Garuda Purana

मासि वै दशमे प्राप्ते रौद्रं स्थानं स गच्छति । दशमे मासि यद्दत्तं तद्भुक्त्वा च प्रयाति सः ॥ २,१६.

When the tenth month arrives, he goes to the dreadful place; having eaten what is given in the tenth month, he proceeds onward.

दशैकमासिकं भुक्त्वा पयोवर्षणमृच्छति । मेघास्तत्र प्रवर्षन्ति प्रेतानां दुः खदायकाः ॥ २,१६.

Having eaten the offering for the eleventh month, he reaches the place where it rains milk; there, clouds pour down, causing suffering to the departed.

(ततः प्रचलितो पोतो बहुर्घमतृषार्दितः) । द्वादशे मासि यच्छ्राद्धं तत्र भुङ्क्ते सुदुः शितः ॥ २,१६.

Then, as the boat moves on, greatly afflicted by thirst, in the twelfth month, he eats the śrāddha offered there, though greatly distressed.

किञ्चिन्न्यूने ततो वर्षे सार्धे चैकादशेऽथ वा । याति शीतपुरं तत्र शीतं यत्रातिदुः खदम् ॥ २,१६.

When the year is slightly incomplete, or in the eleventh and a half month, he goes to the city of cold, where the cold is extremely painful.

शीतार्तः क्षुधितः सोऽथ वीक्षते हि दिशो दश । तिष्ठेत्तु बान्धवः कोऽपि यो मे दुःखं व्यपोहति ॥ २,१६.

Afflicted by cold and hunger, he looks in all ten directions, wondering if any relative will stand by to remove his suffering.

किङ्करास्तं वदन्त्येवं क्व ते पुण्यं हि तादृशम् । श्रुत्वा तेषां तु तद्वाक्यं हा दैव इति भाषते ॥ २,१६.

The attendants say to him thus: 'Where is that merit of yours?' Hearing their words, he laments, 'Alas, fate!'

दैवं हि पूर्वसुकृतं तन्मया नैव सञ्चितम् । एवं सञ्चिन्त्य बहुशो धैर्यमालम्बते पुनः ॥ २,१६.

For fate is previous good deeds, and I have not accumulated them.' Thinking thus again and again, he regains his composure.

चत्वारिंशद्योजनानि चतुर्युक्तानि वै ततः । धर्मराजपुरं रम्यं गन्धर्वाप्सराकुलम् ॥ २,१६.

Then, forty yojanas in extent, is the delightful city of Dharmaraja, filled with Gandharvas and Apsaras.

चतुरशीतिलक्षैश्च मूर्तामूर्तैरधिष्ठितम् । त्रयोदश प्रतीहारा धर्मराजपुरे स्थिताः ॥ २,१६.

It is inhabited by eighty-four lakhs of beings, both embodied and disembodied; thirteen gatekeepers stand in the city of Dharmaraja.

शुभाशुभं तु यत्कर्म ते विचार्य पुनः पुनः । श्रवणा ब्रह्मणः पुत्रा मनुष्याणां च चेष्टितम् । कथयन्ति तदा लोके पूजिताः पूजिताः स्वयम् ॥ २,१६.

They repeatedly examine the good and bad deeds performed; the sons of Brahma, called Shravanā, recount the actions of humans in the world, honored and honored themselves.

नरैस्तुष्टैश्च पुष्टैश्च यत्प्रोक्तं च कृतं च यत् । सर्वमावेदयन्ति स्म चित्रगुप्ते यमे च तत् ॥ २,१६.

Whatever is spoken or done by satisfied and nourished men, all this they report to Chitragupta and Yama.

दूराच्छ्रवणविज्ञाना दूराद्दर्शनगोचराः । एवञ्चेष्टास्तु ते ह्यष्टौ स्वर्भूपातालचारिणः ॥ २,१६.

They possess knowledge of hearing from afar and are visible from a distance; these eight, moving among heaven, earth, and the netherworld, act in this way.

तेषां पत्न्यस्तथै वोग्रा श्रवण्यः पृथगाह्वयाः । एवं तेषां शक्तिरस्ति यर्त्ये मर्त्याधिकारिणः ॥ २,१६.

Their wives, too, are fierce, known separately as Shravanis; such is their power over mortals.

व्रतैर्दानैस्तवैर्यश्च पूजयेदिह मानवः । जायन्ते तस्य ते सौम्याः सुखमृत्युप्रदायिनः ॥ २,१६.

If a man honors them here with vows, gifts, and worship, they become gentle to him, bestowing an easy death.

