Garuda Purana

या लक्ष्मीः सर्वभूतानां या च देवे व्यवस्थिता । धेनुरूपेण सा देवी मम पापं व्यपोहतु ॥ २,३०.

The fortune that abides in all beings and that is established among the gods—may that goddess, in the form of a cow, remove my sin.

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् ३१ श्रीविष्णुरुवाच । ये नराः पापसंयुक्तास्ते गच्छन्ति यमालयम् । नृणां मत्साक्षिकं दत्तमनन्तफलदं भवेत् ॥ २,३१.

Śrī Viṣṇu said: Those men who are bound by sin go to the abode of Yama; but what is given as charity in my presence yields endless fruits for men.

यावद्रजः प्रमाणाब्दंस्वर्गे तिष्ठति भूमिदः । अश्वारूढाश्च ते यान्ति ददते ये ह्युपानहौ ॥ २,३१.

For as many years as the measure of dust, the giver of land remains in heaven; and those who give shoes or sandals ride on horses and go there.

आतपे श्रमयोगेन न दह्यन्ते च कुत्रचित् । छत्त्रदानेन वै प्रेता विचरन्ति सुखं पथि ॥ २,३१.

By the gift of an umbrella, the departed do not suffer from heat or fatigue anywhere, but move happily on the path.

यमुद्दिश्य ददात्यन्नं तेन चाप्यायितो भवेत् ॥ २,३१.

He who gives food in honor of Yama thereby satisfies him.

अन्धकारे महाघोरे अमूर्ते लक्ष्यवर्जिते । उद्द्योतेनैव ते यान्ति दीपदानेन मानवाः ॥ २,३१.

In great, terrible darkness, where there is no form and no mark, by the gift of a lamp, people proceed illuminated.

आश्विने कर्तिके वापि माघे मृततिथावपि । चतुर्दश्याञ्च दीयेत दीपदानं सुखाय वै ॥ २,३१.

In the months of Āśvina, Kārtika, or Māgha, or on the date of death, and on the fourteenth day, the gift of a lamp should indeed be made for comfort.

प्रत्यहञ्च प्रदातव्यं मार्गे सुविषमे नरैः । यावत्संवत्सरं वापि प्रेतस्य सुखलिप्सया ॥ २,३१.

Every day, or for a whole year, a lamp should be given by men on difficult paths, desiring the happiness of the departed.

कुले द्योतति शुद्धात्मा प्रकाशत्वं स गच्छति । ज्योतिर्मयोऽसौ पूज्योऽसौ दीपदानप्रदो नरः ॥ २,३१.

In his family, the pure-hearted one shines; he attains brilliance. That man who gives lamps becomes radiant and worthy of honor.

प्राङ्मुखोदङ्मुखं दीपं देवागारे द्विजातये । कुर्याद्याम्यमुखं पित्रे अद्भिः सङ्कल्प्य सुस्थिरम् ॥ २,३१.

A lamp should be placed facing east or north in the temple for a Brāhmaṇa; for the father, it should be placed facing south, with water, firmly resolved.

सर्वोपहारयुक्तानि पदान्यत्र त्रयोदश । यो ददाति मृतस्येह जीवन्नप्यात्महेतवे । स गच्छति महामार्गे महाकष्टविवर्जितः ॥ २,३१.

Whoever gives thirteen kinds of offerings, each with all accessories, for the sake of the departed or even for himself while living, travels the great path free from great suffering.

आसनं भाजनं भोज्यं दीयते यद्द्विजायते । सुखे न भुञ्जमानस्तु देन गच्छत्यलं पथि ॥ २,३१.

The seat, vessel, and food that are given to a Brāhmaṇa—though he does not enjoy them in comfort, the departed proceeds easily on the path.

कमण्डलुप्रदानेन तृषितः पिबते जलम् ॥ २,३१.

By the gift of a water-pot, the thirsty one drinks water.

भाजनं वस्त्रदानञ्च कुसुमञ्चाङ्गुलीयकम् । एकादशा हे दातव्यं प्रेतोद्धरणहेतवे ॥ २,३१.

A vessel, the gift of cloth, flowers, and a finger-ring—these eleven should be given for the sake of uplifting the departed.

त्रयोदश पदानीत्थं प्रेतस्य शुभमिच्छता । दातव्यानि यथाशक्त्या प्रेतोऽसौ प्रीणितो भवेत् ॥ २,३१.

