The Fruit of Gifts on the Journey, and the Twenty-One Hells

Verse 1 (garuda.2.18.1)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । श्रवणानां वचः श्रुत्वा क्षणं ध्यात्वा पुनस्ततः । यत्कृतं तु मनुष्यैश्चपुण्यं पापमहर्निशम्

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca | śravaṇānāṁ vacaḥ śrutvā kṣaṇaṁ dhyātvā punastataḥ | yatkṛtaṁ tu manuṣyaiścapuṇyaṁ pāpamaharniśam

Shri Krishna said: Hearing the report of the Shravanas, reflecting for a moment, and then, whatever merit and sin has been done by men day and night,

Verse 2 (garuda.2.18.2)

तत्सर्वं च परिज्ञाय चित्रगुप्तो निवेदयेत् । चित्रगुप्तस्ततः सर्वं कर्म तस्मै वदत्यथ

tatsarvaṁ ca parijñāya citragupto nivedayet | citraguptastataḥ sarvaṁ karma tasmai vadatyatha

knowing all of it, Chitragupta reports it. Chitragupta then tells him [Dharmaraja] the entire deed —

Verse 3 (garuda.2.18.3)

वाचैव यत्कृतं कर्म कृतं चैव तु कायिकम् । मानसं च तथा कर्म कृतं भुङ्क्ते शुभाशुभम्

vācaiva yatkṛtaṁ karma kṛtaṁ caiva tu kāyikam | mānasaṁ ca tathā karma kṛtaṁ bhuṁkte śubhāśubham

whatever deed was done through speech, and whatever through the body, and whatever deed too through the mind — accordingly the soul experiences good and evil.

Verse 4 (garuda.2.18.4)

एवं ते कथितस्तार्क्ष्य प्रेतमार्गस्य निर्णयः । विश्रान्ति दानि सर्वाणि स्थानानि कथितानि ते

evaṁ te kathitastārkṣya pretamārgasya nirṇayaḥ | viśrānti dāni sarvāṇi sthānāni kathitāni te

O Tarkshya, thus have I told you this account of the path of the departed; all the resting-places and stations too have been described.

Verse 5 (garuda.2.18.5)

तमुद्दिश्य ददात्यन्नं सुखं याति महाध्वनि । दिवा रात्रौ तमुद्दिश्य स्थाने दीपप्रदो भवेत्

tamuddiśya dadātyannaṁ sukhaṁ yāti mahādhvani | divā rātrau tamuddiśya sthāne dīpaprado bhavet

He who gives food dedicated to him proceeds happily upon the great path. He who gives a lamp, dedicated to him, day and night,

Verse 6 (garuda.2.18.6)

अन्धकारे महाघोरे श्वपूर्णे लक्ष्यवर्जिते । दीप्तेऽध्वनि च ते यान्ति दीपो दत्तश्च यैर्नरैः

andhakāre mahāghore śvapūrṇe lakṣyavarjite | dīpte'dhvani ca te yānti dīpo dattaśca yairnaraiḥ

those who give a lamp travel, even through that most terrible darkness, thronged with dogs, upon a pathless way, along a road that is nonetheless illuminated.

Verse 7 (garuda.2.18.7)

कार्तिके च चतुर्दश्यां दीपदानं सुखाय वै । अथ वक्ष्यामि संक्षेपाद्यममार्गस्य निष्कृतिम्

kārtike ca caturdaśyāṁ dīpadānaṁ sukhāya vai | atha vakṣyāmi saṁkṣepādyamamārgasya niṣkṛtim

On the fourteenth day of Kartika, the gift of a lamp is given for the sake of happiness. Now I shall briefly describe the release from the path of Yama.

Verse 8 (garuda.2.18.8)

वृषोत्सर्गस्य पुण्येन पितृलोकं स गच्छति । एकादशाहपिण्डेन शुद्धदेहो भवेत्ततः

vṛṣotsargasya puṇyena pitṛlokaṁ sa gacchati | ekādaśāhapiṇḍena śuddhadeho bhavettataḥ

Through the merit of vrishotsarga, he goes to the world of the ancestors. By the pinda of the eleventh day, his body becomes pure.

