Garuda Purana

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.

मार्गे जङ्गम्यमानं तं पीडयेद्वातमण्डली । प्रेतपीडा तु सा ज्ञेया सत्यंसत्यं खगेश्वर ॥ २,२०.

On the road, as one moves about, a whirlwind afflicts him; this affliction by departed souls should be known, O king of birds, it is true, it is true.

हीनजात्या च सम्बन्धो हीनकर्म करोति यः । अधर्मे रमते नित्यं सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा ॥ २,२०.

One who associates with those of inferior birth, performs inferior actions, and always delights in unrighteousness—this affliction arises from departed souls.

व्यसनैर्द्रव्यनाशः स्यादुपक्रान्तं विनश्यति । चौराग्निराजभिर्हानिः सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा ॥ २,२०.

Through misfortune, loss of wealth occurs; what has been acquired is destroyed. Loss comes from thieves, fire, and rulers; such affliction arises from the presence of departed spirits.

महारोगोपलब्धिश्च बालकानां च पीडनम् । जाया संपीढ्यते यच्च सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा ॥ २,२०.

The onset of severe diseases and the suffering of children, as well as the distress experienced by one's wife—these afflictions arise from the presence of departed spirits.

श्रुतिस्मृतिपुराणेषु धर्मशास्त्रसमुद्भवे । अभावो जायते धर्मे सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा ॥ २,२०.

When the proper conduct described in the Vedas, Smritis, Puranas, and Dharma Shastras is absent, such affliction arises from the presence of departed spirits.

देवतीर्थद्विजानां तु निन्दांयः कुरुते नरः । प्रत्यक्षं वा परोक्षं वा सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा ॥ २,२०.

Whoever insults deities, sacred places, or Brahmins, whether openly or secretly, such affliction arises from the presence of departed spirits.

स्ववृत्तिहरणं यच्च स्वप्रतिष्ठाहतिस्तथा । वंशच्छेदः नदृश्येत प्रेतदोषाद्विनान्यथा ॥ २,२०.

The loss of one's livelihood, the destruction of one's own status, and the breaking of the family line—these do not occur except through the fault of departed spirits.

स्त्रीणां गर्भविनाशः स्यान्न पुष्पं दृश्यते तथा । बालानां मरणं यत्र सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा ॥ २,२०.

The destruction of pregnancy among women, the absence of flowers, and the death of children—such affliction arises from the presence of departed spirits.

भावशुद्ध्या न कुरुते श्राद्धं सांवत्सरादिकम् । स्वयमेव न कुर्वीत सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा ॥ २,२०.

If one does not perform the annual rites for ancestors with purity of intent, or does not do them personally, such affliction arises from the presence of departed spirits.

तीर्थे गत्त्वा परासक्तः स्वकृत्यं च परित्यजेत् । धर्मकार्ये न सम्पत्तिः सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा ॥ २,२०.

If, after going to a sacred place, one becomes distracted and abandons one's duties, and there is no success in righteous actions, such affliction arises from the presence of departed spirits.

दम्पत्योः कलहश्चैव भोजने कोपसंयुतः । परद्रोहे मतिश्चैव सा पीडा प्रेतसंभवा ॥ २,२०.

Quarrels between husband and wife, anger during meals, and the inclination toward harming others—such affliction arises from the presence of departed spirits.

पुष्पं यत्र न दृश्येन फलं तथा । विरहो भार्यया यत्र सा पीडा प्रेतसग्भवा ॥ २,२०.

Where flowers and fruits are not seen, and there is separation from one's wife, such affliction arises from the presence of departed spirits.

येषां वै जायते चिह्नं सदोच्चाटपरं नृणाम् । स्वक्षेत्रे निष्फलं तेजः सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा ॥ २,२०.

For those in whose family signs of severe disturbance appear, and whose own field yields no fruit, such affliction arises from the presence of departed spirits.

स्वगोत्रघातकश्चैव हन्ति शत्रुमिवात्मजम् । न प्रीतिर्नापि सौख्यं च सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा ॥ २,२०.

One who destroys his own lineage, kills his own son as if he were an enemy, and finds neither affection nor happiness—such affliction arises from the presence of departed spirits.

पितृवाक्यं न कुरुते स्वपत्नीं च न सेवते । सदा क्रूरमतिर्व्यग्रः सा पीडा प्रेतसम्भवा ॥ २,२०.

One who does not obey his father's words, does not serve his own wife, and is always of cruel and restless mind—such affliction arises from the presence of departed spirits.

विकर्मा जायते प्रेतो ह्यविधिक्रियया तथा । तत्कालदुष्टसंसर्गाद्वृषोत्सर्गादृते तथा ॥ २,२०.

A departed spirit arises from improper actions, from impure rituals, from association with the wicked at the wrong time, and except for the release of the bull.

दृष्टगृत्युवशाद्वापि अदग्धवपुषस्तथा । प्रेतत्वं जायते तार्क्ष्य पीड्यन्ते येन जन्तवः ॥ २,२०.

Even through the influence of what is seen or heard, or when the body is not cremated, the state of a departed spirit arises, O Tārkṣya, by which beings are afflicted.

एवं ज्ञात्वा खगश्रेष्ठ प्रेतमुक्तिं समाचरेत् । यो वै न मन्यते प्रेतान्मृतः प्रेतत्वमाप्नुयात् ॥ २,२०.

Thus understanding, O best of birds, one should perform the rites for the release of departed spirits. Whoever does not regard the departed, upon dying, attains the state of a departed spirit.

प्रेतदोषः कुले यस्य सुखं तस्य न विद्यते । मतिः प्रीती रतिर्बुद्धिर्लक्ष्मीः पञ्चविनाशनम् ॥ २,२०.

In the family where the fault of departed spirits exists, happiness is not found; intellect, affection, pleasure, and prosperity—all five are destroyed.

तृतीये पञ्चमे पुंसि वंशच्छेदो हि जायते । दरिद्रो निर्धनश्चैव पापकर्मा भवेभवे ॥ २,२०.

In the third or fifth generation, the family line is broken; poverty and destitution arise, and evil deeds occur in every birth.