Garuda Purana

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.

एकादशे द्वादशाहे प्रेतो भुङ्क्ते दिनद्वयम् । योषितः पुरुषास्यापि प्रेतशब्दं समुच्चरेत् ॥ २,१५.

On the eleventh and twelfth days, the departed eats for two days; for women and men alike, the word 'preta' should be uttered.

दीपमन्नं जलं वस्त्रं यत्किञ्चिद्वस्तु दीयते । प्रेतशब्देन तद्देयं मृस्यानन्ददायकम् ॥ २,१५.

A lamp, food, water, cloth, or any object that is given—should be given with the word 'preta'; it brings joy to the departed.

त्रयोदशेऽह्नि स प्रेतो नीयते च महापथे । पिण्डजं देहमाश्रित्य दिवा नक्तं बुभुक्षितः ॥ २,१५.

On the thirteenth day, the departed is led along the great path, taking on a body made of the offerings, hungry by day and night.

शीतोष्णशङ्कुक्रव्यादवह्निमार्गस्तु पापिनाम् । क्षुधा तृष्णात्मिका चैव सव्व सौम्यं कृतात्मनाम् ॥ २,१५.

For sinners, the path is filled with cold, heat, spears, wild beasts, and fire, and is made of hunger and thirst; for the virtuous, it is gentle.

मार्गे चैतानि दुः खानि असिपत्रवनान्विते । क्षुत्पिपासार्दितो नित्यं यमदृतैः प्रपीडितः ॥ २,१५.

On the path, there are these sufferings, with forests of sword-leaves; constantly tormented by hunger and thirst, and afflicted by Yama's servants.

अहन्यहनि वै प्रेतो योजनानां शतद्वयम् । चत्वारिंशत्तथा सप्त अहोरात्रेण गच्छति ॥ २,१५.

Day by day, the departed travels two hundred and forty-seven yojanas in a single day and night.

गृहीतो यमपाशैश्च हाहेति रुदिते तु सः । स्वगृहं तु परित्यज्य याम्यं पुरमनुव्रजेत् ॥ २,१५.

Seized by Yama's nooses, crying 'Alas!', he leaves his own house and follows the path to Yama's city.

क्रमेण याति स प्रेतः पुरं याम्यं शुभाशुभम् । अतीत्य तानितान्येव मार्गे पुरवराणि च ॥ २,१५.

Gradually, the departed goes to Yama's city, whether auspicious or inauspicious, passing through those various cities along the way.

याम्यं सौरिपुरं नगेन्द्रभवनं गन्धर्वशैलागमौ । क्रोञ्चं क्रूरपुरं विचित्रभवनं बह्वापदं दुः खदम् ॥ २,१५.

Yama's city, the city of the Sun, the abode of the Lord of Mountains, the Gandharva mountains, Kroñca, the cruel city, the city of strange dwellings, full of dangers and suffering.

नानाक्रन्दपुरं सुतप्रभवनं रौद्रं पयोवर्षणं शीताढ्यं बहुधर्मभीतभवनं याम्यं पुरं चाग्रतः ॥ २,१५.

The city of many cries, the abode of sons, the fierce city, the city where water rains, the city full of cold, the city where many fear righteousness, and Yama's city ahead.

त्रयोदशेऽह्नि स प्रेतो गृहीतो यमकिङ्करैः । तस्मिन्मार्गे ब्रजत्येको गृहीत इव मर्कटः ॥ २,१५.

On the thirteenth day, the departed is seized by Yama's attendants; on that path, he goes alone, as if captured like a monkey.

तथव स व्रजन्मार्गे पुत्रपुत्रेति च ब्रुवन् । हाहेति क्रन्दते नित्यं कीदृशं तु मया कृतम् ॥ २,१५.

Thus, as he travels the path, he calls out 'Son! Son!' and always cries 'Alas!', lamenting, 'What have I done?'

मानुष्यं लभ्यते कस्मादिति ब्रूते प्रसर्पति । महता पुण्ययोगेन मानुष्यं जन्म लभ्यते ॥ २,१५.

He asks, 'Why is a human birth obtained?' It is attained only through the accumulation of great merit.

न तत्प्राप्य प्रदत्तं हि याचकेभ्यः स्वकं धनम् । पराधीनं तदभवदिति ब्रूते (रौति) सगद्गदः ॥ २,१५.

Having gained it, he did not give his own wealth to those who begged; he laments, stammering, 'It became dependent on others.'

किङ्करैः पीड्यतेऽत्यर्थं स्मरते पूर्वदैहिकम् ॥ २,१५.

He is tormented excessively by the attendants and remembers his previous embodiment.

सुखस्य दुः खस्य न कोपि दाता परो ददातीति कुबुद्धिरेषा । पुरा कृतं कर्म सदैव भुज्यते देहिन्क्वचिन्निस्तर यत्त्वया कृतम् ॥ २,१५.

No one else is the giver of happiness or suffering; this is a false notion. One always experiences the results of one's own past actions—wherever you are, embodied one, you must endure what you have done.

मया न दत्तं न हुतं हुताशने तपो न तप्तं हिमशैलगह्वरे । न सेवितं गाङ्गमहो महाजलं देहिन्क्वचिन्निस्तर यत्त्वया कृतम् ॥ २,१५.

I did not give, nor did I offer oblations into the fire; I did not perform austerities in the caves of snowy mountains; I did not serve the sacred Ganges or its great waters—wherever you are, embodied one, you must endure what you have done.

न नित्यदानं न गावाह्निकं कृतं न वेददानं न च शास्त्रपुस्तकम् । पुरा नदृष्टं न च सेवितोऽध्वा देहिन्क्वचिन्निस्तर यत्त्वया कृतम् ॥ २,१५.

I did not perform daily charity, nor the daily service to cows; I did not give the Vedas or sacred texts; I did not see or serve the holy paths—wherever you are, embodied one, you must endure what you have done.

जलाशयो नैव कृतो हि निर्जले मनुष्यहेतोः पशुपक्षिहेतवे । गोतृप्तिहेतोर्न कृतं हि गोचरं देहिन्क्वचिन्नस्तर यत्त्वया कृतम् ॥ २,१५.

I did not create a reservoir of water in a waterless place for the sake of humans, animals, or birds; I did not provide pasture for the satisfaction of cows—wherever you are, embodied one, you must endure what you have done.

मया न भुक्तं पतिसङ्गसौख्यं वह्निप्रवेशो न कृतो मृते सति । तस्मिन्मृते तद्व्रतपालनं वा देहिन्क्वचिन्निस्तर यत्त्वया कृतम् ॥ २,१५.

I did not enjoy the happiness of union with my husband; I did not enter the fire after his death; nor did I observe the vow after his passing—wherever you are, embodied one, you must endure what you have done.