Verse 9 (garuda.2.18.9)

उदकुम्भप्रदानेन किङ्करास्तृप्तिमाप्नुयुः

udakumbhapradānena kiṁkarāstṛptimāpnuyuḥ

By the gift of a water-pot, Yama's servants attain satisfaction.

Verse 10 (garuda.2.18.10)

शय्यादानाद्बिमानस्थो याति स्वर्गेषु मानवः । तदह्नि दीयते सर्वं द्वादशाहे विशेषतः

śayyādānādbimānastho yāti svargeṣu mānavaḥ | tadahni dīyate sarvaṁ dvādaśāhe viśeṣataḥ

By the gift of a bed, a man, mounted upon a celestial chariot, goes to the world of heaven. On that day everything is given, and especially on the twelfth day.

Verse 11 (garuda.2.18.11)

पदानि सर्ववस्तूनि वरिष्ठानि त्रयोदशे । यो ददाति मृतस्येह जीवन्नप्यात्महेतवे

padāni sarvavastūni variṣṭhāni trayodaśe | yo dadāti mṛtasyeha jīvannapyātmahetave

On the thirteenth day, the foot-gifts of the finest things are given. Whoever gives this here on behalf of the dead, or even while living, for his own future benefit,

Verse 12 (garuda.2.18.12)

तदाश्रितो महामार्गे वैनतेय स गच्छति । एक एवास्ति सर्वत्रे व्यवहारः खगाधिप

tadāśrito mahāmārge vainateya sa gacchati | eka evāsti sarvatre vyavahāraḥ khagādhipa

O son of Vinata, by that very refuge he travels the great path. O lord of birds, there is one and the same principle everywhere —

Verse 13 (garuda.2.18.13)

उत्तमाधममध्यानां तत्तदावर्जनं भवेत् । यावद्भाग्यं भवेद्यस्य तावन्मार्गेऽतिरिच्यते

uttamādhamamadhyānāṁ tattadāvarjanaṁ bhavet | yāvadbhāgyaṁ bhavedyasya tāvanmārge'tiricyate

for the highest, the lowest, and the middling beings, there is a corresponding inclination toward that destiny. Whatever fortune one has, that much extra support one finds along the way.

Verse 14 (garuda.2.18.14)

स्वयं स्वस्येन यद्दत्तं तत्तत्राधिकरोति तम् । मृते यद्बान्धवैर्दत्तं तदाश्रित्य सुखी भवेत्

svayaṁ svasyena yaddattaṁ tattatrādhikaroti tam | mṛte yadbāndhavairdattaṁ tadāśritya sukhī bhavet

Whatever was given by oneself, with one's own hands, to oneself, that he claims there as his own; whatever is given by kinsmen upon death, by that refuge he becomes content.

Verse 15 (garuda.2.18.15)

गरुड उवाच । कस्मात्पदानि देयानि किंविधानि त्रयोदश । दीयते कस्य देवेश तद्वदस्व यथातथम्

garuḍa uvāca | kasmātpadāni deyāni kiṁvidhāni trayodaśa | dīyate kasya deveśa tadvadasva yathātatham

Garuda said: For what reason should the thirteen foot-gifts be given, and of what kind are they? O Lord of gods, to whom are they given — tell me this precisely.

Verse 16 (garuda.2.18.16)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । छत्त्रोपानहवस्त्राणि मुद्रिका च कमण्डलुः । आसनं भाजनं चैव पदं सप्तविधं स्मृतम्

śrībhagavānuvāca | chattropānahavastrāṇi mudrikā ca kamaṇḍaluḥ | āsanaṁ bhājanaṁ caiva padaṁ saptavidhaṁ smṛtam

The Blessed Lord said: An umbrella, sandals, garments, a ring, a water-pot, a seat, and a vessel — this sevenfold 'foot' is declared.