श्रीगरुडमाहापुराणम् १७ गरुड उवाच । एको मे संशयो देव हृदये सम्प्रबाधते । श्रमणाः कस्य पुत्राश्च कथं यमपुरे स्थिताः ॥ २,१७.

Garuḍa said: 'O Lord, one doubt troubles my heart: whose sons are the Shravanās, and how do they reside in Yama's city?'

मानुषैश्च कृतं कर्म कस्माज्जानन्ति ते प्रभो । कथं शृण्वन्ति ते सर्वे कस्माज्ज्ञानं समागतम् ॥ २,१७.

And how, O Lord, do they know the actions performed by humans? How do they all hear, and how does knowledge come to them?

कुत्र भुञ्जन्ति देवेश क्रथयस्व प्रसादतः । पक्षिराजवचः श्रुत्वा भगवान्वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ २,१७.

Where do they dwell, O Lord of the gods? Kindly explain. Having heard the words of the king of birds, the Blessed Lord spoke.

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । शृणुष्व वचनं सत्यं सर्वेषां सौख्यदायकम् । तदहं कथयिष्यामि श्रवणानां विचेष्टितम् ॥ २,१७.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: 'Listen to my true words, which bring happiness to all. I shall tell you of the activities of the Shravanās.'

एकीभूतं यदा सर्वं जगत्स्थावरजङ्गमम् । क्षीरोदसागरे पूर्वं मयि सुप्ते जगत्पतौ ॥ २,१७.

When all the world, moving and unmoving, was united as one, in the past, in the ocean of milk, while I, the Lord of the universe, slept—

नाभिस्थोजस्तपस्तेपे वर्षाणि सुबहून्यपि । एकीभूतं जगत्सृष्टं भूतग्रामचतुर्विधम् ॥ २,१७.

From the lotus at my navel, he performed austerities for many years; the world, united as one, was created, consisting of the four classes of beings.

ब्रह्मणा निर्मितं पूर्वं विष्णुना पालितं तदा । रुद्रः संहारमूर्तिश्च निर्मितो ब्रह्मणा ततः ॥ २,१७.

First, Brahmā created it; then Viṣṇu protected it; then Rudra, the form of destruction, was created by Brahmā.

वायुः सर्वगतः सृष्टः सूर्यस्तेजोभिवृद्धिमान् । धर्मराजस्ततः सृष्टश्चित्रगुप्तेन संयुत) ॥ २,१७.

Vāyu, all-pervading, was created; the sun, full of brilliance, was made; then Dharmarāja was created, accompanied by Chitragupta.

सृष्ट्वैतदादिकं सर्वं तपस्तेपे तु पद्मजः । गतानि बहुवर्षाणि ब्रह्मणो नाभिपङ्कजे ॥ २,१७.

Having created all this in the beginning, Padmaja (Brahmā) performed austerities; many years passed in the lotus of Brahmā's navel.

योयो हि निर्मितः पूर्वं तत्तत्कर्म समाचरेत् । कस्मिंश्चित्समये तत्र ब्रह्मा लोकसमन्वितः ॥ २,१७.

Whatever actions each being was created to perform, at some particular time, Brahma, accompanied by the worlds, directs them there.

रुद्रो विष्णुस्तथा धर्मः शासयन्ति वसुन्धराम् । न जानीमो वयं किञ्चिल्लोककृत्यमिहोच्यताम् ॥ २,१७.

Rudra, Vishnu, and Dharma govern the earth; we do not know anything—let the duties of the worlds be spoken here.

इति चिन्तापराः सर्वे देवा विममृशुस्तदा । संचिन्त्य ब्रह्मणो मन्त्रं विबुधैः प्रेरितस्तदा ॥ २,१७.

Thus, all the gods, absorbed in thought, deliberated at that time; having considered Brahma's mantra, they were prompted by the wise.

गृहीत्वा पुष्पपत्राणि सोसृजद्द्वादशात्मजान् । तेजोराशीन्विशालाक्षान्ब्रह्मणो वचनात्तु ते ॥ २,१७.

Taking flower petals, he created twelve sons—radiant, broad-eyed, from Brahma's command, they were so.

योयं वदति लोकेस्मिञ्छुभं वा यदि वाशुभम् । प्रापयन्ति ततः शीघ्रं ब्रह्मणः कर्णगोचरम् ॥ २,१७.

Whatever is spoken in this world, whether auspicious or inauspicious, they quickly bring it to Brahma's hearing.

दूराच्छ्रवणविज्ञानं दूराद्दर्शनगोचरम् । सर्वे शृण्वन्ति यत्पक्षिंस्तेनैव श्रवणा मताः ॥ २,१७.

Knowledge of hearing from afar, perception from a distance—all birds hear whatever is spoken, thus they are called 'Śravaṇā.'