Garuda Purana — Uttara Khanda (Pretakalpa) — Chapter 29

GaP 2 29.1

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम्- २९ श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । साधु पृष्टं त्वया भद्र मानुषाणां हिताय वै । शृणुष्वावहितो भूत्वा सर्वमेवौर्ध्वदैहिकम्

śrīgaruḍamahāpurāṇam- 29 śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca / sādhu pṛṣṭaṃ tvayā bhadra mānuṣāṇāṃ hitāya vai / śṛṇuṣvāvahito bhūtvā sarvamevaurdhvadaihikam

The Garuḍa Mahāpurāṇa, chapter 29. Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Well have you asked, good one, for the benefit of men. Listen attentively to the whole matter of the rites for the departed.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.2

कम्यग्विभेदरहितं श्रुतिस्मृतिसमुद्धृतम् । यन्न दृष्टं सुरैः सेन्द्रैर्योगिभिर्योगचिन्तकैः

kamyagvibhedarahitaṃ śrutismṛtisamuddhṛtam / yanna dṛṣṭaṃ suraiḥ sendrairyogibhiryogacintakaiḥ

(It is) free of divisions (as to what is optional), drawn out from śruti and smṛti — (that) which has not been seen by the gods together with Indra, nor by yogins who ponder on yoga.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

GaP 2 29.3

गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं वत्स नाख्यातं कस्यचित्क्वचित् । भक्तस्त्वं हि महाभाग सर्वं ते कथयाम्यहम्

guhyādguhyataraṃ vatsa nākhyātaṃ kasyacitkvacit / bhaktastvaṃ hi mahābhāga sarvaṃ te kathayāmyaham

More secret than the secret, my child, never told to anyone anywhere; but you are a devotee, greatly fortunate one, so I shall tell you all of it.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.4

अपुत्रस्य गतिर्नास्ति स्वर्गो नैव च नैव च । येन केनाप्युपायेन कार्यं जन्म सुतस्य च

aputrasya gatirnāsti svargo naiva ca naiva ca / yena kenāpyupāyena kāryaṃ janma sutasya ca

For one without a son there is no (good) course, and no heaven at all, none at all; therefore by whatever means, the birth of a son must be brought about.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.5

तारयेन्नरकात्पुत्रो यदि मोक्षो न विद्यते । दाहः पुत्रेण कर्तव्यो देयः पौत्रेण पावकः

tārayennarakātputro yadi mokṣo na vidyate / dāhaḥ putreṇa kartavyo deyaḥ pautreṇa pāvakaḥ

A son would rescue (his father) from hell, even if liberation is not attained; the cremation is to be done by the son, and the fire is to be given by the grandson.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.6

तिलैर्दर्भैश्च भूम्यां वै कुटी धातुमती भवेत् । पञ्चरत्नानि वक्त्रे तु येन जीवः प्ररोहति

tilairdarbhaiśca bhūmyāṃ vai kuṭī dhātumatī bhavet / pañcaratnāni vaktre tu yena jīvaḥ prarohati

On the ground (spread) with sesame seeds and darbha grass, let there be a hut containing (the sacred) elements; and the five gems (are placed) in the mouth, by which the living being rises up (again).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

GaP 2 29.7

लिप्यात्तु गोमयैर्भूमिं तिलान्दर्भांश्च निः क्षिपेत् । तस्यामेवातुरो मुक्तः सर्वं दहति पातकम्

lipyāttu gomayairbhūmiṃ tilāndarbhāṃśca niḥ kṣipet / tasyāmevāturo muktaḥ sarvaṃ dahati pātakam

One should smear the ground with cow dung and strew sesame seeds and darbha grass; released (i.e. dying) upon that very ground, the sick man burns away all sin.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.8

दर्भमूलीनयेत्स्वर्गं संस्थितं नात्र संशयः । दर्भांस्तत्र हि ये भूम्यां तिलयुक्तान संशयः

darbhamūlīnayetsvargaṃ saṃsthitaṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ / darbhāṃstatra hi ye bhūmyāṃ tilayuktāna saṃśayaḥ

The root of the darbha leads to heaven the one who has passed away — there is no doubt here; for those darbhas there on the ground, joined with sesame — no doubt (of it).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

