Garuda Purana

यदा प्राप्नोति मानुष्यं तदा सर्वं तपत्यपि । सर्वजन्मानि संस्मृत्य विषादी कृतचेतनः ॥ २,२४.

When he attains human birth, then he suffers all; remembering all births, he becomes conscious and afflicted with sorrow.

अवेक्ष्य गर्भवासांश्च कर्मजा गतयस्तथा । मानुषोदरवासी चेत्तदा भवति पातकी ॥ २,२४.

Observing the states of dwelling in the womb and the destinies born of karma, if one resides in a human womb, then he becomes sinful.

अण्डजादिषु भूतेषु यत्रयत्र प्रसर्पति । आधयो व्याधयः क्लेशा जरारूपविपर्ययः ॥ २,२४.

Among beings born from eggs and others, wherever he wanders, there are afflictions, diseases, troubles, old age, and reversal of form.

गर्भवासाद्विनिर्मुक्तस्त्वज्ञानतिमिरावृतः । न जानातिः खगश्रेष्ठ बालभावं समाश्रितः ॥ २,२४.

Released from dwelling in the womb, but enveloped by the darkness of ignorance, he does not know, O best of birds, having assumed the state of infancy.

यौवने तिमिरान्धश्च यः पश्यति स मुक्तिभाक् । आधानान्मृत्युमाप्नोति बालो वा स्थविरो युवा ॥ २,२४.

Blinded by darkness in youth, he who perceives is destined for liberation; from afflictions, one attains death, whether child, old man, or youth.

सधनो निर्धनश्चैव सुकुमारः कुरूपवान् । अविद्वांश्चैव विद्वांश्च ब्राह्मणास्त्वितरो जनः ॥ २,२४.

Whether wealthy or poor, delicate or ugly, ignorant or learned, Brahmin or other people—

तपोरतो योगशीलो महाज्ञानी च यो नरः । महादानरतः श्रीमान्धर्मात्मातुलविक्रमः । विना मानुपदेहं तु सुखं दुः खं न विन्दति ॥ २,२४.

A man devoted to austerity, skilled in yoga, greatly wise, devoted to great giving, prosperous, righteous, and of incomparable valor—without a human body, he does not find happiness or sorrow.

प्राकृतैः कर्मपाशैस्तु मृत्युमाप्नोति मानवः । आधानात्पञ्च वर्षाणि स्वल्पपापैर्विपच्यते ॥ २,२४.

By the bonds of natural actions, a man attains death; for five years, he is tormented by minor sins.

पञ्चवर्षाधिको भूत्वा महापापैर्विपच्यते । योनिं पूरयते यस्मान्मृतोऽप्यायाति याति च ॥ २,२४.

Having exceeded five years, he is tormented by great sins; he fills a womb, and because of this, even after death, he comes and goes.

मृतो दानप्रभावेण जीवन्मर्त्यश्चिरं भुवि । सूत उवाच । इति कृष्णवचः श्रुत्वा गरुडो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ २,२४.

Having died, by the power of giving, a mortal lives long on earth. Sūta said: Having heard Krishna's words, Garuda spoke.

गरुड उवाच । मृते बाले कथं कुर्यात्पिण्डदानादिकाः क्रियाः । गर्भेषु च विपन्नानामाचूडाकरणाच्छिशोः ॥ २,२४.

Garuda said: When a child dies, how should one perform rites such as offering balls of rice? And for those who perish in the womb, or before the first shaving of the child's head?

कथं किं केन दातव्यं मृतान्ते को विधिः स्मृतः । गरुडोक्तमिति श्रुत्वा विष्णुर्वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् ॥ २,२४.

How, what, and by whom should offerings be made at the time of death? What is the prescribed rite? Hearing Garuḍa’s words, Viṣṇu then spoke as follows:

श्रीविष्णुरुवाच । यदि गर्भो विपद्यते स्त्रवते वापि योषितः । यावन्मासं स्थितो गर्भस्तावद्दिनमशौचकम् ॥ २,२४.

Śrī Viṣṇu said: If a pregnancy is lost or a woman miscarries, for as many months as the fetus remained, that many days of impurity are observed.

तस्य किञ्चिन्न कर्तव्यमात्मनः श्रेय इच्छता । ततो जाते विपन्ने तु आ चूडाकरणाच्छिशोः ॥ २,२४.

Nothing should be done by one who desires their own welfare in such a case; but if the child is born and then dies, rites are performed up to the time of the child’s first tonsure.

दुग्धं भोज्यं ताशक्ति बालानां च प्रदीयते । आ चूडात्पञ्चवर्षे तु देहदाहो विधीयते ॥ २,२४.

