Garuda Purana

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् १८ श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । श्रवणानां वचः श्रुत्वा क्षणं ध्यात्वा पुनस्ततः । यत्कृतं तु मनुष्यैश्चपुण्यं पापमहर्निशम् ॥ २,१८.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Having heard the words of the Śravaṇā, after meditating for a moment, again, whatever merit or sin is done by humans day and night.

तत्सर्वं च परिज्ञाय चित्रगुप्तो निवेदयेत् । चित्रगुप्तस्ततः सर्वं कर्म तस्मै वदत्यथ ॥ २,१८.

Having fully understood all that, Citragupta reports it; then Citragupta tells him all the deeds.

वाचैव यत्कृतं कर्म कृतं चैव तु कायिकम् । मानसं च तथा कर्म कृतं भुङ्क्ते शुभाशुभम् ॥ २,१८.

Whatever action is done by speech, and whatever is done by the body, and likewise whatever is done by the mind—one experiences the results, whether auspicious or inauspicious.

एवं ते कथितस्तार्क्ष्य प्रेतमार्गस्य निर्णयः । विश्रान्ति दानि सर्वाणि स्थानानि कथितानि ते ॥ २,१८.

Thus, O Tārkṣya, the judgment concerning the path of the departed has been explained to you; all the places of rest along the way have been described to you.

तमुद्दिश्य ददात्यन्नं सुखं याति महाध्वनि । दिवा रात्रौ तमुद्दिश्य स्थाने दीपप्रदो भवेत् ॥ २,१८.

Offering food in his name brings happiness on the great journey; by day or night, one should offer a lamp in his name at that place.

अन्धकारे महाघोरे श्वपूर्णे लक्ष्यवर्जिते । दीप्तेऽध्वनि च ते यान्ति दीपो दत्तश्च यैर्नरैः ॥ २,१८.

In the terrible darkness, filled with dogs, devoid of landmarks, and on the shining path, those who have given a lamp—by them he proceeds.

कार्तिके च चतुर्दश्यां दीपदानं सुखाय वै । अथ वक्ष्यामि संक्षेपाद्यममार्गस्य निष्कृतिम् ॥ २,१८.

On the fourteenth day of Kārtika, the gift of a lamp indeed brings happiness; now I shall briefly declare the expiation for the path of Yama.

वृषोत्सर्गस्य पुण्येन पितृलोकं स गच्छति । एकादशाहपिण्डेन शुद्धदेहो भवेत्ततः ॥ २,१८.

By the merit of releasing a bull, he attains the world of the ancestors; by the eleventh-day offering of rice-balls, he then becomes purified in body.

उदकुम्भप्रदानेन किङ्करास्तृप्तिमाप्नुयुः ॥ २,१८.

By the gift of a water-pot, the servants of Yama attain satisfaction.

शय्यादानाद्बिमानस्थो याति स्वर्गेषु मानवः । तदह्नि दीयते सर्वं द्वादशाहे विशेषतः ॥ २,१८.

By the gift of a bed, the departed, seated in a celestial vehicle, goes to the heavens; all is given on that day, especially on the twelfth day.

पदानि सर्ववस्तूनि वरिष्ठानि त्रयोदशे । यो ददाति मृतस्येह जीवन्नप्यात्महेतवे ॥ २,१८.

Whoever gives the foremost of all things, the thirteen steps, for the sake of the departed or even for himself while living, does so here.

तदाश्रितो महामार्गे वैनतेय स गच्छति । एक एवास्ति सर्वत्रे व्यवहारः खगाधिप ॥ २,१८.

Supported by that on the great path, O son of Vinatā, he proceeds; everywhere, O lord of birds, there is but one rule.

उत्तमाधममध्यानां तत्तदावर्जनं भवेत् । यावद्भाग्यं भवेद्यस्य तावन्मार्गेऽतिरिच्यते ॥ २,१८.

For those who are superior, middling, or inferior, the corresponding acquisition occurs; as much as one’s fortune allows, so much is exceeded on the path.

स्वयं स्वस्येन यद्दत्तं तत्तत्राधिकरोति तम् । मृते यद्बान्धवैर्दत्तं तदाश्रित्य सुखी भवेत् ॥ २,१८.

Whatever is given by oneself from one’s own resources, that accrues to him there; whatever is given by relatives after death, relying on that, he becomes happy.

गरुड उवाच । कस्मात्पदानि देयानि किंविधानि त्रयोदश । दीयते कस्य देवेश तद्वदस्व यथातथम् ॥ २,१८.