Verse 17 (garuda.2.18.17)

आतपस्तत्र यो रौद्रो दह्यते येन मानवः । छत्रदानेन सुच्छाया जायते प्रेततुष्टिदा

ātapastatra yo raudro dahyate yena mānavaḥ | chatradānena succhāyā jāyate pretatuṣṭidā

There, that terrible, fierce sunlight, by which a man is scorched — through the gift of an umbrella, pleasant shade is found, which gives satisfaction to the departed,

Verse 18 (garuda.2.18.18)

असिपत्रवनं घोरं सोऽतिक्रामति वै ध्रुवम् । अश्वारूढाश्च गच्छन्ति ददते य उपानहौ

asipatravanaṁ ghoraṁ so'tikrāmati vai dhruvam | aśvārūḍhāśca gacchanti dadate ya upānahau

and he certainly passes beyond the terrible Asipatravana. Those who give sandals travel mounted upon a horse.

Verse 19 (garuda.2.18.19)

आसने स्वागते (भोजने) चैव दत्तं तस्मै द्विजायते । सुखेन भुङ्क्ते स प्रेतः पथि गच्छञ्छनैः शनैः

āsane svāgate (bhojane) caiva dattaṁ tasmai dvijāyate | sukhena bhuṁkte sa pretaḥ pathi gacchañchanaiḥ śanaiḥ

By the gift of a seat and a welcoming meal, he becomes like a twice-born. That departed one, enjoying comfort, walks slowly along the road.

Verse 20 (garuda.2.18.20)

बहुधर्मसमाकीर्णे निर्वाते तोयवर्जिते । कमण्डलुप्रदानेन सुखी भवति निश्चितम्

bahudharmasamākīrṇe nirvāte toyavarjite | kamaṇḍalupradānena sukhī bhavati niścitam

In that path filled with many hardships, windless and waterless, by the gift of a water-pot he certainly becomes content.

Verse 21 (garuda.2.18.21)

मृतोद्देशेन यो दद्यादुदपात्रं तु ताम्रजम् । प्रपादानसहस्रस्य तत्फलं सोऽश्नुते ध्रुवम्

mṛtoddeśena yo dadyādudapātraṁ tu tāmrajam | prapādānasahasrasya tatphalaṁ so'śnute dhruvam

He who gives a copper water-vessel dedicated to the deceased certainly enjoys the fruit of a thousand such vessels given.

Verse 22 (garuda.2.18.22)

यमदूता महारौद्राः करालाः कृष्णपिङ्गलाः । न पीडयन्ति दाक्षिण्याद्वस्त्राभरणदानतः

yamadūtā mahāraudrāḥ karālāḥ kṛṣṇapiṁgalāḥ | na pīḍayanti dākṣiṇyādvastrābharaṇadānataḥ

The most terrible messengers of Yama, hideous and black-and-tawny, do not torment him, pacified by the gift of garments and ornaments.

Verse 23 (garuda.2.18.23)

सायुधा धावमानाश्च न मार्गे दृष्टिगोचराः । प्रयान्ति यमदूतास्ते मुद्रिकायाः प्रदानतः

sāyudhā dhāvamānāśca na mārge dṛṣṭigocarāḥ | prayānti yamadūtāste mudrikāyāḥ pradānataḥ

Even the weapon-bearing servants of Yama, rushing about, do not appear before him on the road — by the gift of a ring, Yama's servants withdraw far away.

Verse 24 (garuda.2.18.24)

भाजनासनदानेन आमान्नभोजनेन च । आज्ययज्ञोपवीताभ्यां पदं सम्पूर्णतां व्रजेत्

bhājanāsanadānena āmānnabhojanena ca | ājyayajñopavītābhyāṁ padaṁ sampūrṇatāṁ vrajet

By the gift of a vessel and a seat, by an offering of uncooked food, by ghee and the sacred thread — by all these the foot-gift attains completeness.

Verse 25 (garuda.2.18.25)

एवं मार्गे गच्छमानस्तृषार्तः श्रमपीडितः । महिषीरथ (दुग्ध) दानाच्च सुखी भवति निश्चितम्

evaṁ mārge gacchamānastṛṣārtaḥ śramapīḍitaḥ | mahiṣīratha (dugdha) dānācca sukhī bhavati niścitam

Thus, traveling along the road, tormented by thirst and exhausted with weariness, by the gift of a she-buffalo or of milk, he certainly becomes content.

