Garuda Purana

को गर्वः क्रियते तार्क्ष्य क्षणविध्वंसिभिर्नरैः । दानं वित्तादृता वाचः कीर्तिधर्मौ तथायुषः ॥ २,१५.

What pride can there be, O Tārkṣya, in men who are destroyed in a moment? Wealth, speech, fame, virtue, and life are all dependent on gifts.

परोपकरणं कायादसतः सारमुद्धृतम् । तस्यैवं नीयमानस्य दूताः सन्तर्जयन्ति हि ॥ २,१५.

Only the essence of good deeds performed for others is extracted from the body of the wicked; as he is being led away, the messengers continually threaten him.

दर्शयन्तो भयं तीव्रं नरकाय पुनः पुनः । शीघ्रं प्रचल दुष्टात्मन् गतोऽसित्वं यमालये ॥ २,१५.

They repeatedly show him intense fear of hell, saying: 'Move quickly, evil soul, you have reached the abode of Yama.'

कुंभीपाकादिनरकांस्त्वां नेष्यामश्च मा चिरम् । एवं वाचस्तदा शृण्वन्बन्धूनां रुदितं तथा ॥ २,१५.

'We shall take you soon to the hells like Kumbhipaka; do not delay.' Hearing these words, he also hears the lamentation of his relatives.

उच्चैर्हाहेति विलपन्नीयते यमकिङ्करैः । स्थाने श्राद्धं प्रकुर्वीत तथा चेकादशेऽहनि ॥ २,१५.

He is led away by Yama's servants, crying loudly 'ha ha'; at that time, a śrāddha should be performed, as well as on the eleventh day.

मृस्योत्क्रान्तिसमयात्षट्पिण्डान्क्रमशो ददेत् । मृतस्थाने तथा द्वारे चत्वरे तार्क्ष्य कारणात् ॥ २,१५.

From the time of departure, six balls of rice should be given in succession; at the place of death, at the door, and at the crossroads, O Tārkṣya, for this reason.

विश्रामे काष्ठचयने तथा सञ्चयने च षट् । शृणु तत्कारणं तार्क्ष्य षट्पिण्डपरिकल्पने ॥ २,१५.

At the resting place, on the wooden platform, and at the collection site, six should be given; listen, O Tārkṣya, to the reason for the offering of six rice balls.

मृतस्थाने शवो नाम तेन नाम्ना प्रदीयते । तेन दत्तेन तृप्यन्ति गृहवास्त्वधिदेवताः ॥ २,१५.

At the place of death, an offering called 'śava' is given by that name; by this gift, the household deities and guardians of the dwelling are satisfied.

तेन भूमिर्भवेत्तुष्टातदधिष्ठातृदेवता । द्वारे तु पिण्डं देयं च पान्थमित्यभिधाय तु ॥ २,१५.

By this, the earth and its presiding deity become pleased; at the doorway, an offering called 'pāntha' should be given.

दत्तेन तेन प्रीणन्ति द्वारस्था गृहदेवताः । चत्वरे खेचरो नाम तमुद्दिश्य प्रदापयेत् ॥ २,१५.

By this gift, the deities stationed at the doorway of the house are gratified; at the courtyard, an offering called 'khecara' should be made, addressed to him.

न चोपघातं कुर्वन्ति भूताद्या देवयोनयः । विश्रामे भूतसंज्ञोऽयं तेन तत्र प्रदापयेत् ॥ २,१५.

Then beings such as spirits and divine classes do not cause harm; at the resting place, an offering named 'bhūta' should be given there.

पिशाचा राक्षसा यक्षा ये चान्ये दिशि वासिनः । तस्य होतव्यदेहस्यनैवायोग्यत्वकारकाः ॥ २,१५.

Piśācas, rākṣasas, yakṣas, and other beings who dwell in the directions do not render the body of the deceased unfit for the rites.

चितापिण्ढप्रभृतितः प्रेतत्वमुपजायते । चितायां साधकं नाम वदन्त्येके खगेश्वर ॥ २,१५.

From the offering of the funeral cake and similar rites, the state of being a preta arises; some call the one at the pyre 'sādhaka', O Lord of Birds.

केचित्तं प्रेतमेवाहुर्यथा कल्पविदो बुधाः । तदादि तत्रतत्रापि प्रेतनाम्ना प्रदीयते ॥ २,१५.

Some indeed call him 'preta', as do those learned in ritual; from that point onward, offerings are made in various places under the name 'preta'.

इत्येवं पञ्चभिः पिण्डैः शवस्याहुतियोग्यता । अन्यथा चोपघाताय पूर्वोक्तास्ते भवन्ति हि ॥ २,१५.

