Garuda Purana

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?

एतन्मे वदनिश्चित्य भक्तानां मोक्षदायक । ब्रूहि कस्मिन्मृते स्वर्गे पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते ॥ २,३८.

Tell me this with certainty, O giver of liberation to devotees. Tell me, upon whose death in heaven is there no rebirth?

श्रीविष्णुरुवाच । मानुष्यं भारते वर्षे त्रयोदशसु जातिषु ॥ २,३८.

Śrī Viṣṇu said: Human birth in the land of Bhārata occurs among thirteen classes.

तत्प्राप्य म्रियते क्षेत्रे पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते । अयोध्या मथुरा माया काशी काञ्ची अवन्तिका ॥ २,३८.

Having attained that, if one dies in the field, there is no rebirth: Ayodhyā, Mathurā, Māyā, Kāśī, Kāñcī, Avantikā,

पुरी द्वारवती ज्ञेया सप्तैता मोक्षदायिकाः । सन्न्यस्तमिति यो ब्रुयात्प्राणैः कण्ठगतैरपि ॥ २,३८.

Purī and Dvāravatī are to be known—these seven grant liberation. If one says 'renounced' even with life at the throat,

मृतो विष्णुपुरं याति न पुनर्जायते क्षितौ । सकृदुच्चरितं येन हरिरित्यक्षरद्वयम् ॥ २,३८.

Dying, he goes to Viṣṇu's city and is not born again on earth. By uttering even once the two syllables 'Hari,'

बद्धः परिकरस्तेन मोक्षाय गमनं प्रति । कृष्णकृष्णेति कृष्णेति यो मां स्मरति नित्यशः ॥ २,३८.

He is bound with the girdle for liberation on the path; whoever remembers me always, saying 'Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa.'

जल भित्त्वा यथा पद्मं नरकादुद्धराम्यहम् । शालग्रामजिला यत्र यत्र द्वारवती शिला ॥ २,३८.

Just as a lotus rises after breaking through water, so do I rescue from hell wherever there is a Śālagrāma stone or a Dvāravatī stone.

उभयोः सङ्गमो यत्र मुक्तिस्तत्र न संशयः । शालग्रामशिला यत्र पापदोषक्षयावहा ॥ २,३८.

Wherever the union of both occurs, there is liberation without doubt; wherever there is a Śālagrāma stone, it brings the destruction of sin and fault.

तत्सन्निधानमरणान्मुक्तिर्जन्तोः सुनिश्चता । रोपणात्पालनात्सेकाद्ध्यानस्पर्शनकीर्तनात् । तुलसी दहते पापं नृणां जन्मार्जितं खग ॥ २,३८.

By its presence, liberation from death is assured for a creature; by planting, tending, worship, meditation, touch, and praise, the tulasī burns away the sins acquired by humans, O bird.

ज्ञानहृदे सत्यजले रागद्वेषमलापहे । यः स्नातो मानसे तीर्थे न स लिप्येत पातकैः ॥ २,३८.

He who bathes in the inner pilgrimage, with knowledge in the heart, truth in the water, and free from the stains of attachment and aversion, is not tainted by sins.