Garuda Purana

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?

भगवन्नतिवाहस्य नवपिण्डैस्तु किं भवेत् । कथं देवपितृभ्यश्च वाहस्यावाहनं कथम् । इदं च क्रियते देव कस्मात्पिण्डं प्रदापयेत् ॥ २,२८.

O Lord, what happens for the departed with the offering of nine rice balls? How is the invocation of gods and ancestors performed for the departed, and why should this rice ball offering be made?

किं तत्प्रदीयते तस्य पिण्डदानादनन्तरम् । अस्थिसञ्चयनं चैव शय्यादानं किमर्थकम् ॥ २,२८.

What is given after the offering of rice balls, and for what reason is the gathering of bones and the preparation of a bed performed?

द्वितीयेऽह्नि कुतः स्नानं चतुर्थे साग्निके द्विजे । दशमे किं मलस्नानं कार्यं सर्वजनैः सह ॥ २,२८.

Why is there bathing on the second day, and for the twice-born with fire on the fourth day? On the tenth day, why should all people bathe to remove impurity?

कस्मात्तैलोद्वर्तनं च स्कन्धवाहान् गृहं नयेत् । तैः समुद्वर्तनं चापि दद्युः स्थलजलाश्रये ॥ २,२८.

For what reason should oil be applied, and the bearers of the body brought home? Why should they be anointed by them at a place with earth and water?

देशमेऽहनि यः पिण्डस्तं दद्यादामिषेण तु । पिण्डं चैकादशे कस्माद्वृषोत्सर्गः कथं भवेत् ॥ २,२८.

On which day should the rice ball be given with meat, and why is the rice ball offered on the eleventh day? How is the release of a bull performed?

श्राद्धानि षोडशैतानि अब्दं यावत्कुतो वद । अन्नादिचोदकेनैव षष्ट्यधिकशतत्रयम् ॥ २,२८.

Tell me, why are these sixteen śrāddha rites performed for a year? And why are one hundred and sixty-three offerings of food and water made?

दिनेदिने च दातव्यं घटान्नं प्रेततृप्तये । प्राप्ते काले च म्रियते अनित्यो मानवः प्रभो ॥ २,२८.

Why should cooked food be given daily in a pot for the satisfaction of the departed? O Lord, when the time comes, mortal man dies, being impermanent.

छिद्रं तु नैव पश्यामि कुतो जीवः स निर्गतः । कुतो गच्छन्ति भूतानि पृथिव्यापो मनस्तथा ॥ २,२८.

I do not see any opening—so from where does the soul depart? Where do the elements—earth, water, and mind—go?

तेजो वदस्व मे नाथ वायुराकाशमेव च । वायवश्चैव पञ्चैते कथं गच्छन्ति चाप्तये ॥ २,२८.

O Lord, tell me about fire, wind, and space, and also about the five winds—how do they depart at the time of death?

लोभमोहादयः पञ्च शरीरे चैव तस्कराः । तृष्णा कामोऽप्यहङ्कारः कुतो यान्ति जनार्दन ॥ २,२८.

The five thieves in the body—greed, delusion, thirst, desire, and ego—O Janardana, where do they go?