Thus, with five offerings, the corpse becomes fit for the oblation; otherwise, as previously stated, those beings may cause harm.

उत्क्रामे प्रथमं पिण्डं तथा चार्धपयेपि च । चितायां तु तृतीयं स्यात्त्रयः पिण्डाश्च कल्पिताः ॥ २,१५.

The first offering is made at the place of departure, the second at the halfway point, and the third at the funeral pyre; thus, three offerings are prescribed.

विधाता प्रथमे पिण्डे द्वितीये गरुडध्वजः । तृतीये यमदूताश्च प्रयोगः परिकीर्तितः ॥ २,१५.

The creator is invoked in the first offering, Garuḍa-bannered Viṣṇu in the second, and the messengers of Yama in the third, as the procedure is described.

दत्ते तृतीये पिण्डेऽस्मिन्देहदोषैः प्रमुच्यते । आधारभूतजीवश्चज्वलनैर्ज्वालयेच्चिताम् ॥ २,१५.

When this third offering is given, the soul is freed from the faults of the body; the vital being, which is the support, should then ignite the pyre with fire.

संमृज्य चोपलिप्याथ उल्लिख्योद्धृत्य वेदिकाम् । अभ्युक्ष्योपसमाधाय वह्निं तत्रः विधानतः ॥ २,१५.

After cleaning and smearing, marking and raising the altar, and sprinkling it, the fire should be properly established there according to the rite.

पुष्पाक्षतैश्च सम्पूज्य देवं क्रव्यादसंज्ञकम् । त्वं भूतकृज्जगद्योने त्वं लोकपरिपालकः ॥ २,१५.

Having worshipped the deity called Kravyāda with flowers and rice grains: 'You are the creator of beings, the origin of the world, you are the protector of the realms.'

उपसंहारकस्तस्मादेनं स्वर्गं मृतं नय । इति क्रव्यादमभ्यर्च्य शरीराहुतिमाचरेत् ॥ २,१५.

'You are the one who brings completion; therefore, lead this dead one to heaven.' Thus, after worshipping Kravyāda, the oblation of the body should be performed.

अर्धदग्धे तथा देहे दद्यादाज्याहुतिं ततः । लोमभ्यः स्वोतिवाक्येन कुर्याद्धोमं यथाविधि ॥ २,१५.

When the body is half-burnt, then an offering of ghee should be made; with the proper invocation, an oblation should be performed to the hairs, as prescribed.

चितामारोप्य तं प्रेतं हुनेदाज्याहुतिं ततः । यमाय चान्तकायेति मृत्यवे ब्रह्मणे तथा ॥ २,१५.

Having placed the deceased on the pyre, then an offering of ghee should be made: 'To Yama, to Antaka, to Mṛtyu, and to Brahman.'

जातवेदोमुके देया एका प्रेतमुखे तथा । ऊर्ध्वं तु ज्वालयेद्वह्निं पूर्वभागे चितां पुनः ॥ २,१५.

One offering should be given into the mouth of the fire, and likewise one into the mouth of the deceased; then the fire should be kindled upward, and the pyre again at the eastern side.

अस्मात्त्वमधिजातोसि त्वदयं जायतां पुनः । असौ स्वर्गाय लोकाय स्वाहा ज्वलति पावकः ॥ २,१५.

'From this you have been born; may you be born again from you. This fire blazes for the world of heaven—svāhā!'

एवमाज्याहुतिं दत्त्वा तिलमिश्रां समन्त्रकाम् । ततो दाहः प्रकर्तव्यः पुत्रेण किल निश्चितम् ॥ २,१५.

After offering the ājya oblation mixed with sesame seeds, accompanied by mantras, then the cremation must certainly be performed by the son.

रोदितव्यं ततो गाढमेवं तस्य सुखं भवेत् । दाहस्यानन्तरं तत्र कृत्वा सञ्चयनक्रियाम् ॥ २,१५.

Then, intense weeping should be done; in this way, it brings comfort to him. After the cremation, the rite of collecting the remains should be performed.

प्रेतपिण्डं प्रदद्याच्च दाहार्तिशमनं खग । तावद्भूताः प्रतीक्षन्ते तं प्रेतं बान्धवार्थिनम् ॥ २,१५.

One should offer the funeral rice-ball, which alleviates the suffering of the deceased, O bird. Until then, the spirits wait for that departed one, longing for relatives.

दाहस्यानन्तरं कार्यं पुत्रैः स्नानं सचैलकम् । तिलोदकं ततो दद्यान्नामगोत्रेण तिष्ठतु ॥ २,१५.

After the cremation, the sons should bathe, with their garments on. Then, they should offer water mixed with sesame, reciting the name and lineage.