Garuda Purana

महापुण्यप्रभावेण मानुष्यं जन्म लभ्यते । यस्तत्प्राप्य चरेद्धर्मं स गच्छेत्परमां गतिम् ॥ २,१९.

By the power of great merit, a human birth is obtained; whoever, having attained that, practices righteousness, reaches the supreme state.

अपि जानन्वृथा धर्मं दुः खमायाति याति च ॥ २,१९.

Even knowing righteousness in vain, one comes and goes in suffering.

जातीशतेन लभते किल मानुषत्वं तत्रापि दुर्लभतरं खग भो द्विजत्वम् । यस्तत्र पालयति लालयति व्रतानि तस्यामृतं भवति हस्तगतं प्रसादात् ॥ २,१९.

After a hundred births, one may indeed obtain humanity; but, O bird, among humans, twice-born status is even more difficult to attain. Whoever there observes and cherishes vows, for him, by grace, immortality is as if placed in his hand.

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् २० गरुड उवाच । ये केचित्प्रेतरूपेण कुत्र वासं लभन्ति ते । प्रेतलोकाद्विनिर्मुक्ताः कथं कुत्र व्रजन्ति ते ॥ २,२०.

Garuḍa said: Those who, in the form of spirits, dwell somewhere—when freed from the world of spirits, how and where do they go?

चतुर्युक्ताशीति लक्षैर्नरकैः पर्युपासिताः । यमेन रक्षितास्तत्र भूतैश्चैव सहस्रशः ॥ २,२०.

Surrounded by eighty-four hundred thousand hells, they are guarded there by Yama and by thousands of spirits.

विचरन्ति कथं लोके नरकाच्च विनिर्गताः । गरुडोदीरितं श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मीनाथोऽब्रवीदिदम् ॥ २,२०.

How do those who have departed from hell wander in the world? Hearing Garuḍa’s question, Lakṣmī’s Lord spoke this.

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । पक्षिराज शृणुष्व त्वं यत्र प्रेताश्चरन्ति वै । परार्थदारग्रहणाच्छ (ब) लाद्द्रोहान्निशाचराः ॥ २,२०.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: O king of birds, listen as I tell you where spirits wander—those who, by taking another’s wife, by theft, or by betrayal, become night-wanderers.

तथैव सर्वपापिष्ठः स्वात्मजान्वेषणे रताः । विचरन्त्यशरीरास्ते क्षुप्तिपासार्दिता भृशम् ॥ २,२०.

Likewise, all the most sinful, intent on seeking their own children, wander bodiless, tormented greatly by hunger and thirst.

बन्दीगृहवि निर्मुक्ता येभ्यो नश्यन्ति जन्तवः । ते व्यवस्यन्ति च प्रेता वधोपायं च बन्धुषु ॥ २,२०.

Freed from prison, those by whom creatures perish, those spirits plot the destruction of their relatives.

पितृद्वदाराणि रुन्धन्ति तन्मार्गोच्छेदकास्तथा । पितृभा गान्विगृह्णन्ति पान्थेभ्यस्तस्करा इव ॥ २,२०.

They obstruct the wives of their fathers and similarly those who block their path; they seize the ancestral wealth, like thieves from travelers.

स्वं वेश्म पुनरागत्य मित्रस्थाने विशन्ति ते । तत्र स्थिता निरीक्षन्ते रोगशोकादिबन्धनाः ॥ २,२०.

Returning again to their own house, they enter the place of friends; remaining there, they observe, bound by disease, grief, and other ties.

पीडयन्ति ज्वरीभूय एकान्तरमिषेण तु । तृतीयकज्वरा भूत्वा शीतवातादिपीडया ॥ २,२०.

They afflict, becoming fever, with a certain portion of food; becoming the third fever, they torment with cold, wind, and the like.

अन्यांश्च विविधान्रोगाञ्छिरोऽर्तिं च विषूचिकाम् । चिन्त यन्ति सदा तेषामुच्छिष्टादिस्थलस्थिताः ॥ २,२०.

They cause various other diseases, head pain, and cholera; always, those who dwell in places of leftovers and the like, afflict them.

आत्मजानां छलाल्लोका भूतसङ्घैश्च रक्षिताः । पिबन्ति ते च पानीयं भोजनोच्छिष्टयोजितम् ॥ २,२०.

People, deceived by their own children and guarded by groups of spirits, drink water mixed with food remnants.