GaP 2 29.9

सर्वत्र वसुधा पूता यत्र लेपो न विद्यते । यत्र लेपः स्थितस्तत्र पुनर्लेपेन शुध्यति

sarvatra vasudhā pūtā yatra lepo na vidyate / yatra lepaḥ sthitastatra punarlepena śudhyati

Everywhere the earth is pure where no smearing exists; where a smearing has been laid, there it is purified by smearing again.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.10

यातुधानाः पिशाचाश्च राक्षसाः क्रूरकर्मिणः । अलिप्ते आतुरं मुक्तं विशन्त्येते न संशयः

yātudhānāḥ piśācāśca rākṣasāḥ krūrakarmiṇaḥ / alipte āturaṃ muktaṃ viśantyete na saṃśayaḥ

Sorcerers and piśācas and rākṣasas of cruel deeds — these enter the sick man who dies on an unsmeared (spot); there is no doubt.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.11

नित्यहोमं तथा श्राद्धं विप्राणां पादशोधनम् । मण्डलेन विना भूम्यां कुर्वन्त्येतच्च निष्फलम्

nityahomaṃ tathā śrāddhaṃ viprāṇāṃ pādaśodhanam / maṇḍalena vinā bhūmyāṃ kurvantyetacca niṣphalam

The daily fire offering, and the śrāddha, and the washing of the brahmins' feet — (if) they perform these on the ground without a maṇḍala, it is fruitless.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.12

आतुरो मुच्यते नैव मण्डलेन विना भुवि । ब्रह्मा रुद्रश्च विष्णुश्च श्रीर्हुताशन एव च । मण्डले चोपतिष्ठन्तस्तस्मात्कुर्वीत मण्डलम्

āturo mucyate naiva maṇḍalena vinā bhuvi / brahmā rudraśca viṣṇuśca śrīrhutāśana eva ca / maṇḍale copatiṣṭhantastasmātkurvīta maṇḍalam

A sick man is not released (well) on the ground without a maṇḍala. Brahmā, Rudra, Viṣṇu, Śrī and Fire himself stand present in the maṇḍala; therefore one should make a maṇḍala.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.13

अन्यथा म्रियते यस्तु बालो वृद्धो युवापि वा । योन्यन्तरं स वै गच्छेत्क्रीडते वायुना सह

anyathā mriyate yastu bālo vṛddho yuvāpi vā / yonyantaraṃ sa vai gacchetkrīḍate vāyunā saha

But he who dies otherwise, whether child, old man, or youth, goes into another womb, (or) plays about together with the wind.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.14

मिश्रितं लोहताम्रं तु तथैव जन्म जायते । तस्मैवं वायुभूतस्य न श्राद्धं नोदक क्रिया

miśritaṃ lohatāmraṃ tu tathaiva janma jāyate / tasmaivaṃ vāyubhūtasya na śrāddhaṃ nodaka kriyā

As iron and copper mixed (are reborn as one), just so does his birth come about; therefore for one who has thus become wind there is neither śrāddha nor water-offering.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

GaP 2 29.15

मम स्वेदसमुद्भूतास्तिलास्तार्क्ष्य पवित्रकाः । असुरा दानवा दैत्यास्तृप्यन्ति तिलदानतः

mama svedasamudbhūtāstilāstārkṣya pavitrakāḥ / asurā dānavā daityāstṛpyanti tiladānataḥ

Sesame seeds, O Tārkṣya, arose from my sweat, and are purifying; the asuras, dānavas and daityas are satisfied by the gift of sesame.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.16

तिलाः श्वेतास्तिलाः कृष्णास्तिला गोमूत्रसन्निभाः । ते मे दहन्तु पाषानि शरीरेण कृतानि च

tilāḥ śvetāstilāḥ kṛṣṇāstilā gomūtrasannibhāḥ / te me dahantu pāṣāni śarīreṇa kṛtāni ca

Sesame seeds white, sesame seeds black, sesame seeds the colour of cow's urine: let them burn away my sins, and those committed with the body.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.17

एक एव तिलद्रोणो हेमद्रोणतिलैः समः । तर्पणे दानहोमे च दत्तो भवति चाक्षयः

eka eva tiladroṇo hemadroṇatilaiḥ samaḥ / tarpaṇe dānahome ca datto bhavati cākṣayaḥ

