The Rite of Sapindikarana

Verse 1 (garuda.2.26.1)

गरुड उवाच । सत्यं ब्रूहि सुरश्रेष्ठ कृपां कृत्वा मयि प्रभो । मृतानां चैव जन्तूनां कदा कुर्यात्सपिण्डनम्

garuḍa uvāca satyaṁ brūhi suraśreṣṭha kṛpāṁ kṛtvā mayi prabho mṛtānāṁ caiva jantūnāṁ kadā kuryātsapiṇḍanam

Garuda said: "Tell me truly, O best of gods, showing grace to me, O Lord — when should the rite of sapindikarana (joining the dead with the ancestors) be performed for deceased beings?"

Verse 2 (garuda.2.26.2)

सपिण्डत्वे कुतो यान्ति असपिण्डे कुतो गतिः । केनैव सहपिण्डत्वं स्त्रीपुसोर्वक्तुमर्हसि

sapiṇḍatve kuto yānti asapiṇḍe kuto gatiḥ kenaiva sahapiṇḍatvaṁ strīpusorvaktumarhasi

"Where do they go once made sapinda, and what becomes of them if they remain without it? With whom is the joint pinda-offering made for a woman and for a man — please explain this to me."

Verse 3 (garuda.2.26.3)

स्त्रीपुमांशौ सहैकत्वं पाप्नुतः कथमुत्तमम् । जीवेद्भर्तरि नारीणां सपिण्डीकरणं कुतः

strīpumāṁśau sahaikatvaṁ pāpnutaḥ kathamuttamam jīvedbhartari nārīṇāṁ sapiṇḍīkaraṇaṁ kutaḥ

"How do the portions of woman and man attain that supreme union together? And why is there no sapindikarana for a woman so long as her husband lives?"

Verse 4 (garuda.2.26.4)

भर्तृलोकं कथं यान्ति स्वर्गलोकं सुरेश्वर । अग्न्यारोहे कथं श्राद्धं वृषोत्सर्गः कथं भवेत्

bhartṛlokaṁ kathaṁ yānti svargalokaṁ sureśvara agnyārohe kathaṁ śrāddhaṁ vṛṣotsargaḥ kathaṁ bhavet

"How do they reach their husband's world or the world of heaven, O lord of gods? How is the shraddha performed for one who entered the fire, and how is the vrishotsarga, the releasing of the bull, performed?"

Verse 5 (garuda.2.26.5)

घटदानं कथं कार्यं सपिण्डीकरणे कृते । कथयस्व प्रसादेन हीताय जगतां प्रभो

ghaṭadānaṁ kathaṁ kāryaṁ sapiṇḍīkaraṇe kṛte kathayasva prasādena hītāya jagatāṁ prabho

"Once sapindikarana has been performed, how should the giving of the water-pot be done? Explain this, O Lord, out of grace, for the good of the world."

Verse 6 (garuda.2.26.6)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । यथावत्कथयिष्यामि सपिण्डीकरणं खग । वर्षं यावत्खगश्रेष्ठ यदाचरति मानवः

śrībhagavānuvāca yathāvatkathayiṣyāmi sapiṇḍīkaraṇaṁ khaga varṣaṁ yāvatkhagaśreṣṭha yadācarati mānavaḥ

The Blessed Lord said: "I shall describe sapindikarana to you properly, O bird, and what a man should observe, O best of birds, for the space of a year."

Verse 7 (garuda.2.26.7)

सपिण्डने ततो वृत्ते पितृलोकं स गच्छति । तस्मात्पुत्त्रेण कर्तव्यं सपिण्डीकरणं पितुः

sapiṇḍane tato vṛtte pitṛlokaṁ sa gacchati tasmātputtreṇa kartavyaṁ sapiṇḍīkaraṇaṁ pituḥ

"Once sapindikarana has taken place, he goes to the world of the ancestors. Therefore the son must perform sapindikarana for his father."

Verse 8 (garuda.2.26.8)

संवत्सरे तु सम्पूर्णे कुर्यात्पिण्ड प्रवेशनम् । पिण्डप्रवेशविधिना तस्य नित्यं मृताह्निकम्

saṁvatsare tu sampūrṇe kuryātpiṇḍa praveśanam piṇḍapraveśavidhinā tasya nityaṁ mṛtāhnikam

"When the full year has passed, the entry of the pinda should be performed; by the rite of that pinda-entry his daily post-death observance is completed."

