Garuda Purana

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.

ततो जनपदैः सर्वैर्दातव्या करतालिका । विष्णुर्विष्णुरिति ब्रूयाद्गुणैः प्रेतमुदीरयेत् ॥ २,१५.

Afterwards, all the people of the village should clap their hands. They should say 'Viṣṇu, Viṣṇu,' and praise the departed with virtues.

जनाः सर्वे समास्तस्य गृहमागत्य सर्वशः । द्वारस्य दक्षिणे भागे गोमयं गौरसर्षपान् ॥ २,१५.

All the assembled people, having come to his house, should place cow dung and yellow mustard seeds on the southern side of the door.

निधाय वरुणं देवमन्तर्धाय स्ववेश्मनि । भक्षयेन्निम्बपत्राणि घृतं प्राश्य गृहं व्रजेत् ॥ २,१५.

Having placed the deity Varuṇa within the house, one should eat neem leaves, taste ghee, and then enter the home.

केचिद्दुग्धेन सिञ्चन्ति चितास्थानं खगेश्वर । अश्रुपातं न कुर्वीत दद्यादस्मै जलाञ्जलीन् ॥ २,१५.

Some sprinkle milk on the site of the pyre, O lord of birds. One should not shed tears, but offer handfuls of water to him.

श्लेष्माश्रु बान्धवैर्मुक्तं प्रेतो भुङ्क्ते यतोऽवशः । अतो न रोदितव्यं हि क्रियाः कार्याः स्वशक्तितः ॥ २,१५.

The departed helplessly consumes the phlegm and tears released by relatives; therefore, one should not weep, but perform the rites according to one's ability.

दुग्धं च मृन्मये पात्रे तोयं दद्याद्दिनत्रयम् । सूर्ये चास्तं गते तार्क्ष्य वलभ्यां चत्वरेऽपि वा ॥ २,१५.

For three days, milk and water should be given in an earthen vessel, O Tārkṣya, after the sun has set, either at the threshold or in the courtyard.

बद्धः संमूढहृदयो देहमिच्छन्कृतानुगः । श्मशानं चत्वरं गेहं वीक्षन्याम्यैः स नीयते ॥ २,१५.

Bound and bewildered in heart, desiring the body and attached to actions, he is led by the messengers to the cremation ground, the threshold, or the house.

गर्ते पिण्डा दशाहं च दातव्याश्च दिनेदिने । जलाञ्जलीः प्रदातव्याः प्रेतमुद्दिश्य नित्यशः ॥ २,१५.

For ten days, rice-balls should be given daily in the pit, and handfuls of water should be offered to the departed, always.

तावद्वृद्धिश्च कर्तव्या यावत्पिण्डं दशाहिकम् । पुत्त्रेण हि क्रिया कार्या भार्यया तदभावतः ॥ २,१५.

The increase should be performed until the ten-day rice-ball offering is completed. The rites must be done by the son, or by the wife if the son is absent.

तदभावे च शिष्येण तदभावे सहोदरः । श्मशाने चान्यतीर्थे वा जलं पिण्डं च दापयेत् ॥ २,१५.

If she is absent, then by the disciple; if he is absent, then by the brother. At the cremation ground or another sacred place, water and rice-balls should be given.

ओदनानि च सक्तूंश्च शाकमूलफलादिना । प्रथमेऽहनि यद्दद्यात्तद्दद्यादुत्तरेऽहनि ॥ २,१५.

Cooked rice, flour, vegetables, roots, fruits, and so forth—whatever is given on the first day should also be given on the following days.

दिनानि दश पिण्डांश्च कुर्वन्त्यत्र सुतादयः । प्रत्यहं ते विभज्यन्ते चतुर्भागाः खगेश्वर ॥ २,१५.

For ten days, the sons and others prepare rice-balls; each day, O lord of birds, they are divided into four parts.

भागद्वयं तु देहार्थं प्रीतिदं भूतपञ्चके । तृतीयं यमदूतानां चतुर्थं चोपजीव्यति ॥ २,१५.

Two portions are for the body, bringing satisfaction to the five elements; the third is for the messengers of Yama, and the fourth is for sustenance.

अहोरात्रैस्तु नवभिः प्रेतो निष्पत्तिमाप्नुयात् । जन्तोर्निष्पन्नदेहस्य दशमे वलवत्क्षुधा ॥ २,१५.

Within nine days and nights, the departed attains completion; for the creature whose body is formed, on the tenth day hunger is strong.

न विधिर्नैव मन्त्रश्च न स्वधावाहनाशिषः । नाम गोत्रं समुच्चार्य यद्दत्तं तद्दशाहिकम् ॥ २,१५.

Neither ritual, nor mantra, nor offerings of svadhā or blessings; whatever is given, with the name and family recited, that alone endures for ten days.

दग्धे देहे पुनर्देहमेवमुत्पद्यते खग । प्रथमेऽहनि यः पिण्डस्तेन मूर्धा प्रजायते ॥ २,१५.

When the body is burned, O bird, a new body is produced; by the offering made on the first day, the head is formed.

ग्रीवा स्कन्धौ द्वितीये च तृतीये हृदयं भवेत् । चतुर्थेन भवेत्पृष्ठं पञ्चमे नाभिरेव च ॥ २,१५.

On the second day, the neck and shoulders arise; on the third, the heart is formed; with the fourth, the back, and with the fifth, the navel.

षट्सप्तमे कटी गुह्यमृरू चाप्यष्टमे तथा । तालू पादौ च नवमे दशमेऽह्नि क्षुधा भवेत् ॥ २,१५.

On the sixth and seventh days, the waist and the secret parts, and the thighs on the eighth; the palate and feet on the ninth; on the tenth day, hunger arises.

देहं प्राप्तः क्षुधाविष्टो गृहे द्वारे च तिष्ठति । दशमेऽहनि यः पिण्डस्तं दद्यादामिषेण तु ॥ २,१५.

Having obtained a body and afflicted by hunger, he stands at the door of the house; on the tenth day, one should give him the offering, with meat.

यतो देहे समुत्पन्ने प्रेतोऽतीव क्षुधान्वितः । अतस्त्वामिषबाह्येन क्षुधा तस्य न नश्यति ॥ २,१५.

Because, when the body is formed, the departed is greatly afflicted by hunger; therefore, if the offering lacks meat, his hunger does not cease.