Milk and food, according to ability, are to be given for children; up to the tonsure or five years, cremation of the body is prescribed.

दुग्धं तस्य प्रदेयं स्याद्बालानां भोजनं शुभम् । पञ्चवर्षाधिके प्रेते स्वजातिविहितानि च ॥ २,२४.

Milk should be offered for them, and wholesome food for children; if one dies after five years, the rites prescribed for their own caste should be performed.

कुर्यात्कर्माणि सर्वाणि चोदकुम्भादि पायसम् । दातव्यं तु खगश्रेष्ठ ऋणसम्बन्धकस्तु सः ॥ २,२४.

All the rites should be performed, including the water-pot and rice pudding; these should be given, O best of birds, for he is bound by the debt of birth.

जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च । कर्तव्यं पक्षिशार्दूल पुनर्देहक्षयाय वै ॥ २,२४.

For one who is born, death is certain, and for the dead, birth is certain; therefore, O tiger among birds, the rites must be performed for the dissolution of the body.

तस्मै यद्रोचते देयमदत्त्वा निर्धने कुले । स्वल्पायुर्निर्धनो भूत्वा रतिभक्तिविवर्जितः ॥ २,२४.

Whatever pleases him should be given; if not given in a poor family, one becomes short-lived, impoverished, and deprived of pleasure and devotion.

पुनर्जन्माप्नुयान्मर्त्यस्तस्माद्देयमृते शिशोः । पुराणे गीयते गाथा सर्वथा प्रतिभाति मे ॥ २,२४.

A mortal is reborn if he does not give for the deceased child; this is declared in the Purāṇas, and it is clear to me in every way.

मिष्टान्नं भोजनं देयं दाने शक्तिस्तु दुर्लभा । भोज्ये भोजनशक्तिश्च रतिशक्तिर्वरस्त्रियः ॥ २,२४.

Sweet food should be given, but the ability to give is rare; the power to eat is in food, the power of enjoyment is in noble women.

विभवे दानशक्तिश्च नाल्पस्य तपसः फलम् । दानाद्भोगानवाप्नोति सौख्यं तीर्थस्य सेवनात् । सुभाषणान्मृतो यस्तु स विद्वान्धर्मवित्तमः ॥ २,२४.

The power to give is in wealth; the fruit of austerity is not for the poor. By giving, one attains enjoyment; by visiting holy places, happiness; by speaking well, the dead becomes wise and most learned in dharma.

अदत्तदानाच्च भवेद्दरिद्रो दरिद्रभावाच्च करोतिपापम् । पापप्रभावान्नरकं प्रयाति पुनर्दरिद्रः पुनरेव पापी ॥ २,२४.

From not giving what should be given, one becomes poor; from poverty, one commits sin; from the power of sin, one goes to hell, and again becomes poor and sinful.

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् २५ श्रीविष्णुरुवाच । अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि पुरुषस्त्री विनिर्णयम् । जीवन्वापि मृतो वापि पञ्चवर्षाधिकोऽपि वा ॥ २,२५.

Śrī Viṣṇu said: Now I will explain the rules for men and women, whether living or dead, even if they are over five years old.

पूर्णे तु पञ्चमे वर्षे पुमांश्चैव प्रतिष्ठितः । सर्वैन्द्रियाणि जानाति रूपारूपविपर्ययौ ॥ २,२५.

When the fifth year is completed, a boy is established; he knows all the senses and the difference between form and formlessness.

पूर्वकर्मविपाकेन प्राणिनां वधबन्धनम् । विप्रादीनन्त्यजान्सर्वान्पापं मारयति ध्रुवम् ॥ २,२५.

Because of the results of previous actions, living beings are subject to killing and bondage; among all, from Brāhmaṇas to outcastes, sin certainly destroys.

गर्भे नष्टे क्रिया नास्ति दुग्धं देयं मृते शिशौ । परं च पायसं क्षीरं दद्याद्वलविपत्तितः ॥ २,२५.

If the fetus is lost, no rites are performed; milk should be given for a dead child, and rice pudding or milk should be given if a child dies young.

एकादशाहं द्वादशाहं वृषं वृषविधिं विना । महादानविहीनं च कुमारे कृत्यमादिशेत् ॥ २,२५.

On the eleventh or twelfth day, without the bull or the rites for the bull, and without the great gifts, the prescribed rites for a boy should be performed.

कुमाराणां चैव बालानां भोजनं वस्त्रवेष्टनम् । बाले वा तरुणे वृद्धे घटो भवति वै मृते ॥ २,२५.

For boys and children, food and clothing should be given; whether the deceased is a child, youth, or elder, the water-pot rite is to be performed.