Verse 9 (garuda.2.26.9)

निश्चितं पक्षिशार्दूल वर्षान्ते पिण्डमेलनम् । सहपिण्डे कृते प्रेतस्ततो याति परां गतिम् । तन्नाम सम्परित्यज्य ततः पितृगणो भवेत्

niścitaṁ pakṣiśārdūla varṣānte piṇḍamelanam sahapiṇḍe kṛte pretastato yāti parāṁ gatim tannāma samparityajya tataḥ pitṛgaṇo bhavet

"It is certain, O tiger among birds, that the joining of the pindas takes place at the year's end. Once the joint pinda-offering is made the preta attains the supreme state; abandoning that name of 'preta', he then joins the company of the ancestors."

Verse 10 (garuda.2.26.10)

त्रिपक्षे वापि षण्मासे मेलयेत्प्रपितामहैः । ज्ञात्वा वृद्धिविवाहादि स्वगोत्रविहितानि च

tripakṣe vāpi ṣaṇmāse melayetprapitāmahaiḥ jñātvā vṛddhivivāhādi svagotravihitāni ca

"Or it may be done in three fortnights, or in six months, joining him with the great-grandfathers, after ascertaining rites such as vriddhi-shraddha and marriage prescribed within one's own gotra."

Verse 11 (garuda.2.26.11)

विवाहं नैव कुर्वीत मृते च गृहमेधिनि । भिक्षुर्भिक्षां न गृह्णाति यावत्कुर्यात्सपिण्डनम्

vivāhaṁ naiva kurvīta mṛte ca gṛhamedhini bhikṣurbhikṣāṁ na gṛhṇāti yāvatkuryātsapiṇḍanam

"One should never perform a marriage when a householder has died; and a mendicant does not accept alms from that house until sapindikarana has been performed."

Verse 12 (garuda.2.26.12)

स्वगोत्रेऽप्यशुचिस्तावद्यावत्पिण्डं न मेलयेत् । मेलनात्प्रेतशब्दस्तु निवर्तेत खगेश्वर

svagotre'pyaśucistāvadyāvatpiṇḍaṁ na melayet melanātpretaśabdastu nivarteta khageśvara

"So long as the pinda has not been joined, impurity remains even within one's own gotra. Only from that joining, O lord of birds, does the word 'preta' cease to apply."

Verse 13 (garuda.2.26.13)

आनन्त्यात्कुलधर्माणां पुंसाञ्चैवायुषः क्षयात् । अस्थिरत्वाच्छरीरस्य द्वादशाहः प्रशस्यते

ānantyātkuladharmāṇāṁ puṁsāñcaivāyuṣaḥ kṣayāt asthiratvāccharīrasya dvādaśāhaḥ praśasyate

"Because family duties are endless, because men's lifespans are ever diminishing, and because the body itself is impermanent, the twelfth day is recommended."

Verse 14 (garuda.2.26.14)

निरग्निकः साग्निको वा द्वादशाहे सपिण्डयेत्

niragnikaḥ sāgniko vā dvādaśāhe sapiṇḍayet

"Whether one maintains the sacred fire or not, sapindikarana should be performed on the twelfth day."

Verse 15 (garuda.2.26.15)

द्वादशाहे त्रिपक्षे वा षण्मासे वत्सरेऽपि वा । सपिण्डीकरणं प्रोक्तमृषिभिस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः

dvādaśāhe tripakṣe vā ṣaṇmāse vatsare'pi vā sapiṇḍīkaraṇaṁ proktamṛṣibhistattvadarśibhiḥ

"On the twelfth day, or in three fortnights, or in six months, or even after a full year — sapindikarana has been prescribed by the sages who see the truth."

Verse 16 (garuda.2.26.16)

सपुत्त्रस्य न कर्तव्यमेकोद्दिष्टं कदाचन । सपिण्डीकरणादूर्ध्वं यत्रयत्र प्रदीयते

saputtrasya na kartavyamekoddiṣṭaṁ kadācana sapiṇḍīkaraṇādūrdhvaṁ yatrayatra pradīyate

"For one who has a son, the ekoddishta rite — offering to the single deceased alone — should never be performed; whatever is offered after sapindikarana,"

Verse 17 (garuda.2.26.17)

तत्रतत्र त्रयं कार्यमन्यथा पितृघातकः । त्रिभिः कुर्यादशक्तश्च पार्वणं मुनिनोदितम्

tatratatra trayaṁ kāryamanyathā pitṛghātakaḥ tribhiḥ kuryādaśaktaśca pārvaṇaṁ muninoditam

"should everywhere be offered to the three ancestors together; otherwise one becomes a slayer of the ancestors. If unable to do this, one should perform the parvana-shraddha for the three, as taught by the sages."

