Garuda Purana

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.

मृतकस्य गुणा ग्राह्या यमगाथां समुद्गिरेत् । शुभाशुभे च ध्यातव्ये पूर्वकर्मोपसञ्चिते ॥ २,३४.

The virtues of the deceased should be recited, and the song of Yama should be sung; one should contemplate both good and bad deeds accumulated previously.

लब्धेनैव च देहेन भुङ्क्ते सुकृतदुष्कृते । वायुरूपो भ्रमत्येव वायुरूर्ध्वं स गच्छति ॥ २,३४.

With the body thus obtained, one experiences the results of good and bad deeds; the soul, in the form of air, wanders and then ascends as air.

दशाहकर्मक्रियया कुटी निष्पाद्यते ध्रुवम् । नवकैः षोडशश्राद्धैः प्रयाति हि कुटीं नरः ॥ २,३४.

By performing the ten-day funeral rites, a hut is certainly produced; with nine or sixteen śrāddhas, a man attains the hut.

तिलैर्दर्भैश्च भूम्यां वै कुटी धातुमयी भवेत् । पञ्च रत्नानि वक्त्रे तु येन जीवः प्ररोहति ॥ २,३४.

With sesame seeds and darbha grass on the ground, the hut is made of elements; in its mouth are placed five gems, by which the soul grows forth.

यदा पुष्पं प्रनष्टं हि तदा गर्भं न धारयेत् । आदराच्च ततो भूमौ तिलदर्भान्विनिः क्षिपेत् ॥ २,३४.

When the flower is lost, conception does not occur; therefore, with care, one should cast sesame seeds and darbha grass on the ground.

पशुत्वे स्थावरत्वे च यत्र क्वापि स जायते । तत्रैव जन्तुरुत्पन्नः श्राद्धं तत्रोपतिष्ठति ॥ २,३४.

Wherever one is born, whether as an animal or a plant, the being arises there, and the śrāddha offering reaches there.

धन्विना लक्ष्यमुद्दिश्य मुक्तो बाणस्तदाप्नुयात् । यथा श्राद्धं यमुद्दिश्य कृतं तस्योपतिष्ठति ॥ २,३४.

Just as an arrow released by an archer reaches its target, so too does the śrāddha offering reach the one for whom it is performed.

यावन्नोत्पादितो देहस्तावच्छ्राद्धैर्न प्रीणनम् । क्षुधाविभ्रममापन्नो दशाहेन च तर्पितः ॥ २,३४.

Until a new body is produced, the departed is not satisfied by śrāddha offerings; afflicted by hunger, he is appeased by the ten-day rites.

पिण्डदानं न यस्याभूदाकाशे भ्रमते तु सः । दिनत्रयं वसंस्तोये अग्नावपि दिनत्रयम् । आकाशे वसते त्रीणि दिनमेकन्तु वासके ॥ २,३४.

He who has not received the rice-ball offering wanders in the sky; he dwells three days in water, three days in fire, three days in the sky, and one day in cloth.

दग्धे देहे च वह्नौ च जलेनैव तु तर्पितः । स्नेहस्नानं जलेनैव पूपकैः कृशरैर्गृहे ॥ २,३४.

When the body is burned in fire, he is satisfied by water; he bathes with oil and water, and at home with cakes and rice porridge.