Garuda Purana

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.

पुत्त्रेण दत्ते ते सर्वे गोत्रिणो हितबान्धवाः । स्वजात्यैः परजात्यैश्च देयो नद्यां जलाञ्जलिः ॥ २,३४.

When the son offers, all kinsmen of the lineage are benefited; water should be offered in the river by one's own and other castes as well.

गन्तव्यं नैव विप्रेण दातुं शीघ्रं जलाञ्जलिम् । निवृत्ताश्च यदा नार्यो लोकाचारः सदाभवेत् ॥ २,३४.

A Brāhmaṇa should not go to offer water quickly; when the women have withdrawn, then the customary practice should always be observed.

पञ्चत्वञ्च गते शूद्रे यः काष्ठं नयते चिताम् । अनुव्रजेद्यदा विप्रस्त्रिरात्रमशुचिर्भवेत् ॥ २,३४.

When a Śūdra has died and someone carries wood to the funeral pyre, if a Brāhmaṇa follows, he becomes impure for three nights.

त्रिरात्रे च ततः पूर्णे नदीं गच्छेत्समुद्रगाम् । प्राणायामशतं कृत्वा घृतं प्राश्य विशुध्यति ॥ २,३४.

After three nights have passed, he should go to a river that flows to the sea, perform a hundred breath-control exercises, and, having consumed ghee, he becomes purified.

शूद्रो गच्छति सर्वत्र वैश्यस्त्रिषु द्वयोः परः । गच्छति स्वीयवर्णेषु दातुं प्रेते जलाञ्जलिम् ॥ २,३४.

A Śūdra may go everywhere; a Vaiśya may go among three; the other two castes go among their own, to offer water oblations for the deceased.

दत्ते जलाञ्जलौ पश्चाद्विदध्याद्दन्तधावनम् । त्यजन्ति गोत्रिणः सर्वे दिनानि नव काश्यप ॥ २,३४.

After offering the water oblation, one should clean the teeth; all kinsmen, O Kāśyapa, abstain for nine days.

जलाञ्जलिं तथा दातुं गच्छन्ति द्विजसत्तमाः । यत्र स्थाने मृतो यस्तु अध्वन्यपि गृहेऽपि वा । विश्लेषस्तु ततः स्थानान्न क्वचिद्विहितो बुधैः ॥ २,३४.

Thus, the best of twice-born go to offer the water oblation wherever the person has died, whether on the road or at home; but separation from that place is not prescribed by the wise.

स्त्रीजनश्चाग्रतो गच्छेत्पृष्ठतो नवसञ्चयः । आचमनं विधातव्यं पाषाणोपरि संस्थितैः ॥ २,३४.

Women should go in front, and the collection of new mourners behind; those standing on stones should perform purification by sipping water.

यवांश्च सर्षपान् दूर्वाः पूर्णपात्रे विलोकयेत् । प्राशयेन्निम्बपत्राणि स्नेहस्नानं समाचरेत् ॥ २,३४.

One should look at barley, mustard seeds, and dūrvā grass in a full vessel, chew neem leaves, and perform an oil bath.

गोत्रिभिर्न च कर्तव्यं गृहान्नञ्च न भोजयेत् । भुञ्जीत मृन्मये पात्रे उत्तानञ्च विवर्जयेत् ॥ २,३४.

Kinsmen should not cook food, nor should they feed others at home; one should eat from an earthen vessel and avoid turning it upside down.