A single droṇa of sesame is equal to a droṇa of golden sesame seeds; given in libation, in gift and in oblation, it becomes imperishable.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.18

दर्भा मल्लोमसम्भूतास्तिलाः स्वेदसमुद्भवाः । तृप्ताः स्युर्देवता दानैः श्राद्धेन पितरस्तथा । प्रयोगविधिना ब्रह्मा विश्वञ्चाप्युपजीवनात्

darbhā mallomasambhūtāstilāḥ svedasamudbhavāḥ / tṛptāḥ syurdevatā dānaiḥ śrāddhena pitarastathā / prayogavidhinā brahmā viśvañcāpyupajīvanāt

Darbha grasses arose from my hair, sesame seeds from my sweat; the deities are satisfied by gifts, and likewise the ancestors by śrāddha; Brahmā by the prescribed procedure, and the All too, by (its) sustenance.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

GaP 2 29.19

सव्ययज्ञोपवीतेन ब्रह्माद्यास्तृप्तिमान्पुयुः । अपसव्येन तृप्यन्ति पितरो दिविदेवताः

savyayajñopavītena brahmādyāstṛptimānpuyuḥ / apasavyena tṛpyanti pitaro dividevatāḥ

With the sacred thread worn in the ordinary (left-shoulder) way, Brahmā and the rest attain satisfaction; with it reversed, the ancestors and the deities of heaven are satisfied.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.20

अपसव्यादितो ब्रह्मा दर्भमध्ये तु केशवः । दर्भाग्रे शङ्करं विद्यात्त्रयो देवाः कुशे स्थिताः

apasavyādito brahmā darbhamadhye tu keśavaḥ / darbhāgre śaṅkaraṃ vidyāttrayo devāḥ kuśe sthitāḥ

Beginning from the reversed side, Brahmā (is at the root); in the middle of the darbha is Keśava; at the tip of the darbha one should know Śaṅkara — the three gods abide in the kuśa grass.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

GaP 2 29.21

विप्रा मन्त्राः कुशा वह्निस्तुलसी च खगेश्वर । नैते निर्माल्यतां यान्ति क्रियमाणाः पुनः पुनः

viprā mantrāḥ kuśā vahnistulasī ca khageśvara / naite nirmālyatāṃ yānti kriyamāṇāḥ punaḥ punaḥ

Brahmins, mantras, kuśa grass, fire, and the tulasī, O lord of birds — these do not become spent leavings (nirmālya), even when used again and again.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.22

कुशाः पिण्डेषु निर्माल्याः ब्राह्मणाः प्रेतभोजने । मन्त्राः शूद्रेषु पतिताश्चितायाश्च हुताशनः

kuśāḥ piṇḍeṣu nirmālyāḥ brāhmaṇāḥ pretabhojane / mantrāḥ śūdreṣu patitāścitāyāśca hutāśanaḥ

Kuśa grasses become spent leavings when used in the (funeral) rice-balls, brahmins when they eat the food of the dead, mantras when (used) among śūdras, and fire when it has been the fire of a pyre.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.23

तुलसी ब्राह्मणा गावो विष्णुरेकादशी खग । पञ्च प्रवहणान्येव भवाब्धौ मज्जतां सताम्

tulasī brāhmaṇā gāvo viṣṇurekādaśī khaga / pañca pravahaṇānyeva bhavābdhau majjatāṃ satām

The tulasī, brahmins, cows, Viṣṇu, and the eleventh day, O bird — these five alone are the ferries for good people who are sinking in the ocean of worldly existence.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.24

विष्णुरेकादशी गीता तुलसीविप्रधेनवः । अपारे दुर्गसंकारे षट्पदी मुक्तिदायिनी

viṣṇurekādaśī gītā tulasīvipradhenavaḥ / apāre durgasaṃkāre ṣaṭpadī muktidāyinī

Viṣṇu, the eleventh day, the Gītā, the tulasī, brahmins, and milk-cows — this set of six is the giver of liberation in the boundless, hard-to-cross confusion (of saṃsāra).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.25

तिलाः पवित्रास्त्रिविधा दर्भाश्च तुलसीदालम् । निवारयन्ति चैतानि दुर्गतिं यान्तमातुरम्

tilāḥ pavitrāstrividhā darbhāśca tulasīdālam / nivārayanti caitāni durgatiṃ yāntamāturam

