Garuda's Questions on the After-Death Rites

Verse 1 (garuda.2.28.1)

गरुड उवाच । सर्वेपामनुकम्पार्थं ब्रूहि मे मधुसूदन । प्रेतत्वान्मुच्यते येन दानेन सुकृतेन वा

garuḍa uvāca sarvepāmanukampārthaṁ brūhi me madhusūdana pretatvānmucyate yena dānena sukṛtena vā

Garuda said: "For the sake of compassion toward all, tell me, O Madhusudana, by what gift or meritorious deed one is freed from the state of a preta."

Verse 2 (garuda.2.28.2)

शृकृष्ण उवाच । शृणु दानं प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वाशु भविनाशनम् । सन्तप्तहाटकमयं घटकं विधाय ब्रह्मेशकेशवयुतं सह लोकपालैः । क्षीराज्यपूर्णविविरं प्रणिपत्य भक्त्या विप्राय देहि तव दानशतैः किमन्यैः

śṛkṛṣṇa uvāca śṛṇu dānaṁ pravakṣyāmi sarvāśu bhavināśanam santaptahāṭakamayaṁ ghaṭakaṁ vidhāya brahmeśakeśavayutaṁ saha lokapālaiḥ kṣīrājyapūrṇaviviraṁ praṇipatya bhaktyā viprāya dehi tava dānaśataiḥ kimanyaiḥ

Shri Krishna said: "Listen, I shall tell you of the gift that destroys every misfortune. Have a pot made of heated gold, bearing Brahma, Isha, and Keshava together with the guardians of the quarters, its hollow filled with milk and ghee — bow to it with devotion and give it to a brahmin. What need have you of a hundred other gifts?"

Verse 3 (garuda.2.28.3)

गरुड उवाच । किमेत्कथितं देव विस्तरेण वदस्व मे । आमुष्मिकीं क्रीयां देव उत्क्रान्तिसमयादनु

garuḍa uvāca kimetkathitaṁ deva vistareṇa vadasva me āmuṣmikīṁ krīyāṁ deva utkrāntisamayādanu

Garuda said: "O God, what you have told me — explain it to me in full detail: the rites pertaining to the world beyond, to be performed following the moment of death."

Verse 4 (garuda.2.28.4)

संसारे साधु मे नाथ ब्रूहि कृत्यं जनार्दन । यथा कार्या नरैः सम्यक्क्रिया चैवौर्ध्वदैहिकी

saṁsāre sādhu me nātha brūhi kṛtyaṁ janārdana yathā kāryā naraiḥ samyakkriyā caivaurdhvadaihikī

"Tell me well, O Lord, O Janardana, the duty owed in this world — how men should properly perform the after-death rites."

Verse 5 (garuda.2.28.5)

कथं प्रेता महाकाया रौद्ररूपा भयानकाः । कम्भवन्ति सुरश्रेष्ठ कर्मभिः कैः शुभाशुभैः

kathaṁ pretā mahākāyā raudrarūpā bhayānakāḥ kambhavanti suraśreṣṭha karmabhiḥ kaiḥ śubhāśubhaiḥ

"O best of gods, by what good and bad deeds do beings become pretas of huge form, terrible in shape, and frightening?"

Verse 6 (garuda.2.28.6)

पिशाचाः सम्भवन्तीह कस्येदं कर्मणः फलम् । तन्मे कथय देवेश अहमिच्छामि वेदितुम्

piśācāḥ sambhavantīha kasyedaṁ karmaṇaḥ phalam tanme kathaya deveśa ahamicchāmi veditum

"How do pishachas arise here — of what deed is this the fruit? Tell me that, O lord of gods; I wish to know it."

Verse 7 (garuda.2.28.7)

भूम्यां प्रक्षिप्यते कस्मात्पञ्चरत्नं कुतो मुखे । अधस्ताच्च तिला दर्भाः पादौ याम्यां व्यवस्थिताः

bhūmyāṁ prakṣipyate kasmātpañcaratnaṁ kuto mukhe adhastācca tilā darbhāḥ pādau yāmyāṁ vyavasthitāḥ

"Why are the five jewels cast upon the ground, and why placed in the mouth? Why are sesame and darbha grass placed beneath, and the feet set toward the south?"

Verse 8 (garuda.2.28.8)

किमर्थं मण्डलं भूमौ गोमयेनोपलिप्यते । किमर्थं स्मर्यते विष्णुः विष्णुसूक्तञ्च पठ्यते

kimarthaṁ maṇḍalaṁ bhūmau gomayenopalipyate kimarthaṁ smaryate viṣṇuḥ viṣṇusūktañca paṭhyate

"Why is a circle smeared on the ground with cow-dung? Why is Vishnu remembered, and why is the Vishnu-sukta recited?"

Verse 9 (garuda.2.28.9)

किमर्थं पुत्रपुत्राश्च तस्य तिष्ठन्ति चाग्रतः । किमर्थं दीपदानञ्च किमर्थं विष्णुपूजनम्

kimarthaṁ putraputrāśca tasya tiṣṭhanti cāgrataḥ kimarthaṁ dīpadānañca kimarthaṁ viṣṇupūjanam

"Why do his sons and grandsons stand before him? Why is the lamp given, and why is Vishnu worshipped?"

Verse 10 (garuda.2.28.10)

किमर्थमातुरो दानं ददाति द्विजपुङ्गवे । बन्धून्मित्राण्यमित्रांश्च क्षमापयति तत्कथम्

kimarthamāturo dānaṁ dadāti dvijapuṅgave bandhūnmitrāṇyamitrāṁśca kṣamāpayati tatkatham

"Why does the dying man give a gift to a foremost brahmin? And why does he ask forgiveness of kinsmen, friends, and even enemies?"

Verse 11 (garuda.2.28.11)

तिला लोहं हिरण्यं च कार्पासं लवणं तथा । सप्तधान्यं क्षितिर्गावो दीयते केन हे तुना

tilā lohaṁ hiraṇyaṁ ca kārpāsaṁ lavaṇaṁ tathā saptadhānyaṁ kṣitirgāvo dīyate kena he tunā

"Sesame, iron, gold, cotton, salt, the seven grains, land, and cows — for what reason are these given?"

Verse 12 (garuda.2.28.12)

कथं च म्रियते जन्तुर्मृतस्य च कुतो गतिः । अतिवाहशरीरं च कथं विश्रमते तदा

kathaṁ ca mriyate janturmṛtasya ca kuto gatiḥ ativāhaśarīraṁ ca kathaṁ viśramate tadā

"How does a being die, and where does the dead go? And how does the ativiha, the subtle carrying-body, find rest then?"

Verse 13 (garuda.2.28.13)

शंव स्कन्धे वहेत्पुत्रो वह्निदाता च पौत्रकः । किमर्थं देव देवेश आज्येनाभ्यञ्जनं कुतः

śaṁva skandhe vahetputro vahnidātā ca pautrakaḥ kimarthaṁ deva deveśa ājyenābhyañjanaṁ kutaḥ

"Why should the son carry the body on his shoulder, and the grandson give the fire? Why, O lord of gods, is it anointed with ghee?"

Verse 14 (garuda.2.28.14)

यमसूक्तं किमर्थं च उदीचीं दिशमाहरेत् । पानीयमेकवस्त्रेण सूर्यबिम्बनिरीक्षणम्

yamasūktaṁ kimarthaṁ ca udīcīṁ diśamāharet pānīyamekavastreṇa sūryabimbanirīkṣaṇam

"Why is the Yama-sukta recited, and why does one turn toward the northern direction? Why drink water clad in a single garment, and why gaze upon the disc of the sun?"

Verse 15 (garuda.2.28.15)

यवसर्षपदूर्वाश्चपाषाणे निम्बचर्वणम् । वस्त्रं नरश्च नारी च विदध्यादधरोत्तरम्

yavasarṣapadūrvāścapāṣāṇe nimbacarvaṇam vastraṁ naraśca nārī ca vidadhyādadharottaram

"Barley, mustard seed, and durva grass upon a stone, and the chewing of neem — and by what rule should man and woman wear their upper and lower garments?"