Verse 26 (garuda.2.18.26)

गरुड उवाच । मृतोद्देशेन यत्किञ्चिद्दीयते स्वगृहे विभो । स गच्छति महामार्गे तद्दत्तं केन गृह्यते

garuḍa uvāca | mṛtoddeśena yatkiñciddīyate svagṛhe vibho | sa gacchati mahāmārge taddattaṁ kena gṛhyate

Garuda said: O mighty one, whatever is given in one's own house, dedicated to the deceased, who receives it, as he travels the great path?

Verse 27 (garuda.2.18.27)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । गृह्णाति वरुणो दानं मम हस्ते प्रयच्छति । अहं च भास्करे देवे भास्करात्सोऽश्नुते सुखम्

śrībhagavānuvāca | gṛhṇāti varuṇo dānaṁ mama haste prayacchati | ahaṁ ca bhāskare deve bhāskarātso'śnute sukham

The Blessed Lord said: Varuna receives that gift, and offers it into my hand. I in turn offer it to the god Surya, and he [the departed] enjoys happiness from Surya himself.

Verse 28 (garuda.2.18.28)

विकर्मणः प्रभावेण वंशच्छेदे क्षिताविह । सर्वे ते नरकं यान्ति यावत्पापस्य संक्षयः

vikarmaṇaḥ prabhāveṇa vaṁśacchede kṣitāviha | sarve te narakaṁ yānti yāvatpāpasya saṁkṣayaḥ

Through the power of forbidden deeds, when the lineage upon this earth is cut off, all such go to hell alone, until their sin is entirely exhausted.

Verse 29 (garuda.2.18.29)

कस्मिंश्चित्समये पूर्णे महिषासनसंस्थितः । नरकान्वीक्ष्य धर्मात्मा नानाक्रन्दसमाकुलान्

kasmiṁścitsamaye pūrṇe mahiṣāsanasaṁsthitaḥ | narakānvīkṣya dharmātmā nānākrandasamākulān

At some point, when the year was complete, the righteous-souled one [Yama], seated upon his buffalo mount, beheld the hells, thronged with manifold cries,

Verse 30 (garuda.2.18.30)

चतुरशीतिलक्षाणां नरकाणां स ईश्वरः । तेषां मध्ये श्रेष्ठतमा घोरा या एकविंशतिः

caturaśītilakṣāṇāṁ narakāṇāṁ sa īśvaraḥ | teṣāṁ madhye śreṣṭhatamā ghorā yā ekaviṁśatiḥ

of which he is the lord — eighty-four hundred thousand hells in all. Among them, the twenty-one most terrible and foremost are these —

Verse 31 (garuda.2.18.31)

तामिस्त्रं लोहशङ्कुश्च महारौरवशाल्मली । रौरवं कुड्वलं कालसूत्रकं पूतिमृतिका

tāmistraṁ lohaśaṁkuśca mahārauravaśālmalī | rauravaṁ kuḍvalaṁ kālasūtrakaṁ pūtimṛtikā

Tamisra, Lohashanku, Maharaurava, Shalmali, Raurava, Kudmala, Kalasutraka, Putimrittika,

Verse 32 (garuda.2.18.32)

सङ्घातं लोहतोदं च सविषं सम्प्रतापनम् । महानरककालोलः सजीवनमहापथः

saṁghātaṁ lohatodaṁ ca saviṣaṁ sampratāpanam | mahānarakakālolaḥ sajīvanamahāpathaḥ

Sanghata, Lohatoda, poisoned Sampratapana, Mahanaraka-Kalola, Sajivana-Mahapatha,

Verse 33 (garuda.2.18.33)

अवीचिरन्धता मिस्त्रः कुम्भोपाकस्तथैव च । असिपत्रवनं चैव पतनश्चैकविंशतिः

avīcirandhatā mistraḥ kumbhopākastathaiva ca | asipatravanaṁ caiva patanaścaikaviṁśatiḥ

Avichi, Andhatamisra, Kumbhipaka, and likewise Asipatravana and Patana — these are the twenty-one.