Sesame seeds, the three kinds of purificatory (grass-rings), kuśa blades, and a tulasī leaf — these ward off an evil course for a sick man who is going (to death).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

GaP 2 29.26

हस्ताभ्यामुद्धृतैर्दर्भैस्तोयेन प्रोक्षयेद्भुवम् । मृत्युकाले क्षिपेद्दर्भानातुरस्य करद्वये

hastābhyāmuddhṛtairdarbhaistoyena prokṣayedbhuvam / mṛtyukāle kṣipeddarbhānāturasya karadvaye

With kuśa blades pulled up by both hands one should sprinkle the ground with water; at the time of death one should place kuśa blades in the two hands of the sick man.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.27

दर्भेषु क्षिप्यते यो ऽसौ दभस्तु परिवेष्टितः । विष्णुलोकं स वै याति मन्त्रहीनो ऽपि मानवः

darbheṣu kṣipyate yo 'sau dabhastu pariveṣṭitaḥ / viṣṇulokaṃ sa vai yāti mantrahīno 'pi mānavaḥ

He who is placed on kuśa grass, wrapped about with kuśa — that man goes indeed to Viṣṇu's world, even though he lacks mantras.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.28

दर्भमूलीगतो भूमौ दर्भपाणिस्तु यो मृतः । प्रायश्चित्तविशुद्धो ऽसौ संसारेपारसागरे

darbhamūlīgato bhūmau darbhapāṇistu yo mṛtaḥ / prāyaścittaviśuddho 'sau saṃsārepārasāgare

He who has died on the ground upon the roots of kuśa grass, with kuśa in his hand — he is purified as by an expiation, in the shoreless ocean of saṃsāra.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

GaP 2 29.29

गोमयेनोपलिप्ते तु दर्भस्यास्तरणे स्थितः । तत्र दत्तेन दानेन सर्वं पापं व्यपोहति

gomayenopalipte tu darbhasyāstaraṇe sthitaḥ / tatra dattena dānena sarvaṃ pāpaṃ vyapohati

He who lies on a spreading of kuśa grass upon (ground) smeared with cow-dung, by the gift given there he removes all sin.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.30

लवणं तद्रसं दिव्यं सर्वकामप्रदं नृणाम् । यस्मादन्नरसाः सर्वे नोत्कटा लवणं विना

lavaṇaṃ tadrasaṃ divyaṃ sarvakāmapradaṃ nṛṇām / yasmādannarasāḥ sarve notkaṭā lavaṇaṃ vinā

Salt — that flavour is divine, granting men all their desires — since without salt no flavours of food are pungent (i.e. tasty).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.31

पितॄणां च प्रियं भव्यं तस्मात्स्वर्गप्रदं भवेत् । विष्णुदेहसमुद्भूतो यतो ऽयं लवणो रसः

pitṝṇāṃ ca priyaṃ bhavyaṃ tasmātsvargapradaṃ bhavet / viṣṇudehasamudbhūto yato 'yaṃ lavaṇo rasaḥ

And it is dear and auspicious to the ancestors; therefore it comes to grant heaven, since this salty flavour arose from the body of Viṣṇu.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.32

विशेषाल्लवणं दानं तेन शंसन्ति योगिनः । ब्राह्मण क्षत्त्रियविशां स्त्रीणां शूद्रजनस्य च

viśeṣāllavaṇaṃ dānaṃ tena śaṃsanti yoginaḥ / brāhmaṇa kṣattriyaviśāṃ strīṇāṃ śūdrajanasya ca

Therefore the yogins especially commend the gift of salt — for brahmins, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas, for women, and for śūdra folk.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

GaP 2 29.33

आतुराणां यदा प्राणाः प्रयान्ति वसुधातले । लवणं तु तदा देयं द्बारस्योद्धाटनं दिवः

āturāṇāṃ yadā prāṇāḥ prayānti vasudhātale / lavaṇaṃ tu tadā deyaṃ dbārasyoddhāṭanaṃ divaḥ

When the life-breaths of the sick are departing (as they lie) on the surface of the earth, then salt should be given: it is the unbolting of heaven's door.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition