गृहाणि चाप्यशौचानि प्रकीर्णोपस्कराणि च । मलिनानि प्रसूतानि प्रेता भुञ्जन्ति तत्र वै ॥ २,२२.
In houses that are impure, with scattered utensils and filth, and where childbirth has occurred, the spirits of the dead indeed partake of the food there.
नास्ति सत्यं गृहे यत्र न शौचं न च संयमः । पतितैर्दस्युभिः सङ्गः प्रेता भुञ्जन्ति तत्र वै ॥ २,२२.
Where there is no truthfulness in the home, no cleanliness, and no self-restraint, and where there is association with fallen people and thieves, the spirits of the dead indeed partake of the food there.
बलिमन्त्रविहीनानि होमहीनानि यानि च । स्वाध्याय व्रतहीनानि प्रेता भुञ्जन्ति तत्र वै ॥ २,२२.
Where offerings and mantras are neglected, where sacrifices are absent, and where there is no self-study or observance of vows, the spirits of the dead indeed partake of the food there.
न लज्जा न च मर्यादा यदात्र स्त्रीजितो गृही । गुरवो यत्र पूज्या न प्रेता भुञ्जन्ति तत्र वै ॥ २,२२.
Where there is no modesty or propriety, where the householder is dominated by women, and where elders are not honored, the spirits of the dead indeed partake of the food there.
यत्र लोभस्तथा क्रोधो निद्रा शोको भयं मदः । आलस्यं कलहो नित्यं प्रेता भुञ्जन्ति तत्र वै ॥ २,२२.
Where there is greed, anger, sleep, sorrow, fear, intoxication, laziness, and constant quarrelling, the spirits of the dead indeed partake of the food there.
भर्तृहीना च या नारी परवीर्यं निषेवते । बीजं मूत्रसमायुर्क्त प्रेता भुञ्जन्ति तत्तु वै ॥ २,२२.
A woman without a husband who unites with another man's seed, or whose womb contains semen and urine, the spirits of the dead indeed partake of that.
लज्जा मे जायते तात वदतो भोजनं स्वकम् । यत्स्त्रीरजो योनिगतं प्रेता भुञ्जन्ति तत्तु वै ॥ २,२२.
Shame arises in me, O dear one, as I speak of eating food that contains menstrual blood or is tainted by the womb; the spirits of the dead indeed partake of that.
निर्विण्णाः प्रेतभावेन पृच्छामि त्वां दृढव्रत । यथा न भविता प्रेतस्तन्मे वद तपोधन । नित्यं मृत्युर्वरं जन्तोः प्रेतत्वं मा भवेत्क्वचित् ॥ २,२२.
Distressed by the state of being a spirit, I ask you, O steadfast one: tell me how one may avoid becoming a spirit. For death is certain for all beings, but may the state of being a spirit never occur.
ब्राह्मण उवाच । उपवासपरो नित्यं कृच्छ्रचान्द्रायणे रतः । व्रतैश्च विविधैः पूतो न प्रेतो जायते नरः ॥ २,२२.
The Brahmin said: One who is always devoted to fasting, engaged in difficult and lunar penances, and purified by various vows, does not become a spirit.
एकादश्यां व्रतं कुर्वञ्जागरेण समन्वितम् । अपरैः सुकृतैः पूतो न प्रेतो न प्रेतो जायते नरः ॥ २,२२.
One who observes the vow on the eleventh day, remaining awake, and is purified by other good deeds, does not become a spirit.
इष्ट्वा वै वाश्वमेधादीन्दद्याद्दानानि यो नरः । आरामोद्यानवाप्यादेः प्रपायाश्चैव कारकः ॥ २,२२.
A man who performs sacrifices such as the Ashvamedha, gives gifts, and establishes gardens, parks, ponds, or drinking places, does not become a spirit.
कुमारीं ब्राह्मणानां तु विवाहयति शक्तितः । विद्यादोऽभयदश्चैव न प्रेतो जायते नरः ॥ २,२२.
One who, to the best of his ability, gives a maiden in marriage to Brahmins, imparts knowledge, or grants safety, does not become a spirit.
शूद्रान्नेन तु भुक्तेन जठरस्थेन यो मृतः । दुर्मृत्युना मृतो यश्च स प्रेतो जायते नरः ॥ २,२२.
He who dies with food eaten from Shudras in his stomach, or who dies an inauspicious death, becomes a spirit.
अयाज्ययाजकश्चैव याज्यानां च विवर्जकः । कारुभिश्च रतो नित्यं स प्रेतो जायते नरः ॥ २,२२.
One who performs sacrifices for the unworthy, or neglects those for whom sacrifices should be performed, or who is always engaged with artisans, becomes a spirit.
कृत्वा मद्यपसम्पर्कं मद्यपस्त्रीनिषेवणम् । अज्ञानाद्भक्षयन्मांसं स प्रेतो जायते नरः ॥ २,२२.
One who associates with drunkards, engages with women who drink, or ignorantly eats meat, becomes a spirit.