Verse 34 (garuda.2.18.34)

येषां तु नरके घोरे बह्वब्दानि गतानि वै । सन्तातर्नैव विद्यते दूतत्वं ते तु (प्रेत्य) यान्ति हि

yeṣāṁ tu narake ghore bahvabdāni gatāni vai | santātarnaiva vidyate dūtatvaṁ te tu (pretya) yānti hi

Those for whom many years have passed in that terrible hell, and who have no offspring, attain, upon their release, the office of messenger.

Verse 35 (garuda.2.18.35)

यमेन प्रेषितास्ते वै मानुषस्य मृतस्य तु । दिनेदिने प्रगृह्णन्ति दत्तमन्नाद्यपानकम्

yamena preṣitāste vai mānuṣasya mṛtasya tu | dinedine pragṛhṇanti dattamannādyapānakam

Sent by Yama, they, day after day, receive the food, water, and drink given for the dead man.

Verse 36 (garuda.2.18.36)

प्रेतस्यैव विलुण्ठन्ति मध्ये मार्गे बुभुक्षिताः । मासान्ते भोजनं पिण्डमेके यच्छन्ति तत्र वै

pretasyaiva viluṇṭhanti madhye mārge bubhukṣitāḥ | māsānte bhojanaṁ piṇḍameke yacchanti tatra vai

Tormented by hunger, in the very midst of the road, they plunder the departed's own food. At the end of the month, whatever food-offering some there give,

Verse 37 (garuda.2.18.37)

तृप्तिं प्रयान्ति ते सर्वे प्रत्यहं चैव वत्सरम् । एवमादिकृतैः पुण्यैः क्रमात्सौरिपुरं व्रजेत्

tṛptiṁ prayānti te sarve pratyahaṁ caiva vatsaram | evamādikṛtaiḥ puṇyaiḥ kramātsauripuraṁ vrajet

by that all of them attain satisfaction, day by day, and throughout the year as well. By such merits, in due order, he proceeds toward Sauripura.

Verse 38 (garuda.2.18.38)

ततः संवत्सरस्यान्ते प्रत्यासन्ने यमालये । बहुभीतकरे प्रेतो हस्तमात्रं समुत्सृजेत्

tataḥ saṁvatsarasyānte pratyāsanne yamālaye | bahubhītakare preto hastamātraṁ samutsṛjet

Then, at the end of the year, on approaching the world of Yama, in that most terrifying place, the departed abandons his cubit-long body,

Verse 39 (garuda.2.18.39)

दिवसैर्दशभिर्जातं तं देहं दशपिण्डजम् । जामदग्न्यस्येव रामं दृष्ट्वा तेजः प्रसर्पति

divasairdaśabhirjātaṁ taṁ dehaṁ daśapiṇḍajam | jāmadagnyasyeva rāmaṁ dṛṣṭvā tejaḥ prasarpati

and that new body, formed over ten days from the ten pindas, attaining a splendor like that of Rama Jamadagnya, moves forward.

Verse 40 (garuda.2.18.40)

कर्मजं देहमाश्रित्य पूर्वदेहं समुत्सजेत् । अङ्गुष्ठमात्रो वायुश्च शमीपत्रंसमारुहेत्

karmajaṁ dehamāśritya pūrvadehaṁ samutsajet | aṁguṣṭhamātro vāyuśca śamīpatraṁsamāruhet

Taking refuge in the body born of his own deeds, he abandons his former body. That being of wind, the size of a thumb, could climb even upon a shami leaf,

Verse 41 (garuda.2.18.41)

व्रजंस्तिष्ठन्पदैकेन यथैवैकेन गच्छति । यथा तृणजलौकेव देही कर्मानुगोऽवशः

vrajaṁstiṣṭhanpadaikena yathaivaikena gacchati | yathā tṛṇajalaukeva dehī karmānugo'vaśaḥ

moving, or standing still, as though walking on a single foot — like the leech upon a blade of grass, so too the embodied soul, following its own deeds, helplessly.

Verse 42 (garuda.2.18.42)

वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि । तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णान्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही

vāsāṁsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya navāni gṛhṇāti naro'parāṇi | tathā śarīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇānyanyāni saṁyāti navāni dehī

Just as a man discards worn-out garments and puts on other, new ones, so too the embodied soul discards its worn-out bodies and passes into other, new ones.