Garuda Purana

प्रथमं व्याहृतिहोमः प्रायश्चित्तं प्रजापतिः । संस्त्रवप्राशनं कुर्यात्प्रणीतापरिमोक्षणम् ॥ २,४१.

First, the vyāhṛti homa is performed, then the expiatory offering to Prajāpati; one should sip water, and then release the sacred thread.

पवित्रप्रतिपत्तिश्च ब्राह्मणे दक्षैणा ततः । षडङ्गरुद्रजाप्येन प्रोतो मोक्षमवाप्नुयात् ॥ २,४१.

The establishment of a sacred thread for a Brahmin, along with the prescribed gift, and the recitation of the six-limbed Rudra hymn—by this, one attains liberation for the departed.

एकवर्णं वृषञ्चैव सकृद्वत्सतरीं खग । स्नापयित्वा ततः कुर्यात्सर्वालङ्कारभूषितम् ॥ २,४१.

A single-colored bull and a cow with a calf should be bathed, adorned with all ornaments, and then prepared accordingly.

प्रतिष्ठाप्य च तद्युग्मं प्रेतो मोक्षमवाप्नुयात् । पुच्छेच तर्पणं कार्यमुच्छ्रिते मन्त्रपूर्वकम् । ब्राह्मणान् भोजयेत्पश्चाद्दक्षिणाभिश्च तोषयेत् ॥ २,४१.

Having installed that pair, the departed attains liberation; oblations should be offered at the tail, with proper mantras, and afterwards Brahmins should be fed and gratified with gifts.

ततः श्राद्धं समुद्दिष्टमेकोद्दिष्टं यथाविधि । जलमन्नं तथा देयं प्रेतोद्धरणहेतवे ॥ २,४१.

Then, the prescribed śrāddha should be performed as for a single ancestor, and water and food should be given for the sake of uplifting the departed.

द्वादशाहे ततः कुर्यान्मासेमासे पृथक्पथक् । एवं विधिः समायुक्तः प्रेतमोक्षे करोति हि ॥ २,४१.

After twelve days, one should perform the rites monthly and separately each month; such a procedure, properly observed, indeed brings about the liberation of the departed.

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् ४२ श्रीविष्णुरुवाच । यथा धेनुसहस्रेषु वत्सो विन्दति मातरम् । तथा पूर्वकृतं कर्म कर्तारमनुगच्छति ॥ २,४२.

Śrī Viṣṇu said: Just as among a thousand cows, a calf finds its own mother, so too does the karma previously performed follow its doer.

आदित्यो वरुणो विष्णुर्ब्रह्मा सोमो हुताशनः । शूलपाणिश्च भगवानभिनन्दति भूमिदम् ॥ २,४२.

The Sun, Varuṇa, Viṣṇu, Brahmā, Soma, Fire, and the blessed wielder of the trident all rejoice in the gift of land.

नास्ति भूमिसमं दानं नास्ति भूमिसमो निधिः । नास्ति सत्यसमो धर्मो नानृतात्पातकं परम् ॥ २,४२.

There is no gift equal to land, no treasure equal to land; no righteousness equal to truth, and no sin greater than falsehood.

अग्नेरपत्यं प्रथमं सुवर्णं भूर्वैष्णवी सूर्यसुताश्च गावः । लोकत्रयं तेन भवेत्प्रदत्तं यः काञ्चनं गां च महीं च दद्यात् ॥ २,४२.

Gold is the first offspring of fire, the earth is Viṣṇu's, cows are the daughters of the sun; thus, whoever gives gold, cows, and land gives the three worlds.

त्रीण्याहुरतिदानानि गावः पृथ्वी सरस्वती । नरकादुद्धरन्त्येते जपपूजनहोमतः ॥ २,४२.

They declare three supreme gifts: cows, earth, and Sarasvatī; these rescue from hell through recitation, worship, and sacrifice.

कृत्वा बहूनि पापानि रौद्राणि विपुलानि च । अपि गोचर्ममात्रेण भूमिदानेन शुध्यति ॥ २,४२.

Even after committing many and terrible sins, one is purified by the gift of land, even if it is only as much as a cowhide.

हरन्तमपि लोभेन निरुध्यैनं निवारयेत् । स याति नरके घोरे यस्तं न परिरक्षति ॥ २,४२.

If someone tries to seize it out of greed, he should be restrained; the one who does not protect it goes to a dreadful hell.

अकर्तव्यं न कर्तव्यं प्राणैः कण्ठगतैरपि । कर्तव्यमेव कर्तव्यमिति धर्मविदो विदुः ॥ २,४२.

What should not be done must not be done, even at the risk of one's life; what ought to be done must indeed be done—so declare those who know dharma.

आकारप्रवर्तने पापं गोसहस्रवधैःसमम् । वृत्तिच्छेदे तथा वृत्तेः करणं लक्षधेनुकम् ॥ २,४२.

