Garuda Purana

हस्ताभ्यामुद्धृतैर्दर्भैस्तोयेन प्रोक्षयेद्भुवम् । मृत्युकाले क्षिपेद्दर्भानातुरस्य करद्वये ॥ २,२९.

With darbha grass taken in both hands, one should sprinkle water on the ground; at the time of death, darbha should be placed in both hands of the dying person.

दर्भेषु क्षिप्यते योऽसौ दभस्तु परिवेष्टितः । विष्णुलोकं स वै याति मन्त्रहीनोऽपि मानवः ॥ २,२९.

He who is placed on darbha grass, or who is surrounded by it, goes to the world of Vishnu—even if he is a man without mantras.

दर्भमूलीगतो भूमौ दर्भपाणिस्तु यो मृतः । प्रायश्चित्तविशुद्धोऽसौ संसारेपारसागरे ॥ २,२९.

He who dies with the root of darbha touching the earth, or with darbha in his hand, purified by atonement, crosses the ocean of worldly existence.

गोमयेनोपलिप्ते तु दर्भस्यास्तरणे स्थितः । तत्र दत्तेन दानेन सर्वं पापं व्यपोहति ॥ २,२९.

When one stands upon a bedding of darbha grass spread over ground smeared with cow dung, all sins are removed by the act of giving charity there.

लवणं तद्रसं दिव्यं सर्वकामप्रदं नृणाम् । यस्मादन्नरसाः सर्वे नोत्कटा लवणं विना ॥ २,२९.

Salt, possessing its own divine taste, grants all desires to people; for all flavors of food are incomplete without salt.

पितॄणां च प्रियं भव्यं तस्मात्स्वर्गप्रदं भवेत् । विष्णुदेहसमुद्भूतो यतोऽयं लवणो रसः ॥ २,२९.

Salt is pleasing and auspicious to the ancestors, and thus it bestows heaven; for this taste of salt arises from the body of Vishnu.

विशेषाल्लवणं दानं तेन शंसन्ति योगिनः । ब्राह्मण क्षत्त्रियविशां स्त्रीणां शूद्रजनस्य च ॥ २,२९.

Therefore, yogis especially praise the gift of salt for Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, women, and the Shudra people.

आतुराणां यदा प्राणाः प्रयान्ति वसुधातले । लवणं तु तदा देयं द्बारस्योद्धाटनं दिवः ॥ २,२९.

When the life-breath departs from the sick upon the earth, then salt should be given, for it opens the door to heaven.

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् ३० श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । शृणु तार्क्ष्य परं गुह्यं दानानां दानमुत्तमम् । परमं सर्वदानानां परं गोप्यं दिवौकसाम् ॥ २,३०.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Listen, Tārkṣya, to the supreme secret, the highest charity among gifts, the greatest of all donations, most hidden among the gods.

देयमेकं महादानं कार्पासं चोत्तमोत्तमम् । येन दत्तेन प्रीयन्ते भूर्भुवः स्वरिति क्रमात् ॥ २,३०.

One should give a single, supreme gift of cotton, which, when given, pleases the worlds of earth, atmosphere, and heaven in succession.

ब्रह्माद्या देवताः सर्वाः कार्याच्च प्रीतिमाप्नुयुः । देयमेतन्महादानं प्रेतोद्धरणहेतवे ॥ २,३०.

All deities beginning with Brahma become pleased by this act; this great gift should be given for the purpose of uplifting the departed.

चिरं वसेद्रुद्रलोके ततो राजा भवेदिह । रूपवान्सुभगो वाग्मी श्रीमानतुल विक्रमः । यमलोकं विनिर्जित्य स्वर्गं ताक्ष्य स गच्छति ॥ २,३०.

He dwells long in Rudra's realm, then becomes a king here; handsome, fortunate, eloquent, wealthy, and unmatched in valor. Conquering Yama's world, he attains heaven, O Tārkṣya.

गां तिलांश्च क्षितं हेम यो ददाति द्विजन्मने । तस्य जन्मार्जिर्त पापं तत्क्षणादेवनश्यति ॥ २,३०.

Whoever gives cows, sesame seeds, land, and gold to a twice-born, his sins from birth are destroyed instantly.

तिला गावो महादानं महापातकनाशनम् । तद्द्वयं दीयते विप्रे नान्यवर्णे कदाचन ॥ २,३०.

Cows and sesame seeds are great gifts, destroyers of grave sins; these two should be given to a Brahmin, never to any other caste.

कल्पितं दीयते दानं तिला गावश्चमेदिनी । अन्येषु नैव वर्णेषु पोष्यवर्गे कदाचन ॥ २,३०.

These gifts—sesame seeds, cows, and land—are to be given only to Brahmins, never to other castes or to the dependent classes.

पोष्यवर्गे तथा स्त्रीषु दानं देयमकल्पितम् । आतुरे वोपरागे च द्वयं दानं विशिष्यते । आतुरे दीयते दानं तत्काले चोपतिष्ठति ॥ २,३०.

Among the dependent classes and women, gifts may be given without formal arrangement; but in cases of illness or impurity, the two gifts are especially prescribed. When given to the sick, the gift takes effect at that time.

जीवतस्तु पुनर्दत्तमुपतिष्ठत्यसंस्कृतम् । सत्यंसत्यं पुनः सत्यं यद्दत्तं विकलेन्द्रिये ॥ २,३०.

If given again while alive, the gift takes effect even if not ritually consecrated. Truly, truly, and again truly, whatever is given when the senses are impaired is effective.

यच्चानु मोदते पुत्रस्तच्च दानमनन्तकम् । अतो दद्यात्स पुत्रो वा यावज्जीवत्ससौ चिरम् । अतिवाहस्तथा प्रेतो भोगांश्च लभते यतः ॥ २,३०.

Whatever the son rejoices in, that gift is endless; therefore, the son should give, or the person himself, for as long as he lives. Even after death, the departed enjoys the benefits thereby.

अस्वस्था तुरकाले तु देहपाते क्षितिस्थिते । देहे तथातिवाहस्य परतः प्रीणनं भवेत् ॥ २,३०.

When one is unwell or at the time of death, while the body remains on earth, the offering brings satisfaction to the departed soul.

पङ्गावन्धे च काणे च ह्यर्धोन्मीलितलोचने । तिलेषु दर्भान्संस्तीर्य दानमुक्तं तदक्षयम् ॥ २,३०.

For the lame, blind, one-eyed, or those with half-open eyes, when sesame seeds are placed upon darbha grass, the gift thus made is imperishable.

तिला लौहं हिरण्यञ्च कार्पासं लवणं तथा । सप्तधान्यं क्षितिर्गाव एकैकं पावनं स्मृतम् ॥ २,३०.

Sesame seeds, iron, gold, cotton, salt, seven grains, land, and cows—each one is regarded as purifying.

लोहदानाद्यमस्तुष्येद्धर्म राजस्तिलार्पणात् । लवणे दीयमाने तु न भयं विद्यते यमात् ॥ २,३०.

The king of righteousness is pleased by the gift of iron and similar things, as well as by the offering of sesame; and when salt is given, there is no fear from Yama.

कर्पासस्य तु दानेन न भूतेभ्यो भयं भवेत् । तारयन्ति नरं गावस्त्रिविधाश्चैव पातकात् ॥ २,३०.

By the gift of cotton, there is no fear from spirits; and cows of three kinds deliver a person from sin.

हेमदानात्सुखं स्वर्गे भूमिदानान्नृपो भवेत् । हेमभूमिप्रदानाच्च न पीडा नरके भवेत् ॥ २,३०.

By giving gold, one attains happiness in heaven; by giving land, one becomes a king; and by giving both gold and land, there is no suffering in hell.

सर्वेऽपि यमदूताश्च यमरूपा विभीषणाः । सर्वे ते वरदा यान्ति सप्तधान्येन प्रीणिताः ॥ २,३०.

All the messengers of Yama, terrifying and in the form of Yama, become bestowers of boons when pleased with the gift of the seven grains.

विष्णोः स्मरणमात्रेण प्राप्यते परमा गतिः । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं मर्त्यैर्या गतिराप्यते ॥ २,३०.

By merely remembering Vishnu, the highest state is attained; all this has been told to you—this is the path reached by mortals.

तस्मात्पुत्रं प्रशंसन्ति ददाति पितुराज्ञया । भूमिष्ठं पितरं दृष्ट्वा ह्यर्धोन्मीलितलोचनम् ॥ २,३०.

Therefore, a son is praised who, by his father's command, gives gifts, having seen his father lying on the ground with half-opened eyes.

तस्मिन् काले सुतो यस्तु सर्वदानानि दापयेत् । गयाश्राद्धाद्विशिष्येत स पुत्रः कुलनन्दनः ॥ २,३०.

At that time, the son who causes all gifts to be given surpasses even the śrāddha at Gayā; such a son is the delight of the family.

स्वस्थानाच्चलितश्चासौ विकलस्य पितुस्तदा । पुत्रैर्यत्नेन कर्तव्या पितरं तारयन्ति ते ॥ २,३०.

When the father, having lost his senses, departs from his place, the sons must strive to perform the rites; they deliver their father.