Garuda Purana

आतुरे सति दातव्यं निर्धनैरपि मानवैः । गावस्तिला हिरण्यञ्च सप्तधान्यं विशेषतः ॥ २,३६.

When someone is ill, even those who are poor should give—especially cows, sesame seeds, gold, and the seven kinds of grain.

दानवन्तं नरं दृष्ट्वा हृष्टाः सर्वे दिवौकसः । ऋषिभिः सह धर्मण चित्रगुप्तेन सर्वदा ॥ २,३६.

When the gods see a generous person, they rejoice along with the sages, Dharma, and Citragupta—always.

आत्मायत्तं धनं यावत्तावद्विप्रे समर्पयेत् । पराधीनं मृते सर्वं कृपया कः प्रदास्यति ॥ २,३६.

As long as wealth is under one's own control, it should be offered to a Brahmin; once it is no longer one's own, who will give it out of compassion after death?

पित्रुद्देशेन यः पुत्त्रैर्धनं विप्रकरेऽर्पितम् । आत्मानं सधनं तेन चक्रे पुत्रप्रपौत्रकैः ॥ २,३६.

Whatever wealth is offered by sons to a Brahmin for the sake of their father, with that, he is established—along with his wealth—by sons and grandsons.

पितुः शतगुणं दत्तं सहस्रं मातुरुच्यते । भगिन्या शतसाहस्रं सोदर्ये दत्तमक्षयम् ॥ २,३६.

A gift made for the father is said to be a hundredfold, for the mother a thousandfold, and for a sister of the same womb, a hundred thousandfold and imperishable.

यदि लोभान्न यच्छन्ति प्रमादान्मोहतोऽपि वा । मृताः शोचन्ति ते सर्वे कदर्याः पापिनस्त्विति ॥ २,३६.

If, out of greed, carelessness, or delusion, they do not give, then all those stingy and sinful ones grieve after death.

अतिक्लेशेन लब्धस्य प्रकृत्या चञ्चलस्य च । गतिरेकैव वित्तस्य दानमन्या विपत्तयः ॥ २,३६.

Wealth, obtained with great effort and by its nature unstable, has only one true course: giving; all other paths lead to ruin.

मृत्युः शरीगोप्तारं वसुरक्षं वसुन्धरा । दुश्चारिणीव हसति स्वपतिं पुत्रवत्सलम् ॥ २,३६.

Death laughs at the protector of the body, at the hoarder of wealth, and at the earth itself, just as a wicked wife laughs at her loving husband.

उदासे धार्मिकः सौम्यः प्राप्यापि विपुलं धनम् । तृणवन्मन्यते तार्क्ष्य आत्मानं वित्तमप्यथ ॥ २,३६.

O Tārkṣya, a righteous and gentle person, even after obtaining great wealth, regards both himself and his riches as mere straw.

न चैवोपद्रवास्तस्य मोहजालो न चैव हि । मृत्युकाले न च भयं यमदूतसमुद्भवम् ॥ २,३६.

He has no troubles, no net of delusion, and at the time of death, no fear arising from the messengers of Yama.

समाः सहस्राणि च सप्त वै जले दशैकमग्नौ पवने च षोडश । महाहवे पष्टिरशीतिर्गोगृहे अनाशके काश्यप चाक्षया गतिः ॥ २,३६.

For seven thousand years in water, eleven in fire, sixteen in wind, eighty-six in a great battle, and countless in a cowshed or famine, O Kāśyapa, the result is imperishable.

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् ३७ तार्क्ष्य उवाच । उदकुम्भप्रदानं मे कथयस्व यथातथम् । विधिना केन कर्तव्या कृतिरेषा जनार्दन ॥ २,३७.

Tārkṣya said: Tell me in detail about the giving of water-pots—by what method should this rite be performed, O Janārdana?

किंलक्षणाः केन पूर्णाः कस्य देया जनार्दन । कस्मिन् काले प्रदातव्या प्रेततृप्तिप्रसाधकाः ॥ २,३७.

What are their characteristics, with what should they be filled, to whom should they be given, O Janārdana? At what time should they be offered to satisfy the departed?

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । सत्यं पुनः प्रवक्ष्यामि उदकुम्भप्रदानकम् । प्रेतोद्देशेन दातव्या अन्नपानीयसंयुताः । विशेषेण महापक्षिन् प्रेतमुक्तिप्रदायकाः ॥ २,३७.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Truly, I will again explain the giving of water-pots. They should be given for the sake of the departed, filled with food and drink, and especially, O great bird, they grant liberation to the departed.