Garuda said: Why should the steps be given, and of what kind are the thirteen? To whom are they given, O Lord of the gods? Tell that to me exactly as it is.

श्रीभगवानुवाच । छत्त्रोपानहवस्त्राणि मुद्रिका च कमण्डलुः । आसनं भाजनं चैव पदं सप्तविधं स्मृतम् ॥ २,१८.

The Blessed Lord said: An umbrella, sandals, garments, a ring, a water-pot, a seat, and a vessel—these are remembered as the seven kinds of steps.

आतपस्तत्र यो रौद्रो दह्यते येन मानवः । छत्रदानेन सुच्छाया जायते प्रेततुष्टिदा ॥ २,१८.

There, the fierce heat by which a man is burned is soothed by the gift of an umbrella, which gives cool shade and satisfaction to the departed.

असिपत्रवनं घोरं सोऽतिक्रामति वै ध्रुवम् । अश्वारूढाश्च गच्छन्ति ददते य उपानहौ ॥ २,१८.

He certainly crosses the dreadful forest of sword-leaves; those who give sandals proceed as if mounted on horses.

आसने स्वागते (भोजने) चैव दत्तं तस्मै द्विजायते । सुखेन भुङ्क्ते स प्रेतः पथि गच्छञ्छनैः शनैः ॥ २,१८.

A seat given for sitting or for eating to a twice-born one is for him; the departed enjoys comfortably, proceeding on the path slowly, step by step.

बहुधर्मसमाकीर्णे निर्वाते तोयवर्जिते । कमण्डलुप्रदानेन सुखी भवति निश्चितम् ॥ २,१८.

In a place filled with many duties, where the wind is still and water is absent, by giving a water-pot one certainly becomes happy.

मृतोद्देशेन यो दद्यादुदपात्रं तु ताम्रजम् । प्रपादानसहस्रस्य तत्फलं सोऽश्नुते ध्रुवम् ॥ २,१८.

Whoever gives a copper water-vessel for the sake of the deceased surely attains the fruit of giving a thousand foot-rests.

यमदूता महारौद्राः करालाः कृष्णपिङ्गलाः । न पीडयन्ति दाक्षिण्याद्वस्त्राभरणदानतः ॥ २,१८.

The messengers of Yama, fierce, terrifying, with dreadful faces, dark and tawny, do not torment out of compassion those who have given garments and ornaments.

सायुधा धावमानाश्च न मार्गे दृष्टिगोचराः । प्रयान्ति यमदूतास्ते मुद्रिकायाः प्रदानतः ॥ २,१८.

Those Yama's messengers, armed and running, are not seen on the path by one who has given a ring.

भाजनासनदानेन आमान्नभोजनेन च । आज्ययज्ञोपवीताभ्यां पदं सम्पूर्णतां व्रजेत् ॥ २,१८.

By giving vessels and seats, by offering cooked food, clarified butter, and sacred threads, one attains completeness of position.

एवं मार्गे गच्छमानस्तृषार्तः श्रमपीडितः । महिषीरथ (दुग्ध) दानाच्च सुखी भवति निश्चितम् ॥ २,१८.

Thus, as one travels the path, tormented by thirst and weariness, by the gift of a cow, chariot, or milk, one certainly becomes happy.

गरुड उवाच । मृतोद्देशेन यत्किञ्चिद्दीयते स्वगृहे विभो । स गच्छति महामार्गे तद्दत्तं केन गृह्यते ॥ २,१८.

Garuda said: O Lord, whatever is given at home for the sake of the deceased, who receives that which is given on the great path?

श्रीभगवानुवाच । गृह्णाति वरुणो दानं मम हस्ते प्रयच्छति । अहं च भास्करे देवे भास्करात्सोऽश्नुते सुखम् ॥ २,१८.

The Blessed Lord said: Varuna receives the gift and places it in my hand; I then give it to the Sun-god, and from the Sun-god he enjoys happiness.

विकर्मणः प्रभावेण वंशच्छेदे क्षिताविह । सर्वे ते नरकं यान्ति यावत्पापस्य संक्षयः ॥ २,१८.

Because of the effect of evil deeds, when the family line is broken on earth, all those go to hell until their sin is exhausted.

कस्मिंश्चित्समये पूर्णे महिषासनसंस्थितः । नरकान्वीक्ष्य धर्मात्मा नानाक्रन्दसमाकुलान् ॥ २,१८.

At some appointed time, seated on a buffalo-throne, the righteous Lord, seeing the hells filled with various cries, reflects.