fruit obtained by giving at thousands of solstice crossings and hundreds of solar festivals—that very fruit is gained by releasing a blue bull.

वत्सतर्यः प्रदातव्या ब्राह्मणेभ्यः पदानि च । तिलपात्राणि देयानि शिवभक्तद्विजेषु च ॥ २,१४.

Calves and cows should be given to Brahmins, along with pairs of footwear; vessels of sesame seeds should also be offered to Brahmins devoted to Shiva.

उमामहेश्वरं चैकं परिधाप्य प्रिदापयेत् । अतसीपुष्पसङ्काशं पीतवाससमच्युतम् ॥ २,१४.

One should dress an image of Uma and Maheshvara and give it away, with yellow garments resembling the color of the atasi flower, and in a manner befitting the imperishable.

ये नमस्यन्ति गोविन्दं न तेषां विद्यते भयम् । प्रेतत्वान्मोक्षमिच्छन्तो ये करिष्यन्ति सत्क्रियाम् ॥ २,१४.

Those who worship Govinda have no fear; those who wish for liberation from the state of the departed and perform proper rites will attain it.

यास्यन्ति ते परांल्लोकानिति सत्यं वचो मम । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं मया चैवोर्ध्वदैहिकम् ॥ २,१४.

They will reach the highest worlds—this is my true word; all this concerning posthumous rites has been explained to you by me.

यच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुच्यते नात्र संशयः । श्रुत्वा महात्म्यमतुलं गरुडो हर्षमागतः । मानुषाणां हितार्थाय पुनः प्रपच्छकेशवम् ॥ २,१४.

Hearing this, one is freed from all sins—there is no doubt; having listened to the incomparable greatness, Garuda became joyful and, for the benefit of humankind, again questioned Keshava.

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् १५ गरुड उवाच । बगवन्ब्रूहि मे सर्वं यमलोकस्य निर्णयम् । जन्तोः प्रयाणमारभ्य माहात्म्यं वर्त्मविस्तरम् ॥ २,१५.

Garuda said: Lord, tell me everything regarding the judgment of Yama's realm, beginning from the journey of the soul, its greatness, and the expanse of its path.

श्रीभगवानुवाच । शृणु तार्क्ष्य प्रवक्ष्यामि यममार्गस्य निर्णयम् । प्रयाणकानि सर्वाणि नगराणि च षोडश ॥ २,१५.

The Blessed Lord said: Listen, O Tarkshya, I will explain the determination of the path of Yama, all the stages of the journey, and the sixteen cities.

षाडशीतिसहस्राणि योजनानां प्रमाणतः । यमलोकस्य चोर्ध्वं वै अन्तरा मानुषस्य च ॥ २,१५.

There are eighty-six thousand yojanas in measure between the world of Yama and the world of humans.

कुकृतं दुष्कृतं वापि भुक्त्वा लोके यथार्जितम् । कर्मयोगाद्यदा कश्चिद्व्याधिरुत्पद्यते खग ॥ २,१५.

After enjoying the fruits of good or evil deeds in this world as earned, when the time comes, a disease arises for someone due to the course of karma, O bird.

निमित्तमात्रं सर्वेषां कृतकर्मानुसारतः । यस्य यो विहितो मृत्युः स तं ध्रुवमवाप्नुयात् ॥ २,१५.

All are merely instruments according to the results of their actions; whoever has a destined death will certainly attain it.

कर्मयोगाद्यदा देही मुञ्चत्यत्र निजं वपुः । तदा भूमिगतं कुर्याद्गोमयेनोपलिप्य च ॥ २,१५.

When, due to the course of karma, the embodied soul leaves its own body, then the body should be placed on the ground and smeared with cow dung.

तिलान्दर्भान्विकीर्याथ मुखे स्वर्णं विनिः क्षिपेत् । तुलसींसन्निधौ कृत्वा शालग्रामशिलां तथा ॥ २,१५.

Sesame seeds and darbha grass should be scattered, and gold placed in the mouth; tulasi should be kept nearby, along with a shalagrama stone.

सेतु (एवं) सामादिसूक्तैस्तु मरणं मुक्तिदायकम् । शलाकास्वर्णविक्षपैः प्रतप्राणिगृहेषुच ॥ २,१५.

Thus, with Sama and other Vedic hymns, death becomes liberating; by scattering gold rods in the house of the departed.

एका वक्त्रे तु दातव्या घ्राणयुग्मे तथा पुनः । अक्ष्णोश्च कर्णयोश्चैव द्वेद्वे देये यथाक्रमम् ॥ २,१५.

One should place a single item in the mouth, and again in both nostrils; two each should be given for the eyes and ears, in proper order.

