Garuda Purana

यत्कृतं हि मनुष्येण पापमामरणान्तिकम् । तत्सर्वं नाशमायाति वर्षवृत्तिप्रदानतः ॥ २,३८.

Whatever sin a person has committed up to death, all of it is destroyed by giving according to the annual rite.

भूतं भव्यं बविष्यञ्च पापं जन्मत्रयार्जितम् । पक्षालयति तत्सर्वं विप्रकन्योपनायनात् ॥ २,३८.

Sin acquired in the past, present, or future over three births is washed away entirely by the initiation of a Brahmin girl.

दशकूपसमा वापि दशवापीसमं सरः । सरो भिर्दशभिस्तुल्या या प्रपा निर्जले वने ॥ २,३८.

A pond equals ten wells, a lake equals ten ponds, and a lake is equal to ten lakes; but a water-reservoir in a waterless forest is equal to all of these.

या वापी निर्जले देशे यद्दानं निर्धने द्विजे । प्राणिनां यो दयां धत्ते स भवेन्नाकनायकः ॥ २,३८.

A pond in a waterless place, a gift to a destitute Brahmin, and compassion towards living beings—he who practices these becomes a leader in heaven.

एवमादिभिरन्यैश्च सुकृतैः स्वर्गभाग्भवेत् । स तत्सर्वं फलं प्राप्य प्रतिष्ठां परमां लभेत् ॥ २,३८.

By such good deeds and others like them, one becomes a recipient of heaven; having obtained all those fruits, one attains the highest status.

फल्गु कार्यं परित्यज्य सततं धर्मवान् भवेत् । दानं दमो दया चेति सारमेतत्त्रयं भुवि ॥ २,३८.

Abandoning trivial actions, one should always be devoted to dharma; charity, self-restraint, and compassion—these three are the essence on earth.

दानं साधोर्दरिद्रस्य शून्यलिङ्गस्य पूजनम् । अनाथप्रेतसंस्कारः कोटियज्ञफलप्रदः ॥ २,३८.

Charity to the virtuous poor, worship of the empty emblem, and funeral rites for the unprotected dead—these grant the fruit of a crore sacrifices.

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् ३९ तार्क्ष्य उवाच । सूतकानां विधिं ब्रूहि दयां कृत्वा मयिप्रभो । विवेकाय हि चित्तस्य मानवानां हिताय च ॥ २,३९.

Tārkṣya said: O Lord, kindly explain the rules for impurity after birth and death, out of compassion for me, for the discernment of the mind and the welfare of mankind.

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । मृते जन्मनी पक्षीन्द्र सूतकं स्याच्चतुर्विधम् । चतुर्णामपि वर्णानां सामान्यते विवर्जितम् ॥ २,३९.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: O king of birds, impurity after birth and death is of four kinds, and is not common to all four castes.

उभयत्र दशाहानि कुलस्यान्नं विवर्जियेत् । दानं प्रतिग्रहो होमः स्वाध्यायश्च निवर्तते ॥ २,३९.

In both cases, for ten days, the family should abstain from food; charity, acceptance of gifts, fire rituals, and study are suspended.

देशं कालं तथात्मानं द्रव्यं द्रव्यप्रयाजनम् । उपपत्तिंव्मवस्थाञ्च ज्ञात्वां कर्म समाचरेत् ॥ २,३९.

Knowing the place, time, oneself, the object, its use, the circumstances, and the situation, one should perform the prescribed action.

गुहावह्निप्रवेसे च देशान्तरमृतेषु च । स्नानं सचेलं कर्तव्यं सद्यः शौचं विधीयते ॥ २,३९.

When entering a cave, fire, or a foreign land, one should bathe with clothes on; immediate purification is prescribed.

आमगर्भाश्च ये जीवा ये च गर्भाद्विनिः सृताः । न तेषामग्निसंस्कारो नाशौचं नोदकक्रिया ॥ २,३९.

For beings who die in the womb or are born prematurely, there is no fire-rite, impurity, or water-offering for them.

शिल्पिनः कारवो वैद्या दासीदासास्तथैव च । राजानः श्रोतियाश्चैव सद्यः शौचाः प्रकीर्तिताः ॥ २,३९.

Artisans, craftsmen, physicians, male and female servants, as well as kings and Vedic reciters, are declared to be immediately pure.

सत्री च (व्रती) मन्त्रपूतश्च आहिताग्निर्नृपस्तथा । एतेषां सूतकं नास्ति यस्य चेच्छन्ति पार्थिवाः ॥ २,३९.