द्वादशाहे च पण्मासे त्रैपक्षे वापि वत्सरे । उदकुम्भाः प्रदातव्या मार्गे तस्य सुखाय वै ॥ २,३७.

On the twelfth day, in the sixth month, every third fortnight, or in the year, water-pots should be given for the comfort of the departed on their journey.

अहन्यहनि दातव्या उदकुम्भास्तिलैर्युताः । सुलिप्ते भूमिभागे तु पक्कान्नजलपूरिताः ॥ २,३७.

Every day, water-pots mixed with sesame seeds should be given, placed on well-smeared ground, and filled with cooked food and water.

प्रेतस्य तत्र दातव्यं भाजनञ्च यदृच्छया । सुप्रीतस्तेन दत्तेन प्रेतो याम्यैः स गच्छति ॥ २,३७.

For the departed, a vessel should be given there as one is able; the departed, pleased with that gift, goes with the messengers of Yama.

द्वादशाहे विशेषेण उदकम्भान् प्रदापयेत् । विधिना तत्र सङ्कल्पय घटान् द्वादशसंख्यकान् ॥ २,३७.

On the twelfth day, in particular, one should offer water-pots; according to the prescribed rite, make a resolve there for twelve pots.

एकाषि बर्धनी तत्र पक्वान्नफलपूरिता । विष्णुमुद्दिश्य दातव्या संकल्प्य ब्राह्मणे शुभे ॥ २,३७.

There, one large vessel filled with cooked food and fruit should be given, having resolved to dedicate it to Viṣṇu, to an auspicious brāhmaṇa.

एको वै धर्मराजाय तेन तुष्टेन मुक्तिभाक् । चित्रगुप्ताय चैकं तु गतस्तत्र सुखी भवेत् ॥ २,३७.

One (pot) is for Dharmarāja; by pleasing him, liberation is attained. One is for Citragupta; by reaching there, happiness is obtained.

षोडशाद्याः प्रदातव्या माषान्नजलपूरिताः ॥ २,३७.

From the sixteenth day onward, offerings should be made of pots filled with cooked grains and water.

उक्त्रान्तिश्राद्धमारभ्य श्राद्धषोडषोडशकस्य तु । षोडशब्राह्मणानान्तु एकैकं विनिवदयेत् ॥ २,३७.

Beginning with the post-funeral śrāddha, for the set of sixteen śrāddhas, one should assign each of the sixteen brāhmaṇas individually.

एकादशाहात्प्रभृति देयो नित्यं दृढाह्वयः । पक्वान्नजलपूर्णो हि यावत्संवत्सरं दिनम् ॥ २,३७.

From the eleventh day onward, one should daily give a sturdy vessel filled with cooked food and water, for a full year, each day.

जलपात्राणि वृद्धानि दत्तानिघटकानि च । एका वै वर्धनी तत्र तस्यां पात्रन्तु वंशजम् ॥ २,३७.

Old water vessels and donated pots, and there one large vessel; in that, the vessel should be of the family line.

वस्त्रेणाच्छादयेत्तान्तु पूजयित्वा सुगन्धिभिः । ब्राह्मणेभ्यो विशेषेण जलपूर्णानि दापयेत् ॥ २,३७.

One should cover that vessel with cloth, worship it with fragrant substances, and especially give the water-filled vessels to brāhmaṇas.

अहन्यहनि सङ्कल्प्य विधिपूर्वं खगेश्वर । ब्राह्मणाय कुलीनाय वेदवृत्तयुताय च ॥ २,३७.

Each day, having resolved according to the proper rite, O Lord of Birds, to a brāhmaṇa of good family and versed in Vedic conduct.

विद्यावृत्तवते देयं मूर्खे तन्न कदाचन । समर्थो वेदवृत्ताढ्यस्तारणे तरणेऽपि च ॥ २,३७.

It should be given to one learned and of good conduct, never to a fool; one who is capable, rich in Vedic practice, and able to help others cross over.

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् ३८ तार्क्ष्य उवाच । दानतीर्थार्थितं मोक्षं स्वर्गञ्च वद मे प्रभो । केन मोक्षमवाप्नोति केन स्वर्गे वसेच्चिरम् ॥ २,३८.

Tārkṣya said: O Lord, tell me about liberation, heaven, and the fruits of giving and pilgrimage. By what does one attain liberation, and by what does one dwell long in heaven?

केन गच्छति तेजस्तु स्वर्लोकात्सत्यलोकतः । मानुष्यं केन लभते नरकेशु निमज्जति ॥ २,३८.

By what does one go from the world of light or the world of truth? By what does one obtain human birth, or sink into hells?