Garuda Purana

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.

पुरन्दरगृहे सर्वं सूर्यपुत्रालये तथा । उपतिष्ठेत्सुखं जन्तोः शय्यादानप्रभावतः ॥ २,३४.

In the house of Indra and likewise in the abode of the Sun's son, the being enjoys comfort due to the merit of giving a bed.

पीडयन्ति न तं याम्याः पुरुषा भीषणाननाः । न घर्मेण न शीतेन बाध्यते स नरः क्वचित् ॥ २,३४.

The terrifying-faced servants of Yama do not torment him; that man is never afflicted by heat or cold.

शय्यादानप्रभावेण प्रेतो मुच्यते बन्धनात् । अपिः पापसमायुक्तः स्वर्गलोकं स गच्छति ॥ २,३४.

By the power of giving a bed, the departed is released from bondage; even if joined with sin, he attains the world of heaven.

विमानवरमारूढः सेव्यमानोऽप्सरोगणैः । आभूतसंप्लवं यावत्तिष्ठेत्पातकवर्जितः ॥ २,३४.

Mounted on a splendid celestial chariot, attended by hosts of apsaras, he remains free from sin until the end of the cosmic age.

नवकं षोडशश्राद्धं शय्या सांवत्सरं तथा । भर्तुर्या कुरुते नारी तस्याः श्रेयो ह्यनन्तकम् ॥ २,३४.

A woman who performs the nine or sixteen śrāddha rites and arranges a bed for a year for her husband attains endless merit.

उपकाराय सा भर्तुर्जीवन्ती न मृता तथा । उद्धरेज्जीवमाना सा सती सत्यवती प्रियम् ॥ २,३४.

While her husband lives, she acts for his benefit; after his death, likewise, the devoted and truthful wife uplifts her beloved.

स्त्रिया दध्यन्नशयने हेमकुङ्कुममञ्जनम् । वस्त्रभूषा तथा शय्या सर्वमेतद्धि दापयेत् ॥ २,३४.

A woman should provide curd-rice, a bed, gold, saffron, collyrium, clothing, ornaments, and a bed—all these things as offerings.

उपकारकरं स्त्रीणां यद्भवोदिह किञ्चन । भूषणं गात्रलग्नञ्च वस्तु भोग्यादिकञ्च यत् ॥ २,३४.

Whatever is beneficial for women in this world—ornaments, things worn on the body, objects for enjoyment, and the like—

तत्सर्वं मेलयित्वा तु स्वेस्वे स्थाने नियोजयेत् । पूजयेल्लोकपालांश्च ग्रहान् देवीं विनायकम् ॥ २,३४.

All these should be gathered and arranged in their proper places; one should worship the guardians of the worlds, the planets, the goddess, and Vināyaka.

ततः शुक्लाम्बरधरो गृहीतकुसुमाञ्जलिः । इममुच्चारयेन्मन्त्रं विप्रस्य पुरतो बुधः ॥ २,३४.

Then, dressed in white garments and holding a handful of flowers, the wise person should recite this mantra before the brāhmaṇa.

प्रेतस्य प्रतिमा ह्येषा सर्वोपकरणैर्युता । सर्वरत्नसमायुक्ता तव विप्रनिवेदिता ॥ २,३४.

This is the image of the departed, furnished with all accessories and adorned with every kind of jewel, offered to you, O brāhmaṇa.

आत्मा शम्भुः शिवा गौरी शक्रः सुरगणैः सह । तस्माच्छय्याप्रदानेन सैष आत्मा प्रसीदतु ॥ २,३४.

The self is Śambhu, Śivā is Gaurī, and Śakra is with the hosts of gods; therefore, by the gift of this bed, may this self be pleased.

आचार्याय प्रदातव्या ब्राह्मणाय कुटुम्बिने । गृहीते ब्राह्मणस्तत्र कोऽदादिति च कीर्तयेत् ॥ २,३४.

It should be given to an ācārya or a householder brāhmaṇa; when the brāhmaṇa has accepted it, one should announce, 'Who will give?'

ततः प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य प्रणिपत्य विसर्जयेत् । विधिनानेन वै पक्षिन् दानमेकस्य दापयेत् ॥ २,३४.

Then, having circumambulated and bowed, one should dismiss him; O bird, by this procedure, the gift should be given to one person.

बहुभ्यो न प्रदेयानि गौर्गृहं शयनं स्त्रियः । विभक्तदक्षिणा ह्येते दातारं पातयन्ति हि ॥ २,३४.

A cow, a house, a bed, or a woman should not be given to many; if these are given with divided gifts, they bring ruin upon the giver.

एवं यो वितरेत्तार्क्ष्य शृणु तस्य च यत्फलम् । साग्रं वर्षशतं दिव्यं स्वर्गलोके महीयते ॥ २,३४.

Thus, O Tārkṣya, hear the result for one who gives in this way: he is honored in heaven for a full hundred divine years.

यत्पुण्यन्तु व्यतीपाते कार्तिक्यामयनद्वये । द्वारकायान्तु यत्पुण्यं चन्द्रसूर्यग्रहे तथा ॥ २,३४.

Whatever merit arises at the time of Vyatīpāta, during Kārtikī, at both solstices, or at the lunar and solar eclipses in Dvārakā—

प्रयागे नैमिषे यच्च कुरुक्षेत्रे तर्थाबुदे । गङ्गायां यमुनायाञ्च सिन्धुसागरसंगमे ॥ २,३४.

Or at Prayāga, Naimiṣa, Kurukṣetra, Pushkara, at the confluence of the Gaṅgā and Yamunā, or where the Sindhu meets the ocean—

तेषु यद्दीयते दानं तस्मादप्यधिकन्त्विदम् । एतच्छय्याप्रदानस्य नाप्नोति षोडशीं कलाम् ॥ २,३४.

Whatever gifts are given at those places, this surpasses them all; the merit of giving a bed does not reach even a sixteenth part of it.

यत्रासौ जायते प्राणी भुङ्क्ते तत्रैव तत्फलम् । कर्मक्षये क्षितौ याति मानुषः शुभदर्शनः ॥ २,३४.

Wherever that being is born, there he enjoys the fruit; when his karma is exhausted, he is born on earth as a man of auspicious appearance.