Verse 18 (garuda.2.26.18)

तद्दिने तद्दिने कुर्यात्पितामहमुखान्यतः । अज्ञानाद्दिनमासानां तस्मात्पार्वणमिष्यते

taddine taddine kuryātpitāmahamukhānyataḥ ajñānāddinamāsānāṁ tasmātpārvaṇamiṣyate

"On each such day it should be performed beginning with the grandfather; because the exact days and months cannot be known, the parvana-shraddha is therefore preferred."

Verse 19 (garuda.2.26.19)

अनुत्पन्नशरीरस्य न दानं पितृभिः सह । एतैः षोडशभिः श्राद्धैः प्रेतो मुक्तस्तु जायते

anutpannaśarīrasya na dānaṁ pitṛbhiḥ saha etaiḥ ṣoḍaśabhiḥ śrāddhaiḥ preto muktastu jāyate

"For one whose new body has not yet arisen, there is no offering joined with the ancestors. By these sixteen shraddhas the preta becomes freed of pretahood."

Verse 20 (garuda.2.26.20)

अपुत्त्रस्य सपिण्डत्वं नैव कुर्यात्स्त्रियोऽपि वा । यावज्जीव च सद्भत्र्या न कुर्यात्सहपिण्डताम्

aputtrasya sapiṇḍatvaṁ naiva kuryātstriyo'pi vā yāvajjīva ca sadbhatryā na kuryātsahapiṇḍatām

"Sapindikarana should never be performed for a sonless man, nor for a woman either, so long as she still lives with a good husband — joint pinda-offering should not be made for her then."

Verse 21 (garuda.2.26.21)

ब्राह्मादिषु विवाहेषु या वधूरिह संस्कृता । भर्तृगोत्रेण कर्तव्यास्तस्याः पिण्डोदकक्रियाः

brāhmādiṣu vivāheṣu yā vadhūriha saṁskṛtā bhartṛgotreṇa kartavyāstasyāḥ piṇḍodakakriyāḥ

"For the bride consecrated here in a marriage of the Brahma type and the like, the pinda-and-water rites should be performed under her husband's gotra."

Verse 22 (garuda.2.26.22)

आसुरादिविवा हेषु या व्यूढा कन्यका भवेत् । तस्यास्तु पितृगोत्रेण कुर्यात्पिण्डोदकक्रियाः

āsurādivivā heṣu yā vyūḍhā kanyakā bhavet tasyāstu pitṛgotreṇa kuryātpiṇḍodakakriyāḥ

"But for the girl married in the Asura type of marriage and the like, the pinda-and-water rites should be performed under her own father's gotra."

Verse 23 (garuda.2.26.23)

पितुः पुत्त्रेण कर्तव्यं सपिण्डीकरणं सदा । पुत्त्राभावे तु पत्नी स्यात्पत्न्यभावे सहोदरः

pituḥ puttreṇa kartavyaṁ sapiṇḍīkaraṇaṁ sadā puttrābhāve tu patnī syātpatnyabhāve sahodaraḥ

"Sapindikarana for the father should always be performed by the son. In the son's absence, the wife should do it; in the wife's absence, his own brother."

Verse 24 (garuda.2.26.24)

भ्राता वा भ्रातृपुत्त्रो वा सपिण्डः शिष्य एव वा । सपिण्डनक्रियां कृत्वा कुर्यान्नान्दीमुखं ततः

bhrātā vā bhrātṛputtro vā sapiṇḍaḥ śiṣya eva vā sapiṇḍanakriyāṁ kṛtvā kuryānnāndīmukhaṁ tataḥ

"A brother, a brother's son, a sapinda kinsman, or even a disciple may perform it. Having carried out the sapindana rite, one should then perform the nandimukha shraddha."

Verse 25 (garuda.2.26.25)

ज्येष्ठस्यैव कनिष्ठेन भ्रातृपुत्त्रेण भार्यया । सपिण्डीकरणं कार्यं पुत्रहीने नरे खग

jyeṣṭhasyaiva kaniṣṭhena bhrātṛputtreṇa bhāryayā sapiṇḍīkaraṇaṁ kāryaṁ putrahīne nare khaga

"O bird, for a sonless elder brother, sapindikarana should be performed by the younger brother, or by the brother's son, or by the wife."

Verse 26 (garuda.2.26.26)

भ्रातॄणामेकजातानामेकश्चेत्पुत्रवान् भवेत् । सर्वेते तेन पुत्रेण पुत्रिणो मनुरब्रवीत्

bhrātṝṇāmekajātānāmekaścetputravān bhavet sarvete tena putreṇa putriṇo manurabravīt

"Among brothers born of the same parents, if even one has a son, all of them are counted as having a son through that single son — so Manu has declared."

Verse 27 (garuda.2.26.27)

सर्वेषां पुत्रहीनानां पत्नी कुर्यात्सपिण्डनम् । ऋत्विजा कारयेद्वापि पुरोहितमथापि वा

sarveṣāṁ putrahīnānāṁ patnī kuryātsapiṇḍanam ṛtvijā kārayedvāpi purohitamathāpi vā

"For all who are sonless, the wife should perform the sapindana, or have it performed through an officiating priest or the family purohita."

Verse 28 (garuda.2.26.28)

कृतचूडोपनीतश्च पितुः श्राद्धं समाचरेत् । उच्चारयेत्स्वधाकारं न तु वेदाक्षराण्यसौ

kṛtacūḍopanītaśca pituḥ śrāddhaṁ samācaret uccārayetsvadhākāraṁ na tu vedākṣarāṇyasau

"A boy whose tonsure and sacred-thread investiture have been performed may carry out his father's shraddha; he should utter the exclamation 'svadha', but not the syllables of the Veda."

Verse 29 (garuda.2.26.29)

भर्त्रादिभिस्त्रिभिः कार्यं सपिण्डीकरणं स्त्रियाः । पितृव्यभ्रातृपुत्रेण सोदरेण कनीयसा

bhartrādibhistribhiḥ kāryaṁ sapiṇḍīkaraṇaṁ striyāḥ pitṛvyabhrātṛputreṇa sodareṇa kanīyasā

"The sapindikarana of a woman should be performed in order by three: her husband and others, then by her uncle's grandson, or by her own younger brother."

Verse 30 (garuda.2.26.30)

अर्वाक्संवत्सरात्सन्धौ पूर्णे संवत्सरेऽपि वा । ये सपिण्डीकृताः प्रेतास्तेषां न स्यात्पृथक्क्रिया

arvāksaṁvatsarātsandhau pūrṇe saṁvatsare'pi vā ye sapiṇḍīkṛtāḥ pretāsteṣāṁ na syātpṛthakkriyā

"Whether before the year at the junction-point, or even after a full year, those pretas who have already been made sapinda receive no separate rite thereafter."

Verse 31 (garuda.2.26.31)

सपिण्डने कृते वत्स पृथक्त्वं तु विगर्हितम् । यस्तु कुर्यात्पृथक्पिण्डं पितृहा सोऽभिजायते

sapiṇḍane kṛte vatsa pṛthaktvaṁ tu vigarhitam yastu kuryātpṛthakpiṇḍaṁ pitṛhā so'bhijāyate

"O child, once sapindana has been performed, separateness is condemned. Whoever offers a separate pinda after that becomes a slayer of the ancestors."

Verse 32 (garuda.2.26.32)

सपिण्डीकरणे वृत्ते पृथक्त्वं नोपपद्यते । पृथक्पिण्डे कृते पश्चात्पुनः कुर्यात्सपिण्डनम्

sapiṇḍīkaraṇe vṛtte pṛthaktvaṁ nopapadyate pṛthakpiṇḍe kṛte paścātpunaḥ kuryātsapiṇḍanam

"Once sapindikarana has taken place, separateness is no longer valid. If a separate pinda is offered afterward, the sapindana must be performed again."

Verse 33 (garuda.2.26.33)

सपिण्डीकरणं कृत्वा एकोद्दिष्टं करोति यः । आत्मानं च तथा प्रेतं स नयेद्दमशासनम्

sapiṇḍīkaraṇaṁ kṛtvā ekoddiṣṭaṁ karoti yaḥ ātmānaṁ ca tathā pretaṁ sa nayeddamaśāsanam

"Whoever, having performed sapindikarana, afterward performs the ekoddishta rite, leads both himself and the preta into Yama's realm of punishment."

Verse 34 (garuda.2.26.34)

वर्षं यावक्त्रिया कार्या नामगोत्रेण धीमता । घटादि भोजनं नित्यं पददानानि यानि च । सपिण्डीकरणे वृत्ते एकस्यैव तु दापयेत्

varṣaṁ yāvaktriyā kāryā nāmagotreṇa dhīmatā ghaṭādi bhojanaṁ nityaṁ padadānāni yāni ca sapiṇḍīkaraṇe vṛtte ekasyaiva tu dāpayet

"For a full year the wise man should perform the rite in the deceased's own name and gotra — the daily gift of the water-pot and food, and whatever gifts of footwear and the like. But once sapindikarana has taken place, these should be given to the single, joined ancestor alone."

Verse 35 (garuda.2.26.35)

अन्नं पानीयसहितं संख्यां कृत्वाब्दिकस्य च । दातव्यं ब्राह्मणे पक्षिञ्जलपूर्णघटादिकम्

annaṁ pānīyasahitaṁ saṁkhyāṁ kṛtvābdikasya ca dātavyaṁ brāhmaṇe pakṣiñjalapūrṇaghaṭādikam

"Food together with water, reckoned for the full year's count, should be given to a brahmin, O bird — together with a water-filled pot and the like."

Verse 36 (garuda.2.26.36)

पिण्डान्ते तस्य सकला वर्षवृत्तिः स्वशक्तितः । दिव्यदेहो विमानस्थः सुखं याति यमालयम्

piṇḍānte tasya sakalā varṣavṛttiḥ svaśaktitaḥ divyadeho vimānasthaḥ sukhaṁ yāti yamālayam

"At the end of the pinda-offerings, having performed all the year's rites according to his ability, he attains a divine body and, seated in a heavenly chariot, proceeds happily to Yama's abode."

Verse 37 (garuda.2.26.37)

जीवमाने च पितरि न हि पुत्त्रे सपिण्डता । स्त्रीणां सपिण्डनं नास्ति तथा भर्तरि जीवति

jīvamāne ca pitari na hi puttre sapiṇḍatā strīṇāṁ sapiṇḍanaṁ nāsti tathā bhartari jīvati

"While the father is living there is no sapinda-status for the son; likewise there is no sapindana for a woman while her husband is living."

Verse 38 (garuda.2.26.38)

हुताशं या समारूढा चतुर्थेऽह्नि पतिव्रता । तस्या भर्तृदिने कार्यं वृषोत्सर्गादिकं च यत्

hutāśaṁ yā samārūḍhā caturthe'hni pativratā tasyā bhartṛdine kāryaṁ vṛṣotsargādikaṁ ca yat

"For the devoted wife who ascends the fire with her husband, on the fourth day whatever rites such as vrishotsarga are due should be performed for her on her husband's own day."

Verse 39 (garuda.2.26.39)

पुत्त्रिका पतिगोत्रा स्यादधस्तात्पुत्रजन्मनः । पुत्रोत्पत्तेः परस्तात्सा पितृगोत्रं व्रजेत्पुनः

puttrikā patigotrā syādadhastātputrajanmanaḥ putrotpatteḥ parastātsā pitṛgotraṁ vrajetpunaḥ

"Before a son is born, the putrika — the daughter appointed to bear a son for her own father's line — belongs to her husband's gotra; but after the birth of that son, she reverts again to her father's gotra."

Verse 40 (garuda.2.26.40)

पतिपत्न्योः सदैकत्वं हुताशं याधिरोहति । पुत्रेणैव पृथक्श्राद्धं क्षयाख्ये तस्य वासरे

patipatnyoḥ sadaikatvaṁ hutāśaṁ yādhirohati putreṇaiva pṛthakśrāddhaṁ kṣayākhye tasya vāsare

"Husband and wife are ever regarded as one, even when she has ascended the funeral fire; the son alone should perform the separate shraddha on the day designated as her 'kshaya' day."

Verse 41 (garuda.2.26.41)

अपुत्त्रौ चेन्मृतौ स्यातामेकचित्यां समेऽहनि । पृथक्श्राद्धानि कुर्वीत सापिड्यं पतिना सह

aputtrau cenmṛtau syātāmekacityāṁ same'hani pṛthakśrāddhāni kurvīta sāpiḍyaṁ patinā saha

"If a childless couple die together on the same pyre on the same day, separate shraddhas should still be performed, while her sapinda-connection with her husband remains."

Verse 42 (garuda.2.26.42)

पृथक्पृथक्च पिण्डेन दम्पती पतिना सह । न लिप्यते महादोषैरेतत्सत्यं वचो मम

pṛthakpṛthakca piṇḍena dampatī patinā saha na lipyate mahādoṣairetatsatyaṁ vaco mama

"For the couple, with separate pindas yet together with the husband, this is done; by this one is not tainted by great faults — this is my true word."

Verse 43 (garuda.2.26.43)

एकचित्यां समारूढौ दम्पती निधनं गतौ । एकपाकं प्रकुर्वीत पिण्डान्दद्यात्पृथक्पृथक्

ekacityāṁ samārūḍhau dampatī nidhanaṁ gatau ekapākaṁ prakurvīta piṇḍāndadyātpṛthakpṛthak

"If the couple, having ascended the same pyre together, meet death together, a single cooked offering should be prepared, but the pindas should be given separately."

Verse 44 (garuda.2.26.44)

एकादशे वृषोत्सर्गं प्रेतश्राद्धानि षोडश । घटादिपददानानि महादानानि यानि च । वर्षं यावत्पृथक्कुर्यात्प्रेतस्तृप्तिं व्रजेच्चिरम्

ekādaśe vṛṣotsargaṁ pretaśrāddhāni ṣoḍaśa ghaṭādipadadānāni mahādānāni yāni ca varṣaṁ yāvatpṛthakkuryātpretastṛptiṁ vrajecciram

"On the eleventh day the vrishotsarga; the sixteen preta-shraddhas; the gifts of water-pots, footwear and the like, and the great gifts — these should be performed separately through the year, so that the preta attains lasting satiety."

Verse 45 (garuda.2.26.45)

एकगोत्रे मृतानां तु स्त्रिया वा पुरुषस्य वा । स्थण्डिलं चैकतः कुर्याद्धोमं कुर्यात्पृथक्पृथक्

ekagotre mṛtānāṁ tu striyā vā puruṣasya vā sthaṇḍilaṁ caikataḥ kuryāddhomaṁ kuryātpṛthakpṛthak

"For those who die within the same gotra, whether woman or man, a single sacred ground should be made, but the fire-oblation should be performed separately for each."

Verse 46 (garuda.2.26.46)

एकादशेऽह्नि यच्छ्राद्धं पृथक्पिण्डाश्च भोजनम् । पाकैरेन पतिस्त्रीणामन्येषां च विगर्हितम्

ekādaśe'hni yacchrāddhaṁ pṛthakpiṇḍāśca bhojanam pākairena patistrīṇāmanyeṣāṁ ca vigarhitam

"In the shraddha performed on the eleventh day, the pindas and the food should be separate; cooking a single preparation for husband and wife together, or for others, is condemned."

Verse 47 (garuda.2.26.47)

एकेनैव तु पाकेन श्राद्धानि कुरुते सुतः । एकं तु विकिरं कुर्यात्पिण्डान्दद्यद्बहूनपि । तीर्थे चापरपक्षे वा चन्द्रसूर्यग्रहेऽपि वा

ekenaiva tu pākena śrāddhāni kurute sutaḥ ekaṁ tu vikiraṁ kuryātpiṇḍāndadyadbahūnapi tīrthe cāparapakṣe vā candrasūryagrahe'pi vā

"But the son may perform the shraddhas with a single cooked preparation; he should scatter a single portion but may give many pindas — at a holy ford, in the dark fortnight, or even during a solar or lunar eclipse."

Verse 48 (garuda.2.26.48)

नारी भर्तारमासाद्य कुणपं दहते यदा । अग्निर्दहति गात्राणि आत्मानं नैव पीडयेत्

nārī bhartāramāsādya kuṇapaṁ dahate yadā agnirdahati gātrāṇi ātmānaṁ naiva pīḍayet

"When a woman burns together with the corpse of her husband, the fire burns only her limbs; it never afflicts her true self."

Verse 49 (garuda.2.26.49)

दह्यते ध्मायमानानां धातूनां हि यथा मलम् । तथा नारी दहेद्देहं हुताशे ह्यमृतोपमे

dahyate dhmāyamānānāṁ dhātūnāṁ hi yathā malam tathā nārī daheddehaṁ hutāśe hyamṛtopame

"Just as when metals are smelted only their dross is burned away, so too the woman burns only her body in that fire, which is to her like nectar."

