Garuda Purana

पौर्णमास्यां मृतो योऽसौ चतुर्थी तस्य चोनका । चतुर्थ्यान्तु मृतो यस्तु नवमी तस्य चोनका ॥ २,३४.

If one dies on the full moon day, the fourth lunar day is considered void for him; if one dies on the fourth day, the ninth is void for him.

नवम्याञ्च मृतो यश्च रिक्ता तस्य चतुर्दशी । एता रिक्ताश्च विज्ञेया अन्त्येष्टौ कुशलेन च ॥ २,३४.

If one dies on the ninth day, the fourteenth is void for him; these void days are to be known as such in the final rites, by those skilled in ritual.

एकादशाहे यच्छ्राद्धं नवकं तत्प्रकीर्तितम् । चतुष्पथे त्यजेदन्नं पुनः स्नानं समाचरेत् ॥ २,३४.

The śrāddha performed on the eleventh day is called the 'navaka'; at a crossroads, food should be abandoned, and one should bathe again.

एकादशाहादारभ्य घटस्यान्नं जलान्वितम् । दिनेदिने च दातव्यमब्दं यावद्द्विजोत्तमे ॥ २,३४.

From the eleventh day onward, food accompanied by water in a pot should be given daily to the best of Brahmins, for a full year.

मानुषस्य शरीरे तु विद्यते ह्यस्थिसञ्चयः । तत्संख्यः सर्वदेहेषु षष्ट्यधिकशतत्रयम् ॥ २,३४.

In the human body, there is indeed an accumulation of bones; in all bodies, their number is one hundred and six plus sixty, that is, one hundred and sixty-six.

उदकुम्भेन पुष्टानि तान्यस्थीनि भवन्ति हि । एतस्माद्दीयते कुम्भः प्रीतिः प्रेतस्य जायते ॥ २,३४.

These bones are nourished by a water-pot; therefore, the pot is given, and satisfaction arises for the departed.

यस्मिन् दिने मृतो जन्तुरटव्यां विषमेऽपि वा । यदा तदा भवेद्दाहः सूतकं मृतवासरात् ॥ २,३४.

On whatever day a creature dies, whether in the forest or in difficult terrain, cremation should be performed then, and impurity begins from the day of death.

तिलपात्रं तथान्नाद्यं गन्धधपादिकञ्च यत् । एकादशाहे दातव्यं तेन शूद्धो द्विजो भवेत् ॥ २,३४.

Sesame leaves, cooked food, and fragrant substances should be given on the eleventh day; by this, the Brahmin becomes purified.

क्षत्त्रियो द्वादशाहे तु वैश्यः पञ्चदशे तथा । शुद्धिः शूद्रस्य मासेन मृतके जातसूतके ॥ २,३४.

For a Kṣatriya, purification occurs on the twelfth day; for a Vaiśya, on the fifteenth; for a Śūdra, after a month, whether for death or birth impurity.

मासत्रये त्रिरात्रं स्यात्षण्मासेन तु पक्षिणी । अहः संवत्सरादर्ब्वाक्पूर्णे दत्त्वोदकं शुचिः । अनेनैवा नुसारेण शुद्धिः स्यात्सार्ववर्णिकी ॥ २,३४.

For three months, impurity lasts three nights; for six months, it lasts for birds; after a full year, offering water brings purity. According to this rule, purification applies to all castes.

एकादशाहप्रभृति पुरतः प्रतिवत्सरम् । विश्वेदेवांस्तु सम्पूज्य पिण्डमेकञ्च निर्वपेत् ॥ २,३४.

From the eleventh day onward, every year, after worshipping the Viśvedeva gods, one should offer a single rice-ball.

यथा तारागणाः सर्वे च्छाद्यन्ते रविरश्मिभिः । एवं प्रच्छाद्यते सर्वं न प्रेतो भवति क्वचित् ॥ २,३४.

Just as all stars are covered by the rays of the sun, so everything is concealed; the departed is never found anywhere.

शय्यादानं प्रशंसन्ति सर्वदैव द्विजोत्तमाः । अनित्यं जीवनं य्समात्पश्चात्को नु प्रदास्यति ॥ २,३४.

The best Brahmins always praise the giving of a bed; since life is impermanent, who will give it later?

तावद्वन्धुः पिता तावद्यावज्जीवति मानवः । मृते मृत इति ज्ञात्वा क्षणात्स्नेहो निवर्तते ॥ २,३४.

One is a relative or father only as long as a person lives; when dead, knowing 'he is dead,' affection ceases in a moment.

आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरेवं ज्ञात्वा मुहुर्मुहुः । जीवन्नपीति सञ्चिन्त्य स्वीयं हितमनुस्तमरेत् ॥ २,३४.

