Garuda Purana

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.

किं दत्तैर्बहुभिर्दानैः पितुरन्त्येष्टिमाचरेत् । अश्वमेधो महायज्ञः कलां नार्हति षोडशीम् ॥ २,३०.

What is the use of many gifts if one does not perform the final rites for the father? Even the great horse sacrifice does not equal a sixteenth part of it.

धर्मात्मा स नु पुत्रो वैदेवैरपि सुपूज्यते । दापयेद्यस्तु दानानि ह्यातुरं पितरं भुवि ॥ २,३०.

Such a son, who causes gifts to be given for a father who is ill on earth, is truly righteous and is highly honored even by the Vedas.

लोहदानञ्च दातव्यं भूमियुक्तेन पाणिना । यमं भीमञ्च नाप्नोति न गच्छेत्तस्य वेश्मनि ॥ २,३०.

The gift of iron should be given with a hand touching the earth; one does not encounter the terrible Yama, nor does one go to his abode.

कुठारो मुसलो दण्डः खड्गश्च च्छुरिका तथा । एतानि यमहस्तेषु दृश्यानि पापकर्मिणाम् ॥ २,३०.

An axe, pestle, staff, sword, and knife—these are seen in the hands of Yama for those who perform evil deeds.

तस्माल्लोहस्य दानन्तु ब्राह्मणायातुरो ददेत् । यमायुधानां सन्तुष्ट्यै दानमेतदुदाहृतम् ॥ २,३०.

Therefore, a sick person should give iron to a Brahmin; this gift is prescribed for the satisfaction of Yama's weapons.

गर्भस्थाः शिशवो ये च युवानः स्थविरास्तथा । एभिर्दानविशेषैस्तु निर्दहेयुः स्वपातकम् ॥ २,३०.

Children in the womb, youths, and the elderly—all can burn away their own sins by these special gifts.

छुरिणः श्यामशबलौ षण्डामर्का उदुम्बराः । शबला श्यामदूता ये लोहदानेन प्रीणिताः ॥ २,३०.

Those who are dark, spotted, neuter, sunless, or fig trees, and the messengers who are spotted and dark—these are pleased by the gift of iron.

पुत्राः पौत्रास्तथा बन्धुः सगोत्राः सुहहृदस्तथा । ददते नातुरे दानं ब्रह्मघ्नैस्तु समा हि ते ॥ २,३०.

Sons, grandsons, relatives, those of the same lineage, and dear friends—if they do not give gifts for the sick, they are equal to slayers of Brahmins.

पञ्चत्वे भूमियुक्तस्य शृणु तस्य च या गतिः । अतिवाहः पुनः प्रेतोवर्षोर्ध्वं सुकृतं लभेत् ॥ २,३०.

Hear now the fate of one who dies while touching the earth: he becomes a bearer of burdens, and after a year as a spirit, he attains the fruit of good deeds.

अग्नित्रयं त्रयो लोकास्त्रयो वेदास्त्रयोऽमराः । कालत्रयं त्रिसन्ध्यं च त्रयो वर्णास्त्रिशक्तयः ॥ २,३०.

Three fires, three worlds, three Vedas, three immortals, three times, three junctions of the day, three castes, and three powers.