Verse 50 (garuda.2.26.50)

दिव्यादौ दिव्यदेहस्तु शुद्धो भवति पूरुषः । तप्ततैलेन लोहेन वह्निना नैव दह्यते

divyādau divyadehastu śuddho bhavati pūruṣaḥ taptatailena lohena vahninā naiva dahyate

"That person attains a divine, purified body at once; he is not burned even by heated oil, by iron, or by fire."

Verse 51 (garuda.2.26.51)

तथा सा पतिसंयुक्ता दह्यते न कदाचन । अन्तरात्मा मृते तस्मिन्मृतोऽप्येकत्वमागतः

tathā sā patisaṁyuktā dahyate na kadācana antarātmā mṛte tasminmṛto'pyekatvamāgataḥ

"So too that woman, united with her husband, is never truly burned; the moment he dies, her inner self attains oneness with him even in death."

Verse 52 (garuda.2.26.52)

भर्तृसंगं परित्यज्य अन्यत्र म्रियते यदि । भर्तृलोकं न सा याति यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्

bhartṛsaṁgaṁ parityajya anyatra mriyate yadi bhartṛlokaṁ na sā yāti yāvadābhūtasaṁplavam

"But if she abandons her husband's company and dies elsewhere, she does not reach her husband's world until the dissolution of the universe."

Verse 53 (garuda.2.26.53)

लक्ष्मीयुतान्परित्यज्य मातरं पितरं तथा । मृतं पतिमनुव्रज्य सा चिरं सुखमेधते

lakṣmīyutānparityajya mātaraṁ pitaraṁ tathā mṛtaṁ patimanuvrajya sā ciraṁ sukhamedhate

"Abandoning prosperous kin, mother and father, and following her dead husband, she attains lasting happiness."

Verse 54 (garuda.2.26.54)

दिव्यवर्षप्रमाणेन तिस्रः कोट्योर्ऽद्धकोटयः । तावत्कालं वसेत्स्वर्गे नक्षत्रैः सह सर्वदा

divyavarṣapramāṇena tisraḥ koṭyor'ddhakoṭayaḥ tāvatkālaṁ vasetsvarge nakṣatraiḥ saha sarvadā

"By the reckoning of divine years, for three and a half crores of years she dwells forever in heaven together with the stars."

Verse 55 (garuda.2.26.55)

तदन्ते चरते लोके कुले भवति भोगिनाम् । सा हि लब्धमहाप्रीतिर्भर्त्रा सह पतिव्रता

tadante carate loke kule bhavati bhoginām sā hi labdhamahāprītirbhartrā saha pativratā

"At the end of that span, moving on in the world, she is born into a fortunate family; having gained great joy, that devoted wife remains with her husband."

Verse 56 (garuda.2.26.56)

एवं न कुरुते नारी धर्मोढा पतिसंगमम् । जन्मजन्मनि दुः खार्तादुः शीलाप्रियवादिनी

evaṁ na kurute nārī dharmoḍhā patisaṁgamam janmajanmani duḥ khārtāduḥ śīlāpriyavādinī

"But the woman who, though lawfully married, does not follow her husband in this way, is birth after birth afflicted with sorrow, of bad character, and harsh in speech."

Verse 57 (garuda.2.26.57)

वल्गुली गृहसोधा वा गोधा वा द्विमुखी भवेत् । स्वभर्तारं परित्यज्य परपुंसोनुवर्तिनी

valgulī gṛhasodhā vā godhā vā dvimukhī bhavet svabhartāraṁ parityajya parapuṁsonuvartinī

"A woman who abandons her own husband and follows another man becomes a bat, a house-lizard, or a two-mouthed iguana."

Verse 58 (garuda.2.26.58)

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन स्वपतिं स्त्री निषेवते । मनसा कर्मणा वाचा मृतं जीवन्तमेव वा

tasmātsarvaprayatnena svapatiṁ strī niṣevate manasā karmaṇā vācā mṛtaṁ jīvantameva vā

"Therefore a woman should, with every effort, serve her own husband in mind, deed, and speech, whether he is dead or still living."

Verse 59 (garuda.2.26.59)

जीवमाने मृते वापि किल्बिषं कुरुते तु या । स च वैधव्यमाप्नोति जन्मजन्मनि दुर्भगा

jīvamāne mṛte vāpi kilbiṣaṁ kurute tu yā sa ca vaidhavyamāpnoti janmajanmani durbhagā

"She who commits an offense against him, whether he is living or dead, attains widowhood and misfortune birth after birth."

