Garuda Purana

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.

चतुरशीतिलक्षाणां नरकाणां स ईश्वरः । तेषां मध्ये श्रेष्ठतमा घोरा या एकविंशतिः ॥ २,१८.

He is the Lord of eighty-four hundred thousand hells; among them, the most terrible are these twenty-one.

तामिस्त्रं लोहशङ्कुश्च महारौरवशाल्मली । रौरवं कुड्वलं कालसूत्रकं पूतिमृतिका ॥ २,१८.

Tāmisra, Lohaśaṅku, Mahāraurava, Śālmalī, Raurava, Kuḍvala, Kālasūtra, Pūtimṛtikā,

सङ्घातं लोहतोदं च सविषं सम्प्रतापनम् । महानरककालोलः सजीवनमहापथः ॥ २,१८.

Saṅghāta, Lohatoda, Saviṣa, Sampratāpana, Mahānaraka, Kālolaka, Sajīvana, Mahāpatha,

अवीचिरन्धता मिस्त्रः कुम्भोपाकस्तथैव च । असिपत्रवनं चैव पतनश्चैकविंशतिः ॥ २,१८.

Avīci, Andhatāmisra, Kumbhopāka, Asipatravana, and Patana—these are the twenty-one.

येषां तु नरके घोरे बह्वब्दानि गतानि वै । सन्तातर्नैव विद्यते दूतत्वं ते तु (प्रेत्य) यान्ति हि ॥ २,१८.

For those who have spent many years in these terrible hells, there is no deliverer; they become messengers (after death).

यमेन प्रेषितास्ते वै मानुषस्य मृतस्य तु । दिनेदिने प्रगृह्णन्ति दत्तमन्नाद्यपानकम् ॥ २,१८.

Sent by Yama, these seize every day the food and drink given for the dead person.

प्रेतस्यैव विलुण्ठन्ति मध्ये मार्गे बुभुक्षिताः । मासान्ते भोजनं पिण्डमेके यच्छन्ति तत्र वै ॥ २,१८.

Hungry, they plunder the offerings for the departed on the path; at the end of the month, some give a ball of food there.

तृप्तिं प्रयान्ति ते सर्वे प्रत्यहं चैव वत्सरम् । एवमादिकृतैः पुण्यैः क्रमात्सौरिपुरं व्रजेत् ॥ २,१८.

All of them attain satisfaction every day for a year; by such meritorious acts, one gradually reaches the city of the Sun.

ततः संवत्सरस्यान्ते प्रत्यासन्ने यमालये । बहुभीतकरे प्रेतो हस्तमात्रं समुत्सृजेत् ॥ २,१८.

Then, at the end of the year, when the abode of Yama is near, the departed, filled with great fear, abandons the body of a hand’s breadth.

दिवसैर्दशभिर्जातं तं देहं दशपिण्डजम् । जामदग्न्यस्येव रामं दृष्ट्वा तेजः प्रसर्पति ॥ २,१८.

In ten days, that body formed from the ten piṇḍas arises; seeing it, his radiance spreads forth, just as Rāma, son of Jamadagni.