देवद्रव्यं च ब्रह्मस्वं गुरुद्रव्यं तथैव च । कन्यां ददाति शुल्केन स प्रेतो जायते नरः ॥ २,२२.
One who gives away property belonging to the gods, Brahmins, or teachers, or gives a maiden in marriage for a price, becomes a spirit.
मातरं भगिनीं भार्यां स्नुषां दुहितरं तथाः । अदृष्टदोषास्त्यजति स प्रेतो जादृ ॥ २,२२.
He who abandons his mother, sister, wife, daughter-in-law, or daughter without any fault on their part, becomes a spirit.
न्यासापहर्ता मित्रध्रुक्परदाररतः सदा । विश्वासघाती कूटश्च स प्रेदृ ॥ २,२२.
One who steals deposits, betrays friends, is always engaged with others' wives, breaks trust, or is deceitful, becomes a spirit.
भ्रातृध्रुग्ब्रह्महा गोघ्नः सुरापो गुरुतल्पगः । कुलमार्गं परित्यज्य ह्यनृतोक्तौ सदा रतः । हर्ता हेम्नश्च भूमेश्च स प्रेदृ ॥ २,२२.
He who betrays his brother, kills a Brahmin, slays a cow, drinks liquor, violates his teacher's bed, abandons the path of his lineage, is always engaged in false speech, or steals gold or land—such a one becomes a preta (restless spirit).
भीष्म उवाच । एवं ब्रुवति वै विप्रे आकाशे दुन्दुभिस्वनः । अपतत्पुष्पवर्षं च देवर्मुक्तं द्विजोपरि ॥ २,२२.
Bhishma said: As the Brahmin spoke thus, there was a sound of celestial drums in the sky, and a shower of flowers released by the gods fell upon the Brahmin.
पञ्च देवविमानानि प्रेतानामागतानि वै । स्वर्गं गता विमानैस्ते दिव्यैः संपृच्छ्य तं मुनिम् ॥ २,२२.
Five divine aerial chariots arrived for the pretas, and, ascending those celestial vehicles, they reached heaven after paying respects to the sage.
ज्ञानं विप्रस्य सम्भाषात्पुण्यसंकीर्तनेन च । प्रेताः पापविनिर्मुक्ताः परं पदमवाप्नुयुः ॥ २,२२.
By conversing with the wise Brahmin and by the praise of virtue, the pretas, freed from their sins, attained the supreme state.
सूत उवाच । इदमाख्यानकं श्रुत्वा कम्पितोऽश्वत्थपत्रवत् । मानुषाणां हितार्थाय गरुडः पृष्टवान्पुनः ॥ २,२२.
Suta said: Having heard this tale, trembling like a leaf of the Ashvattha tree, Garuda again questioned for the welfare of mankind.
श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् २३ गरुड उवाच । किङ्किं कुर्वन्ति वै प्रेताः पिशाचत्वेव्यवस्थिताः । वदन्ति वा कदाचित्किं तद्वदस्व सुरेश्वर ॥ २,२३.
Garuda said: What do the pretas do when they exist in the state of pisachas (ghouls)? Do they ever speak? O Lord of the gods, please tell me this.
श्रीभगवानुवाच । तेषां स्वरूपं वक्ष्यामि चिह्नं स्वप्नं यथातथम् । क्षुत्पिपासार्दितास्ते वै प्रविशेयुः स्ववेश्मनि ॥ २,२३.
The Blessed Lord said: I shall describe their form, their signs, and their dreams as they truly are. Afflicted by hunger and thirst, they enter their own homes.
प्रतिष्ठा वायुदेहेषु शयानांस्तु स्ववंशजान् । तत्र यच्छन्ति लिङ्गानि दर्शयन्ति खगेश्वर ॥ २,२३.
They dwell in bodies of air and approach their own descendants as they lie sleeping, and there they display signs, O King of Birds.
स्वपुत्रस्वकलत्राणि स्वबन्धुन्तत्र गच्छति । हयो गजो वृषो मर्त्योदृश्यते विकृताननः ॥ २,२३.
They go to their own sons, wives, and relatives there; a horse, elephant, bull, or mortal with a distorted face is seen.
शयानं विपरीतं तु आत्मानं च विपर्ययम् । उत्थितः पश्यति यस्तु तद्विन्द्यात्प्रेतनिर्मितम् ॥ २,२३.
If one sees himself lying in an inverted position or perceives himself in a reversed state, and upon rising observes this, know it to be caused by a preta.
स्वप्ने नरौ हि निगडैर्बध्यते बहुधा यदि । अन्नं च याचते स्वप्ने कुवेषः पूर्वजो मृतः ॥ २,२३.
If in a dream a man is bound in many ways with chains, or begs for food, or sees a deceased elder in an unclean form,
स्वप्ने यो भुज्यमानस्य गृहीत्वान्नं पलायते । आत्मनस्तु परो वापि तृषार्तस्तु जलं पिबेत् ॥ २,२३.
If in a dream someone steals food from one who is eating and runs away, or if oneself or another, tormented by thirst, drinks water,