Garuda Purana

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.

ये केचित्पेतरूपा विकृतमुखदृशो रौद्ररूपाः कराला मन्यन्ते नैव गोत्रं सुतदुहितृपितॄन् भ्रातृजायां वधूं वा । कृत्वा काम्यं च रूपं सुखगतिरहिता भाषमाणा यथेष्टं हा कष्टं भोक्तुकामा विधिवशपतिताः संस्मरन्ति स्वपाकम् ॥ २,२०.

Those who take on forms of ghosts, with distorted faces, fierce and terrible in appearance, do not recognize family, sons, daughters, fathers, brothers, wives, or brides. Having assumed forms at will, devoid of happiness, they speak as they please—alas, in their desire to consume, fallen under the power of fate, they remember their own suffering.

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् २१ गरुड उवाच । मुक्तिं यान्ति कथं प्रेतास्तदहं प्रष्टुमुत्सुकः । यन्मुक्तौ च मनुष्याणां न पीडा जायते पुनः ॥ २,२१.

Garuḍa said: How do the spirits attain liberation? I am eager to ask this, for when liberation is gained by people, suffering does not arise again.

एतैश्च लक्षणैर्देव पीडोक्ता प्रेतजा त्वया । तेषां कदा भवेन्मुक्तिः प्रेतत्वं न कथं भवेत् ॥ २,२१.

And, O Lord, you have described the suffering of spirits with these characteristics. When will their liberation occur, and how will their state as spirits come to an end?

प्रेतत्वे हि प्रमाणं च कति वर्षाणि संख्यया । चिरं प्रेतत्वमापन्नः कथं मुक्तिमवाप्नुयात् ॥ २,२१.

What is the measure of time for being a spirit—how many years, by count? Having long fallen into the state of a spirit, how does one attain liberation?

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । मुक्तिं प्रायन्ति ते प्रेतास्तदहं कथयामि ते । यदैव मनुजोऽवैति मम पीडा कृता त्वियम् ॥ २,२१.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Those spirits do indeed attain liberation; I shall tell you this. When a person realizes, 'This suffering has been caused by me,'

पृच्छार्थं हितमन्विच्छन्दै वज्ञे विनिवदयेत् । स्वप्ने दृष्टः शुभो वृक्षः फलितश्चूतचम्पकः ॥ २,२१.

Desiring the welfare of the departed, one should ask and perform the prescribed rites. If, in a dream, an auspicious tree is seen, bearing mangoes or campaka flowers,

विप्रो वा वृषभो देवो भ्रमते तीर्थगो यदि । एवं दृष्टो यदा स्वप्नो मृतः कोऽपिस्वगोत्रजः ॥ २,२१.

Or if a brāhmaṇa, a bull, or a deity is seen wandering, or someone is seen going to a sacred place—if, in a dream, a deceased relative appears,

स्वप्ने सत्यं परिज्ञाय दृष्टं प्रेतप्रभावतः । अद्भुतानि प्रदृश्यन्ते प्रेतदोषाद्विनिश्चितम् ॥ २,२१.

Recognizing the truth in a dream, seen through the influence of the spirit, marvelous things are revealed—these are certainly due to the fault of the spirit.

तीर्थस्नाने मतिर्यावच्चित्तं धर्मपरायणम् । धर्मापायं प्रकुरुते प्रेतपीडा तदा व्रजेत् ॥ २,२१.

As long as the mind is intent on bathing at sacred places and devoted to righteousness, if one acts contrary to dharma, then the suffering of the spirit arises.

तदा तत्र विनाशाय चित्तभङ्गं करोति सा । श्रेयांसि बहुविघ्नानि सम्भवन्ति पदेपदे ॥ २,२१.

At that time, to bring about destruction, it causes disturbance of mind; many obstacles to auspicious things arise at every step.