A woman observing a vow, one purified by mantra, a householder with sacred fire, and a king—these have no impurity, if the rulers so desire.

प्रसवे च सपिण्डानां न कुर्यात्सङ्करं द्विजः । दशाहाच्छ्रुध्यते माता अवगाह्य पिता शुचिः ॥ २,३९.

At childbirth, a twice-born should not mix with relatives; after ten days the mother is purified, and the father becomes pure by bathing.

विवाहोत्सवयज्ञेषु अन्तरा मृतसूतके । पूर्वसङ्कल्पितं वित्तं भोज्यं तन्मनुरब्रवीत् ॥ २,३९.

If a death or birth impurity occurs during a wedding, festival, or sacrifice, the previously pledged wealth and food may be used, so says Manu.

सर्वेषामेवमाशौचं मातापित्रोस्तु सूतकम् । सूकतं मातुरेवस्यादुपस्पृश्य पिता शुचिः ॥ २,३९.

For all, impurity is thus; but for the mother and father, only the mother is considered impure, while the father becomes pure after sprinkling water.

अन्तर्दशाहे स्याताञ्चेत्पुनर्मरणजन्मनी । तावत्स्यादशुचिर्विप्रो यावत्तत्स्यादनिर्दशम् ॥ २,३९.

If another death or birth occurs within the ten-day period, the twice-born remains impure until ten days have passed from the latest event.

उदिते नियमे दाने आर्ते विप्रे निवेदयेत् । तथैव ऋषिभिः प्रोक्तं यथाकालं न दुष्यति ॥ २,३९.

When a rule is established for giving, in distress one should inform a Brahmin; thus it is taught by the sages, and if done at the proper time, it is not wrong.

मृन्मयेन तु पात्रेण तिलैर्मिश्रजलैः सह । मृत्तिकया तथान्ते च नरः स्नात्वा शुचिर्भवेत् ॥ २,३९.

With an earthen vessel and water mixed with sesame seeds, and finally with clay, after bathing, a man becomes pure.

दानं परिषदे दद्यात्सुवर्णं गोवृषं द्विजे । क्षत्त्रियो द्विगुणं चैव वैश्यस्तु त्रिगुणं तथा ॥ २,३९.

One should give in an assembly: gold or a bull to a Brahmin; a Kshatriya should give double, and a Vaishya triple that amount.

चतुर्गुणन्तु शूद्रेण दातव्यं ब्राह्मणे धनम् । एव मनुक्रमेणैव चातुर्वर्ण्यं विशुध्यति ॥ २,३९.

A Shudra should give four times as much wealth to a Brahmin; thus, according to Manu’s order, all four classes are purified.

सप्ताष्टमान्तरै शीर्णे गृह्यसंस्कारवर्जिते । अहस्तु सूतकं तस्य त्वब्दानां संख्यया स्मृतम् ॥ २,३९.

When the seventh or eighth interval passes without domestic rites, impurity lasts for as many years as the number of years elapsed.

ब्राह्मणार्थे विपन्ना ये नारीणां गोग्रहेषु च । आहवेषु विपन्नानामेकरात्त्रमशौचकम् ॥ २,३९.

For those who die for the sake of Brahmins, for women in protecting cows, or in battle, impurity lasts only one night.

न तेषामशुभं किञ्चिद्विप्राणां शुभकर्मणि । अनाथप्रेतसंस्कारं ये कुर्वन्तु नरोत्तमः ॥ २,३९.

For those Brahmins engaged in auspicious acts, there is no impurity at all; those who perform the rites for unclaimed dead are considered noble.

न तेषामशुभङ्किञ्चिद्विप्रेण सहकारिणा । जलावगाहनात्तेषां सद्यः शुद्धिरुदाहृता ॥ २,३९.

For those who assist a Brahmin, there is no impurity; by bathing in water, their purification is immediate.

विनिवृत्ता यदा शूद्रा उदकान्तमुपस्थिताः । तदाविप्रेणद्रष्टव्या इति वेदविदोविदुः ॥ २,३९.

When Shudras have withdrawn and reached the water’s edge, then a Brahmin may see them—so say the knowers of the Veda.

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् ४० तार्क्ष्य उवाच । भगवन्ब्राह्मणाः केचिदपमृत्युवशं गताः । कथं तेषां भवेन्मार्गः किं स्थानं का गतिर्भवेत्

Tarkshya said: O Lord, when Brahmins die an untimely death, what is their path, what place do they attain, and what is their destination?