एवं प्रेताः प्रवर्तन्ते नानादोषैर्विकर्मिणः ॥ २,२०.

Thus, the departed souls act, having committed various faults and improper deeds.

गरुड उवाच । कथं कुर्वन्ति ते प्रेताः केन रूपेण कस्य किम् । ज्ञायते केन विधिना जल्पन्ति न वदन्ति वा ॥ २,२०.

Garuda said: How do those departed souls act? In what form, for whom, and in what way is it known? By what method do they speak or remain silent?

एनं छिन्धि मनोमोहं मम चेदिच्छसि प्रियम् । कलिकाले हृषीकेश प्रेतत्वं जायते बहु ॥ २,२०.

If you wish to please me, dispel this confusion of my mind. In the age of Kali, O Hrishikesha, the state of being a departed soul arises frequently.

श्रीविष्णुरुवाच । स्वकुलं पीडयेत्पेतः परच्छिद्रेण पीडयेत् । जीवन्स दृश्यते स्नेही मृतो दुष्टत्वमाप्नुयात् ॥ २,२०.

Sri Vishnu said: The departed soul afflicts its own family or afflicts others through their faults. While living, he appears affectionate; after death, he attains wickedness.

रुद्रजापी धर्मरतो देवतातिथिपूजकः । सत्यवाक्प्रियवादी च न प्रेतैः स हि पीड्यते ॥ २,२०.

One who recites Rudra, is devoted to righteousness, worships gods and guests, speaks truth and pleasant words, is not afflicted by departed souls.

सर्वक्रियापरिभ्रष्टो नास्तिको धर्मनिन्दकः । असत्यवादनिरतो नरः प्रेतैः स पीड्यते । कलौ प्रेतत्वमाप्नोति तार्क्ष्याशुद्धक्रियापरः ॥ २,२०.

One who neglects all duties, is an atheist, reviles righteousness, is devoted to falsehood—such a person is afflicted by departed souls. In the Kali age, one who performs impure actions, O Tarkshya, attains the state of a departed soul.

कृतादौ द्वापरान्ते च न प्रेतो नैव पीडनम् । बहूनामेकजातानामेकः सौख्यं समश्नुते ॥ २,२०.

In the beginning of Krita and at the end of Dvapara, there is neither the state of a departed soul nor affliction. Among many born together, one alone enjoys happiness equally.

एको दुष्कृतकर्मा च एकः सन्ततिमाञ्जनः । एकः सम्पीड्यते प्रेतैरेकः सुतधनान्वितः ॥ २,२०.

One alone performs evil deeds, one alone has offspring, one alone is afflicted by departed souls, and one alone possesses children and wealth.

एकस्य पुत्रनाशः स्यादेको दुहितृमान् भवेत् । विरोधो बन्धुभिः सार्धं प्रेतदोषेण काश्यप ॥ २,२०.

One may lose a son, another may have a daughter; conflict with relatives arises due to the fault of departed souls, O Kashyapa.

सन्ततिर्दृश्यते नैव समुत्पन्ना विनश्यति । पशुद्रव्यविनाशश्च सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा ॥ २,२०.

Offspring are not seen, or if born, they perish; loss of livestock and property—this affliction arises from departed souls.

प्रकृतेः परिवर्तः स्याद्विद्वेषः सह बन्धुभिः । अकस्माद्व्यसनप्राप्तिः सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा ॥ २,२०.

Change in nature, enmity with relatives, sudden misfortune—this affliction arises from departed souls.

नास्तिक्यं वृत्तिलोपश्च महालोभस्तथैव च । स्याद्धन्तकलहो नित्यं सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा ॥ २,२०.

Atheism, loss of livelihood, great greed, constant violent quarrels—this affliction arises from departed souls.

पितृमातृनिहन्ता च देवब्राह्मणनिन्दकः । इत्यादोषमवाप्नोति सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा ॥ २,२०.

One who kills father or mother, reviles gods and Brahmins, attains such faults—this affliction arises from departed souls.

नित्यकर्मविनिंमुक्तो जपहोमविवर्जितः । परद्रव्याणां च हर्ता सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा ॥ २,२०.

One who abandons daily duties, avoids recitation and offerings, steals others' property—this affliction arises from departed souls.

सुवृष्टौ कृषिनाशश्च व्यवहारो विनश्यति । लोके कलहकारी च सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा ॥ २,२०.

Even with good rainfall, crops are destroyed, business fails, and one causes quarrels among people—this affliction arises from departed souls.