Garuda Purana

मणिमुक्तामये दिव्ये आसने परमाद्भुते । तत्रस्थो गणयत्यायुर्मानुषेष्वितरेषु च ॥ २,३३.

Seated on a wondrous, divine throne made of jewels and pearls, he counts the lifespan of humans and others.

न मुह्यति कदाचित्स सुकृते दुष्कृतेऽपि वा । यद्येनोपार्जितं यावत्तावद्वै वेत्ति तस्य तत् ॥ २,३३.

He never becomes confused, whether regarding good or evil deeds; whatever has been acquired by anyone, he knows exactly that.

दशाष्टदोषरहितं कृत कर्म लिखत्यसौ । चित्रगुप्तालयाताच्यां ज्वरस्यास्ति महागृहम् ॥ २,३३.

He records actions free from ten and eight faults; in the house of Citragupta, there is a great hall for fever.

दक्षिणे चापि शूलस्य लताविस्फोटकस्य च । पश्चिमे काल पाशस्य अजीर्णस्यारुचेस्तथा ॥ २,३३.

To the south are the halls for the spear and for the bursting creeper; to the west, for the noose of Time, indigestion, and loss of appetite.

मध्यपीठोत्तरे ज्ञेयो तथा चान्या विषचिका । ऐशन्यां वै शिरोऽर्तिश्च आग्नेय्याञ्चैव मृकता ॥ २,३३.

To the north of the central seat is the hall for poison fever; in the northeast, for headache; and in the southeast, for leprosy.

अतिसारश्च नैरृत्यां वायव्यां दाहसंज्ञकः । एभिः परिवृतो नित्यं चित्रगुप्तः स तिष्ठति ॥ २,३३.

In the southwest is the hall for diarrhea; in the northwest, for burning sensation; surrounded by these, Citragupta always remains.

यत्कर्म कुरुते कश्चित्तत्सर्वं विलखत्यसौ । धर्मराजगृहद्वारि दूतास्तार्क्ष्य तथा निशि । तिष्ठन्ति पापकर्माणः पच्यमाना नराधमाः ॥ २,३३.

Whatever action anyone performs, he records it all; at the door of the house of the Lord of Dharma, messengers of Garuda stand at night, while the wicked, suffering for their evil deeds, are cooked.

यमदूतैर्महापाशैर्हन्यमानाश्च मुद्गरैः । वध्यन्ते विविधैः पापैः पूर्वकर्मकृतैर्नराः ॥ २,३३.

Struck by the messengers of Yama with great nooses and clubs, men are punished for various sins caused by their previous actions.

नानाप्रहारणाग्रैश्च नानायन्त्रैस्तथा परे । छिद्यन्ते पापकर्माणः क्रकचैः काष्ठवद्द्विधा ॥ २,३३.

Others, with various sharp weapons and different devices, are cut apart like wood by saws, those who have committed evil deeds.

अन्ये ज्वलद्भिरङ्गारैर्वेष्टिताः परितो भृशम् । पूर्वकर्मविपाकेन ध्मायन्ते लोहपिण्डवत् ॥ २,३३.

Some are surrounded on all sides by burning coals and are blown upon like lumps of iron, as a result of their previous actions.

क्षिप्त्वान्ये च धरापृष्ठे कुठारेणावकर्तिताः । क्रन्दमानाश्च दृश्यन्ते पूर्वकर्मविपाकतः ॥ २,३३.

Others are thrown upon the ground and cut with axes; crying out, they are seen suffering due to the consequences of their past actions.

केचिद्गुडमयैः पाकैस्तैलपाकैस्तथा परे । पीड्यन्ते यमदूतैश्च पापिष्ठाः सुभृशं नराः ॥ २,३३.

Some are tormented with cakes made of molasses, others with oil-cakes; the most sinful men are severely afflicted by the messengers of Yama.

क्षणाह्नि प्रार्थयन्त्यन्ये देहिदेहीति कोटिशः । यमलोके मया दृष्टा ममस्वं भक्षितं त्वया ॥ २,३३.

Others, for moments or days, pray repeatedly, 'Give me a body, give me a body!' In Yama's realm, I have seen countless ones whose own food has been consumed by you.

इत्येवं बहुशस्तार्क्ष्य नरकाः पापिनां स्मृताः । कर्मभिर्बहुभिः प्रोक्तैः सर्वशास्त्रेषु भाषितैः । दानोपकारं वक्ष्यामि यथा तत्र सुखं भवेत् ॥ २,३३.

Thus, O Tārkṣya, many hells for sinners are described, spoken of in all the scriptures with various actions explained; now I shall speak of charity and helpful acts, by which happiness is attained there.