Thus, whoever desires the welfare of the departed should give thirteen kinds of offerings, according to his ability, so that the departed may be pleased.

भोजना नि तिलांश्चैव उदकुम्भांस्त्रयोदश । मुद्रिकां वस्त्रयुग्मञ्च तया याति परां गतिम् ॥ २,३१.

By giving food, sesame seeds, thirteen water pots, a ring, and a pair of garments, one attains the highest state.

योऽश्वं नावं गजं वापि ब्राह्मणे प्रतिपादयेत् । स महिम्नोऽनुसारेण तत्तत्सुखमुपाश्नुते ॥ २,३१.

Whoever gives a horse, boat, or elephant to a Brahmin enjoys happiness according to the greatness of the gift.

नानालोकान् विचरति महिषीञ्च ददाति यः । यमपुत्त्रस्य या माता महिषी सुगतिप्रदा ॥ २,३१.

He who gives buffaloes wanders various worlds; the mother of Yama's son, when given as a buffalo, bestows a good destination.

ताम्बूलं कुसुमं देयं याम्यानां हर्षवर्धनम् । तेन सम्प्रीणिताः सर्वे तस्मिन् क्लेशं न कुर्वते ॥ २,३१.

Betel, flowers, and gifts should be given to the servants of Yama to increase their joy; when they are pleased by this, they do not cause suffering to that person.

गोभूतिलहिरण्यानि दानान्याहुः स्वशक्तितः ॥ २,३१.

Cows, land, and gold are said to be gifts to be given according to one's ability.

मृतोद्देशेन यो यद्याज्जलपात्रञ्च मृन्मयम् । उदपात्रसहस्रस्य फलमाप्नोति मानवः ॥ २,३१.

Whoever, for the sake of the deceased, gives a clay water vessel obtains the fruit of giving a thousand water pots.

यमदूता महारौद्राः करालाः कृष्णपिङ्गलाः । न भीषयन्ति तं याम्या वस्त्रदाने कृते सति ॥ २,३१.

The messengers of Yama, fierce, terrifying, with black and tawny faces, do not frighten the one for whom a gift of cloth has been made to the servants of Yama.

मार्गे हि गच्छमानस्तु तृष्णार्तः श्रमपीडितः । घटान्नदानयोगेन सुखी भवति निश्चितम् ॥ २,३१.

Certainly, a traveler on the path, afflicted by thirst and fatigue, becomes happy by the gift of a water pot.

शय्या दक्षिणया युक्ता आयुधाम्बरसंयुता । हैमश्रीपतिना युक्ता देया विप्राय शर्मणे । तथा प्रेतत्वमुक्तोऽसौ मोदते सह दैवतैः ॥ २,३१.

A bed furnished with a southern direction, with weapons and garments, adorned with gold, should be given to a Brahmin for his welfare; thus, freed from the state of the departed, he rejoices with the gods.

एतत्ते कथितं तार्क्ष्य दानमन्त्येष्टिकर्मजम् । अधुना कथयिष्येऽहमन्यदेहप्रवेशनम् ॥ २,३१.

Thus, O Tārkṣya, I have explained to you the gifts related to the funeral rites; now I shall tell you about entering another body.

जातस्य मृत्युलोके वै प्राणिनो मरणं ध्रुवम् । मृतिः कुर्यात्स्वधर्मेण यास्यतश्च परन्तप ॥ २,३१.

For one born in the world of mortals, death is certain; one should die according to one's own dharma and then depart, O scorcher of foes.

पूर्वकाले मृतानाञ्च प्राणिनाञ्च खगेश्वर । सूक्ष्मोभूत्वा त्वसौ वायुर्निर्गच्छत्यास्यमण्डलात् ॥ २,३१.

In former times, O lord of birds, when living beings die, the vital air, becoming subtle, departs from the mouth.

नवद्वारै रोमभिश्च जनानां तालुरन्ध्रके । पापिष्ठानामपानेन जीवो निष्क्रामति ध्रुवम् ॥ २,३१.

Through the nine gates, the pores, and the opening in the palate, the soul of the wicked certainly departs by the lower path.

शरीरञ्च पतेत्पश्चान्निर्गते मरुतीश्वरे । वाताहतः पतत्येव निराधारो यथा द्रुमः ॥ २,३१.

After the lord of the vital airs has departed, the body falls; struck by the wind, it collapses, unsupported, like a tree.