Garuda Purana

दानं प्रेतघटं नाम सर्वाशुभविनाशनम् । दुर्लभं सर्वलोकानां दुर्गतिक्षयकारकम् ॥ २,२७.

The gift called the spirit-pot destroys all evil; it is rare among all worlds and brings an end to misfortune.

सन्तप्तहाटकमयं तु घटं विधाय ब्रह्मोशकेशवयुतं सह लोकपालैः । क्षीराज्यपूर्णविवरं प्रणिपत्य भक्त्या विप्राय देहि तव दानशतैः किमन्यैः ॥ २,२७.

Fashion a pot from refined gold, adorned with symbols of Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu, together with the guardians of the worlds. Fill its opening with milk and ghee, and, after bowing with devotion, give it to a Brahmin. What need is there for hundreds of other gifts?

ब्रह्मा मध्ये तथा विष्णुः शङ्करः शङ्करोऽव्ययः । प्राच्यादिषु च तत्कण्ठे लोकपालान्क्रमेण तु ॥ २,२७.

Place Brahma in the center, then Vishnu, and Shiva, the imperishable. Around their necks, in the directions beginning with the east, arrange the guardians of the worlds in order.

सम्पूज्य विधिवद्राजन्धूपैः कुसुमचन्दनैः । ततो दुग्धाज्यसहितं घटं देयं हिरण्मयम् ॥ २,२७.

After worshipping them properly, O king, with incense, flowers, and sandalwood, then give the golden pot filled with milk and ghee.

सर्वदानाधिकञ्चैतन्महापातकनाशनम् । कर्तव्यं श्रद्धया राजन्प्रेतत्वविनिवृत्तये ॥ २,२७.

This surpasses all other gifts and destroys great sins. It should be performed with faith, O king, for the removal of the condition of being a spirit.

श्रीभागवानुवाच । एवं संजल्षतस्तस्य प्रेतेन नियतात्मनः । सेनाजगामानुपदं हस्त्यश्वरथसंकुला ॥ २,२७.

The Blessed Lord said: Thus, as he was speaking, the spirit with controlled mind was followed step by step by an army crowded with elephants, horses, and chariots.

ततो बले समायाते दत्त्वा राज्ञे महामणिम् । नमस्कृत्य पुनः प्रार्थ्य प्रेतोऽदर्शनमीयिवान् ॥ २,२७.

Then, when the army arrived, after giving the king a great jewel, bowing and again requesting, the spirit departed unseen.

तस्माद्वनाद्विनिष्क्रम्य राजापि स्वपुरं ययौ । स्वपुरं स समासाद्य सर्वं तत्प्रेतभाषितम् ॥ २,२७.

Then, leaving that forest, the king went to his own city. Upon reaching his city, he carried out everything the spirit had spoken.

चकार विधिवत्पक्षिन्नौर्ध्वदेहादिकं विधिम् । तस्य पुण्यप्रदानेन प्रेतो मुक्तो दिवं ययौ ॥ २,२७.

He performed the prescribed rites for the departed, including the offerings for birds and others. By giving merit, the spirit was freed and went to heaven.

श्राद्धेन परदत्तेन गतः प्रेतोऽपि सद्गतिम् । किं पुनः पुत्रदत्तेन पिता यातीति चात्भुतम् ॥ २,२७.

Even by a gift from another, the spirit attained a good state through the śrāddha. How much more, then, does a father attain when a son gives—this is truly wondrous.

इतिहासमिमं पुण्यं शृणोति श्रावयेच्च यः । न तौ प्रेतत्वमायातः पापाचारयुतावपि ॥ २,२७.

Whoever hears or recites this sacred history does not become a spirit, even if they are engaged in sinful conduct.

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् २८ गरुड उवाच । सर्वेपामनुकम्पार्थं ब्रूहि मे मधुसूदन । प्रेतत्वान्मुच्यते येन दानेन सुकृतेन वा ॥ २,२८.

Garuḍa said: For the sake of compassion for all, tell me, O Madhusūdana, by what gift or virtuous act one is freed from the state of being a spirit.

शृकृष्ण उवाच । शृणु दानं प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वाशु भविनाशनम् । सन्तप्तहाटकमयं घटकं विधाय ब्रह्मेशकेशवयुतं सह लोकपालैः । क्षीराज्यपूर्णविविरं प्रणिपत्य भक्त्या विप्राय देहि तव दानशतैः किमन्यैः ॥ २,२८.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Listen, I will declare the gift that swiftly destroys all misfortune. Fashion a pot from refined gold, adorned with symbols of Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu, together with the guardians of the worlds. Fill its opening with milk and ghee, and, after bowing with devotion, give it to a Brahmin. What need is there for hundreds of other gifts?

गरुड उवाच । किमेत्कथितं देव विस्तरेण वदस्व मे । आमुष्मिकीं क्रीयां देव उत्क्रान्तिसमयादनु ॥ २,२८.