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् ३४ श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । शृणु तार्क्ष्य यथान्यायं धर्माधर्म्स्य लक्षणम् । सुकृतं दुष्कृतं नॄणामग्रे धावति धावताम् ॥ २,३४.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Listen, O Tārkṣya, to the proper characteristics of righteousness and unrighteousness; good and evil deeds swiftly pursue men at the appointed time.

कृते तपः प्रशंसन्ति त्रेतायां ज्ञानसाधनम् । द्वापरे यज्ञदाने च दानमेकं कलौ युगे ॥ २,३४.

In the Kṛta age, austerity is praised; in the Tretā, the pursuit of knowledge; in the Dvāpara, sacrifice and charity; but in the Kali age, charity alone.

गृहस्थानां स्मृतो धर्म उत्तमानां विचक्षणैः । इष्टापूर्ते स्वशक्त्या हि कुर्वतां नास्ति पातकम् ॥ २,३४.

For householders, the wise declare that their highest duty is to perform sacrifices and charitable works according to their ability; for those who do so, there is no sin.

वृक्षस्तु रोपितो येन खनिकूपजलाशयाः । यममार्गे सुखं तस्य व्रजतो नितरां भवेत् ॥ २,३४.

Whoever plants a tree, or digs wells, ponds, and reservoirs, for him there is abundant happiness as he journeys on the path of Yama.

अग्नितापप्रदातारे यैः शीतपीडिते द्विजे । तप्यमानाः सुखं यान्ति सर्व कामैः प्रपूरिताः ॥ २,३४.

Those who give fire to the cold and suffering, or warmth to distressed Brāhmaṇas, themselves go happily, their desires fulfilled, when they are tormented.

सुवर्णमणिमुक्तादि वस्त्राण्याभरणानि च । तेन सर्वमिदं दत्तं येन दत्ता वसुन्धरा ॥ २,३४.

Whoever gives gold, jewels, pearls, garments, or ornaments, has thereby given all these things by giving the earth itself.

यानियानि च भूतानि दत्तानि भुवि मानवैः । यमलोकपथे तानि तिष्ठन्त्येषां समीपतः ॥ २,३४.

Whatever living beings are given by men on earth, those very beings remain near them on the path to Yama's realm.

व्यञ्जनानि विचित्राणि भक्ष्यभोज्यानि यानि च । ददाति विधिना पुत्र प्रेते तदु पतिष्ठति ॥ २,३४.

Whatever various condiments, foods, and eatables are ritually given by a son for the departed, that indeed reaches him.

आत्मा वै पुत्रनामास्ति पुत्रस्त्राता यमालये । तारयेत्पितरं घोरात्तेन पुत्त्रः प्रवक्ष्यते ॥ २,३४.

The self indeed bears the name 'son'; the son is the savior in Yama's abode; because he delivers his father from terrible suffering, he is called 'putra' (son).

अतो देयञ्च पुत्रेण श्राद्धमाजी वितावधि । अतिवाहस्तदा प्रेतो भोगान् वै लभते हि सः ॥ २,३४.

Therefore, the son should offer śrāddha from the time of death until the end of the journey; then the departed, carried along, truly attains enjoyments.

दह्यमानस्य प्रेतस्य स्वजनैर्यो जलाञ्जलिः । दीयते प्रेतरूपोऽसौ प्रीतो याति यमालये ॥ २,३४.

When water is offered by relatives to the burning departed, he, taking the form of a spirit, contentedly proceeds to Yama's abode.

अपक्वे मृन्मये पात्रे दुग्धं दत्तं दिनत्रयम् । काष्ठत्रयं गुणैर्बद्ध्वा प्रीत्यै रात्रौ चतुष्पथे ॥ २,३४.

Milk placed for three days in an unbaked clay vessel, tied with three sticks for support, is offered at night at a crossroads for the departed's satisfaction.

प्रथमेऽह्नि द्वितीये च तृतीये च तथा खग । आकाशस्थं पिबेद्दुग्धं प्रेतो वायुवपुर्धरः ॥ २,३४.

On the first, second, and third days, O bird, the departed, having a body of air, drinks the milk placed in the sky.

चतुर्थे सञ्चयः कार्यः चतुर्थे?वापि साग्निके । अस्थिसञ्चयनं कार्यं दद्यादापाञ्जलिं ततः ॥ २,३४.

On the fourth day, the collection of bones should be performed, or on the fourth day with fire; after gathering the bones, water should then be offered with cupped hands.

न पूर्वाह्ने न मध्याह्ने नापराह्ने न सन्धिषु । याते प्रथमयामे तु दद्यादापजलाञ्जंलीन् ॥ २,३४.

Not in the forenoon, nor at midday, nor in the afternoon, nor at twilight; but when the first watch of night has passed, water should be offered with cupped hands.