To initiate a wrongful act is a sin equal to killing a thousand cows; to deprive someone of their livelihood is as sinful as killing a hundred thousand cows.

वरमेकाप्यपहृता न तु दत्तं गवां शतम् । एकां हृत्वा शतं दत्त्वा न तेन समता भवेत् ॥ २,४२.

Better that even one cow be stolen than a hundred cows given and then reclaimed; taking back after giving does not equal the act of giving.

स्वयमेव तु यो दत्त्वा स्वयमेव प्रबाधते । स पापी नरकं याति यावदाभूतसंप्लवम् ॥ २,४२.

He who, having given with his own hand, later harasses the recipient, is sinful and goes to hell until the end of the cosmic dissolution.

न चाश्वमेधेन तथा विधिवद्दक्षिणावता । अवृत्तिकर्शिते दीने ब्राह्मणे रक्षिते यथा ॥ २,४२.

Not even the properly performed Aśvamedha sacrifice with gifts equals the merit of protecting a Brahmin who is deprived, emaciated, and in distress.

न तद्भवति वेदेषु यज्ञे सुबहुदक्षिणे । यत्पुण्यं दुर्बले त्रस्ते ब्राह्मणे परिरक्षिते ॥ २,४२.

The merit gained by protecting a weak and frightened Brahmin is not found in the Vedas, nor in sacrifices with abundant gifts.

ब्रह्मस्वैश्च सुपुष्टानि वाहनानि बलानि च । युद्धकाले विशीर्यन्ते सैकताः सेतवो यथा ॥ २,४२.

Even the well-nourished possessions, vehicles, and forces of Brahmins are destroyed in battle, just as sand embankments collapse.

स्वदत्तां परदत्तां वा यो हरेच्च वसुन्धराम् । षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि विष्ठायां जायते कृमिः ॥ २,४२.

Whoever seizes land, whether given by himself or by another, is born as a worm in excrement for sixty thousand years.

ब्रह्मस्वं प्रणयाद्भुक्तं दहत्यासप्तमं कुलम् । तदेव चौर्यरूपेण दहत्याचन्द्रतारकम् ॥ २,४२.

Enjoying Brahmin property with affection burns up to the seventh generation of one's lineage; taking it by theft burns until the moon and stars endure.

लोहचूर्णाश्मचूर्णानि कदाचिज्जरयेत्पुमान् । ब्रह्मस्वन्त्रिषु लोकेषु कः पुमाञ्जरयिष्यति ॥ २,४२.

A man may sometimes wear down iron or stone powder, but who can wear down Brahmin property in the three worlds?

देवद्रव्यविनाशेन ब्रह्मस्वहरणेन च । कुलान्यकुलतां यान्ति ब्राह्मणातिक्रमेण च ॥ २,४२.

Through the destruction of divine wealth, the taking of Brahmin property, and transgression against Brahmins, families lose their nobility.

ब्राह्मणाति क्रमो नास्ति विप्रे विद्याविवर्जिते । ज्वलन्तमग्निमुत्सृज्य न हि भस्मनि हूयते ॥ २,४२.

There is no transgression against a Brahmin who lacks knowledge; just as one does not offer oblations into ashes, leaving the blazing fire.

संक्रान्तौ यानि दानानि हव्यकव्यानि यानि च । सप्तकल्पक्षयं यावद्ददात्यर्कः पुनः पुनः ॥ २,४२.

The gifts and offerings made at the time of transfer, whether for the gods or ancestors, are repaid by the sun again and again until the end of seven cycles of creation.

प्रतिग्रहाध्यापनयाजनेषु प्रतिग्रहं स्वेष्टतमं वदन्ति । प्रतिग्रहाच्छ्रुध्यति जाप्यहोमं न याजनं कर्म पुनन्ति वेदाः ॥ २,४२.

Among accepting gifts, teaching, and officiating at sacrifices, accepting gifts is said to be most desirable; from accepting gifts, recitation and oblation become impure, and the Vedas declare that officiating at sacrifices does not purify the ritual.

सदा जापी सदा होमी परपाकविवर्जितः । रत्नपूर्णामपि महीं प्रतिगृह्णन्न लिप्यते ॥ २,४२.

One who always recites and always performs oblations, avoiding food cooked by others, is not tainted even if he accepts the earth filled with jewels.

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् ४३ श्रीविष्णुरुवाच । जलाग्निबन्धनभ्रष्टा प्रव्रज्यानाशकच्युताः । ऐन्दवाभ्यां विशुध्यन्ति दत्त्वा धेनुं तथा वृषम् ॥ २,४३.

O Tārkṣya, those who have fallen from water, fire, bonds, or clouds, or who have lost their renunciation, are purified by the lunar rites after giving a cow and a bull.