अथ लिङ्गे तथा चैका त्वेकां ब्रह्माण्डकेक्षिपेत् । करयुग्मे च कण्ठे च तुलसीं च प्रदापयेत् ॥ २,१५.

Then, one should place a single item at the genital and another in the Brahmanda (crown of the head); tulasi should be given for both hands and the neck.

वस्त्रयुग्मं च दातव्यं कङ्कुमैश्चाक्षतैर्यजेत् । पुष्पमालायुतं कुर्यादन्यद्वारेण सन्नयेत् ॥ २,१५.

A pair of garments should be given, and worship performed with saffron and unbroken rice; a garland of flowers should be made, and other offerings arranged at the entrance.

पुत्रस्तु बान्धवैः सार्धं विप्रस्तु पुरवासिभिः । पितुः प्रेतं स्वयं पुत्रः स्कन्धमारोप्य बान्धवैः ॥ २,१५.

The son, together with relatives, and the priest with townspeople, should carry the father's body; the son himself should place the corpse on his shoulder, assisted by relatives.

गत्वा श्मशानदेशे तु प्राड्मुखश्चोत्तरामुखम् । अदग्धपूर्वा या भूमिश्चितां तत्रैव कारयेत् ॥ २,१५.

Having reached the cremation ground, facing east or north, one should prepare the funeral pyre on ground not previously burned.

श्रीखण्डतुलसीकाष्ठसमित्पालाशसंभृताम् । विकलेन्द्रियसङ्घाते चैतन्ये जडतां गते ॥ २,१५.

When sandalwood, tulasi, kusha grass, samit, and palasha are gathered, and the senses have become disordered, and consciousness has turned inert—

प्रचलन्ति ततः प्राणा याम्यैर्निकटवर्तिभिः । एकीभूतं जगत्पश्येद्दैवी दृष्टिः प्रजायते ॥ २,१५.

Then the vital breaths depart, accompanied by the attendants of Yama; a divine vision arises, and one perceives the world as unified.

बीभत्सं दारुणं रूपं प्रणैः कण्ठं समाश्रितैः । फेनमुद्गिरते कोपि मुखं लालाकुलं भवेत् ॥ २,१५.

A dreadful, terrifying form appears; with the breaths lodged in the throat, foam is expelled, and the mouth becomes filled with saliva.

दुरात्मानश्च ताड्यन्ते किङ्करैः पाशबन्धनैः । सुखेन कृतिनस्तत्र नीयन्ते नाकनायकैः ॥ २,१५.

The wicked are struck by servants with bonds of rope; the virtuous are led away comfortably by the leaders of heaven.

दुः खेन पापिनो यान्ति यममार्गे च दुर्गमे । यमश्चतुर्भुजो भूत्वा शङ्खचक्रगदादिभृत् ॥ २,१५.

The sinful go with difficulty along the arduous path of Yama; Yama himself appears four-armed, bearing conch, discus, mace, and other weapons.

पुण्यकर्मरतान्सम्यक्शुभान्मित्रवदाचरेत् । आहूय पापिनः सर्वान्यमो दण्डेन रज्जयेत् ॥ २,१५.

He treats those devoted to virtuous deeds kindly, like friends; but he summons all sinners and restrains them with his staff.

प्रलयाम्बुदनिर्घोषस्त्वञ्जनाद्रिसमप्रभः । महिषस्थो दुराराध्यो विद्युत्तेजः समद्युतिः ॥ २,१५.

He resounds like the thunder of a storm cloud, shines like the black mountain Anjana, rides upon a buffalo, is difficult to propitiate, and his radiance equals that of lightning.

योजनत्रयविस्तारदेहो रौद्रोऽतिभीषणः । लोहदण्डधरो भीमः पाशपाणिर्दुराकृतिः ॥ २,१५.

His body extends three yojanas, fierce and exceedingly terrifying; he wields an iron staff, is formidable, holds a noose, and has a dreadful appearance.

वक्रनेत्रोऽतिभयदो दर्शनं याति पापिनाम् । अङ्गुष्ठमात्रः पुरुषो हाहा कुर्वन् कलेवरात् ॥ २,१५.

His crooked eyes inspire great fear when seen by sinners; a man, reduced to the size of a thumb, cries out 'ha ha' as he leaves the body.

तदैव नीयते दूतैर्याम्यैर्वोक्षन्स्वकं गृहम् । निर्विचेष्टं शरीरं तु प्राणैर्मुक्तं जुगुप्सितम् ॥ २,१५.

At that moment, the messengers of Yama lead him away, abandoning his own house; the lifeless body, forsaken by the vital breaths, becomes repulsive.