The self is indeed one's own friend; knowing this repeatedly, and considering that one is alive, one should always pursue one's own welfare.

मृतानां कः सुतो दद्याद्द्विजेशय्यां सतूलिकाम् । एवं जानन्निदं सर्वं स्वहस्तेनैव दापयेत् ॥ २,३४.

Who among the sons of the deceased would give a bed for a Brahmin, complete with a mattress? Knowing all this, one should have it given with one's own hand.

तस्माच्छय्यां समासाद्य सारदारुमर्यो दृढाम् । दन्तादिरुचिरां रम्यां हेमपट्टै रलङ्कृताम् । तस्यां संस्थाप्य हैमञ्च हरिं लक्ष्म्या समन्वितम् ॥ २,३४.

Therefore, one should obtain a sturdy bed made of good wood, beautiful and adorned with ivory and gold bands; upon it, place an image of Hari with Lakshmi, made of gold.

घृतपूर्णञ्च कलशं परिकल्पयेत् । विज्ञेयो गरुड प्रीत्यै स निद्राकलशो बुधैः ॥ २,३४.

One should prepare a pot filled with ghee; know that this is called the 'sleeping pot' by the wise, for the pleasure of Garuda.

ताम्बूलकुङ्कुमक्षोदकर्पूरागुरुचन्दनम् । दीपिकोपानहच्छत्रचामरासनभाजनम् ॥ २,३४.

Betel, saffron, powdered sugar, camphor, agarwood, sandalwood, a lamp, shoes, umbrella, fan, seat, and vessel—

पार्श्वेषु स्थापयेच्छक्त्या सप्तधान्यानि चैवहि । शयनस्थस्य भवति यच्चान्यदुपकारकम् ॥ २,३४.

One should place, as able, seven kinds of grains at the sides, and whatever else may be useful for one lying on the bed.

भृङ्गारकरकादर्शं पञ्चवर्णं वितानकम् । शय्यामेवंविधां कृत्वा ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत् ॥ २,३४.

A mirror, a box for cosmetics, a five-colored canopy—having thus prepared such a bed, it should be presented to a Brahmin.

सपत्नीकाय सम्पूज्य स्वर्लोकसुखदायिनीम् । वस्त्रैः सुशोभनैः पूज्य चैलकं परिधापयेत् ॥ २,३४.

Having worshipped it with his wife, and honoring it as bestowing happiness in the heavenly world, one should adorn it with fine garments and cover it with a beautiful cloth.

कर्णकण्ठाङ्गुलीबाहुभूषणैश्चित्रभूषणैः । गृहोपकरणैर्युक्तं गृहं धेन्वा समन्वितम् ॥ २,३४.

With ornaments for the ears, neck, fingers, and arms, with various decorations, equipped with household utensils, and accompanied by a cow—

ततोर्ऽघः सम्प्रदातव्यः पञ्चरत्नफलाक्षतैः ॥ २,३४.

Then the arghya should be offered, with five kinds of gems and unbroken grains.

यथा न कृष्णशयनं शून्यं सागरकन्यया । शय्या ममाप्यशून्यास्तु तथा जन्मनिजन्मनि ॥ २,३४.

Just as Krishna's bed is never empty of the daughter of the ocean, so may my bed never be empty in every birth of mine.

दत्त्वैवं तल्पममलं क्षमाप्य च विसर्जयेत् । तथा चैकादशाहे तु विधिरेष प्रकीर्तितः ॥ २,३४.

Having thus given a spotless bed, and having sought forgiveness, one should dismiss (the Brahmin); thus is the rite prescribed for the eleventh day.

ददाति यो हि धर्मार्थे बान्धवो बान्धवे मृते । विशेषमत्र पक्षे तु कथ्यमानं मया शृणु ॥ २,३४.

Whoever gives, for the sake of righteousness, to a relative of the deceased, listen as I tell you especially about this case.

उपयुक्तञ्च तस्यासीत्यत्किञ्चित्स्वगृहे पुरा । तस्य यद्गात्रसं लग्नं वस्त्रं भाजनवाहनम् । यदभीष्टञ्च तस्यासीत्तत्सर्वं परिकल्पयेत् ॥ २,३४.

Whatever was used by him in his house before—clothes, vessels, vehicles that touched his body, and whatever else he desired—all that should be arranged.

स्थापयेत्पुरुषं हैमं शय्योपरि शुभं बुधः । पूजयित्वा प्रदातव्या मृतशय्या यथोदिता ॥ २,३४.

A wise person should place a golden figure of a man upon the bed; having worshipped it, the bed for the deceased should be given as described.