Garuḍa said: What is this you have spoken, O Lord? Tell me in detail about the ritual performed at the time of departure from this world.

संसारे साधु मे नाथ ब्रूहि कृत्यं जनार्दन । यथा कार्या नरैः सम्यक्क्रिया चैवौर्ध्वदैहिकी ॥ २,२८.

In this world, O protector, tell me what should be done, O Janārdana, so that people may properly perform the rites for the departed.

कथं प्रेता महाकाया रौद्ररूपा भयानकाः । कम्भवन्ति सुरश्रेष्ठ कर्मभिः कैः शुभाशुभैः ॥ २,२८.

How do spirits, great in form, fierce and terrifying, arise, O best of gods? By what actions, good or bad, do they come into being?

पिशाचाः सम्भवन्तीह कस्येदं कर्मणः फलम् । तन्मे कथय देवेश अहमिच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥ २,२८.

How do ghosts arise here? Whose actions produce this result? Tell me, O Lord of gods, for I wish to know.

भूम्यां प्रक्षिप्यते कस्मात्पञ्चरत्नं कुतो मुखे । अधस्ताच्च तिला दर्भाः पादौ याम्यां व्यवस्थिताः ॥ २,२८.

Why is the five-gem offering placed on the earth, and why at the mouth? Why are sesame seeds and darbha grass placed below, at the feet, in the southern direction?

किमर्थं मण्डलं भूमौ गोमयेनोपलिप्यते । किमर्थं स्मर्यते विष्णुः विष्णुसूक्तञ्च पठ्यते ॥ २,२८.

For what purpose is a circle smeared on the ground with cow dung? Why is Vishnu remembered, and why is the Vishnu hymn recited?

किमर्थं पुत्रपुत्राश्च तस्य तिष्ठन्ति चाग्रतः । किमर्थं दीपदानञ्च किमर्थं विष्णुपूजनम् ॥ २,२८.

For what reason do his sons and grandsons stand before him? For what purpose is the offering of lamps, and for what reason is the worship of Viṣṇu performed?

किमर्थमातुरो दानं ददाति द्विजपुङ्गवे । बन्धून्मित्राण्यमित्रांश्च क्षमापयति तत्कथम् ॥ २,२८.

For what purpose does a sick man give gifts to the best of the twice-born? Why does he seek forgiveness from relatives, friends, and even enemies, and how is this done?

तिला लोहं हिरण्यं च कार्पासं लवणं तथा । सप्तधान्यं क्षितिर्गावो दीयते केन हे तुना ॥ २,२८.

Why are sesame seeds, iron, gold, cotton, salt, the seven grains, land, and cows given, and by whom are these offered?

कथं च म्रियते जन्तुर्मृतस्य च कुतो गतिः । अतिवाहशरीरं च कथं विश्रमते तदा ॥ २,२८.

How does a living being die, and what is the destination of the deceased? How does the subtle body rest at that time?

शंव स्कन्धे वहेत्पुत्रो वह्निदाता च पौत्रकः । किमर्थं देव देवेश आज्येनाभ्यञ्जनं कुतः ॥ २,२८.

Why does the son carry the body on his shoulder, and the grandson offer fire? O Lord of gods, for what reason is the body anointed with ghee?

यमसूक्तं किमर्थं च उदीचीं दिशमाहरेत् । पानीयमेकवस्त्रेण सूर्यबिम्बनिरीक्षणम् ॥ २,२८.

For what purpose is the Yama hymn recited, and why is the northern direction invoked? Why is water given with a single garment, and why is the sun’s disk gazed upon?

यवसर्षपदूर्वाश्चपाषाणे निम्बचर्वणम् । वस्त्रं नरश्च नारी च विदध्यादधरोत्तरम् ॥ २,२८.

Why are barley, mustard seeds, and dūrvā grass placed on a stone, and why is neem chewed? Why should a man and a woman wear lower and upper garments?

अन्नाद्यं गृहमागत्य भोक्तव्यं गोत्रिभिः सह । नवकानि च पिण्डानि किमर्थं वितरेत्सुतः ॥ २,२८.

Why should food and drink be consumed at home together with kinsmen? For what reason does the son offer nine balls of rice?

किमर्थं चत्वरे दुग्धं पात्रे पक्वे च मृन्मये । काष्ठत्रयं गुणे बद्ध्वा कृत्वा रात्रौ चतुष्पथे ॥ २,२८.

For what reason is milk placed at the crossroads in an earthen vessel? Why are three pieces of wood tied together and placed at the four-way crossing at night?

निशायां दीयते दीपो यावदब्दं दिनेदिने । दाहोदकं किमर्थं च संवादः स्वजनैः सह ॥ २,२८.

Why is a lamp lit at night every day for a year? For what purpose is water offered, and why is there conversation with one’s own people?