Verse 60 (garuda.2.26.60)

यद्देवेभ्यो यत्पितृभ्यः श्रद्धयैव प्रदीयते । तत्फलं भर्तृपूजातः कुर्याद्भर्त्रर्चनं ततः

yaddevebhyo yatpitṛbhyaḥ śraddhayaiva pradīyate tatphalaṁ bhartṛpūjātaḥ kuryādbhartrarcanaṁ tataḥ

"Whatever fruit is gained from offerings made with faith to the gods and to the ancestors, the same fruit comes from worshipping one's husband; therefore one should perform reverence to the husband."

Verse 61 (garuda.2.26.61)

एवं कृते खगश्रेष्ठ पितृलोके चिरं वसेत् । यावदादित्यचन्द्रौ च तावद्देवसमा दिवि

evaṁ kṛte khagaśreṣṭha pitṛloke ciraṁ vaset yāvadādityacandrau ca tāvaddevasamā divi

"O best of birds, doing this, she dwells long in the world of the ancestors — equal to the gods in heaven for as long as the sun and moon endure."

Verse 62 (garuda.2.26.62)

पुनश्चिरायुषो भूत्त्वा जायन्ते विपुले कुले । पतिव्रता यथा नारी भर्तृदुःखं न विन्दति

punaścirāyuṣo bhūttvā jāyante vipule kule pativratā yathā nārī bhartṛduḥkhaṁ na vindati

"Then, becoming long-lived once more, they are born into a great family; a devoted wife never experiences the sorrow of separation from her husband."

Verse 63 (garuda.2.26.63)

सर्वमेतद्धि कथितं मया तव खगेश्वर । विशेषं कथयिष्यामि मृतस्यैव सुखप्रदम्

sarvametaddhi kathitaṁ mayā tava khageśvara viśeṣaṁ kathayiṣyāmi mṛtasyaiva sukhapradam

"All this indeed have I told you, O lord of birds. I shall now tell you a further matter, one that brings happiness to the deceased himself."

Verse 64 (garuda.2.26.64)

द्वादशाहे कृतं सर्वं वर्षं यावत्सपिण्डनम् । पुनः कुर्यात्सदा नित्यं घटान्नं प्रतिमासिकम्

dvādaśāhe kṛtaṁ sarvaṁ varṣaṁ yāvatsapiṇḍanam punaḥ kuryātsadā nityaṁ ghaṭānnaṁ pratimāsikam

"All that is performed on the twelfth day holds good until sapindana at the year's end; after that, the monthly gift of the water-pot and food should always be given again."

Verse 65 (garuda.2.26.65)

कृतस्य करणं नास्ति प्रेतकार्यादृते खग । यः करोति नरः कश्चित्कृत्पूर्वं विनश्यति

kṛtasya karaṇaṁ nāsti pretakāryādṛte khaga yaḥ karoti naraḥ kaścitkṛtpūrvaṁ vinaśyati

"O bird, apart from the rites for the deceased, what has already been done should not be done again; if a man repeats a rite already performed, its earlier merit is destroyed."

Verse 66 (garuda.2.26.66)

मृतस्यैव पुनः कुर्यात्प्रेतोऽक्षय्यमवाप्नुयात् । प्रतिमासं घटा देया सोदना जलपूरिताः

mṛtasyaiva punaḥ kuryātpreto'kṣayyamavāpnuyāt pratimāsaṁ ghaṭā deyā sodanā jalapūritāḥ

"But for the deceased it should indeed be done again and again, so that the preta obtains imperishable merit; every month water-filled pots together with food should be given."

Verse 67 (garuda.2.26.67)

अर्वाक्च वृद्धेः करणाच्च तार्क्ष्य सपिण्डनं यः कुरुते हि पुत्रः । तथापि मासं प्रतिपिण्डमेकमन्नं च कुम्भं सजलं च दद्यात्

arvākca vṛddheḥ karaṇācca tārkṣya sapiṇḍanaṁ yaḥ kurute hi putraḥ tathāpi māsaṁ pratipiṇḍamekamannaṁ ca kumbhaṁ sajalaṁ ca dadyāt

"And, O Tarkshya, even if a son performs the sapindana before the vriddhi-rite, still, month by month, he should give one pinda, food, and a water-filled pot."