Verse 16 (garuda.2.28.16)

अन्नाद्यं गृहमागत्य भोक्तव्यं गोत्रिभिः सह । नवकानि च पिण्डानि किमर्थं वितरेत्सुतः

annādyaṁ gṛhamāgatya bhoktavyaṁ gotribhiḥ saha navakāni ca piṇḍāni kimarthaṁ vitaretsutaḥ

"On returning home, why should food be eaten together with kinsmen of the gotra? And why should the son distribute nine pindas?"

Verse 17 (garuda.2.28.17)

किमर्थं चत्वरे दुग्धं पात्रे पक्वे च मृन्मये । काष्ठत्रयं गुणे बद्ध्वा कृत्वा रात्रौ चतुष्पथे

kimarthaṁ catvare dugdhaṁ pātre pakve ca mṛnmaye kāṣṭhatrayaṁ guṇe baddhvā kṛtvā rātrau catuṣpathe

"Why is milk set out at the crossroads in a fired clay vessel? Why are three sticks bound with a cord and placed at the crossroads at night?"

Verse 18 (garuda.2.28.18)

निशायां दीयते दीपो यावदब्दं दिनेदिने । दाहोदकं किमर्थं च संवादः स्वजनैः सह

niśāyāṁ dīyate dīpo yāvadabdaṁ dinedine dāhodakaṁ kimarthaṁ ca saṁvādaḥ svajanaiḥ saha

"Why is a lamp lit at night, day after day, for a whole year? Why the water offered at the cremation, and why the conversation among one's own kin afterward?"

Verse 19 (garuda.2.28.19)

भगवन्नतिवाहस्य नवपिण्डैस्तु किं भवेत् । कथं देवपितृभ्यश्च वाहस्यावाहनं कथम् । इदं च क्रियते देव कस्मात्पिण्डं प्रदापयेत्

bhagavannativāhasya navapiṇḍaistu kiṁ bhavet kathaṁ devapitṛbhyaśca vāhasyāvāhanaṁ katham idaṁ ca kriyate deva kasmātpiṇḍaṁ pradāpayet

"O Lord, what becomes of the ativiha through the nine pindas? How is the invocation made to the gods, the ancestors, and the carrying-vehicle? Why is all this done, O God, and why should the pinda be given?"

Verse 20 (garuda.2.28.20)

किं तत्प्रदीयते तस्य पिण्डदानादनन्तरम् । अस्थिसञ्चयनं चैव शय्यादानं किमर्थकम्

kiṁ tatpradīyate tasya piṇḍadānādanantaram asthisañcayanaṁ caiva śayyādānaṁ kimarthakam

"What is given to him after the giving of the pinda? And what is the purpose of gathering the bones, and of the gift of a bed?"

Verse 21 (garuda.2.28.21)

द्वितीयेऽह्नि कुतः स्नानं चतुर्थे साग्निके द्विजे । दशमे किं मलस्नानं कार्यं सर्वजनैः सह

dvitīye'hni kutaḥ snānaṁ caturthe sāgnike dvije daśame kiṁ malasnānaṁ kāryaṁ sarvajanaiḥ saha

"Why bathing on the second day, and on the fourth day for a brahmin who keeps the sacred fire? Why should the impurity-bath be performed on the tenth day together with all the kin?"

Verse 22 (garuda.2.28.22)

कस्मात्तैलोद्वर्तनं च स्कन्धवाहान् गृहं नयेत् । तैः समुद्वर्तनं चापि दद्युः स्थलजलाश्रये

kasmāttailodvartanaṁ ca skandhavāhān gṛhaṁ nayet taiḥ samudvartanaṁ cāpi dadyuḥ sthalajalāśraye

"Why the anointing with oil? Why should those who carried the body be led to the house? Why should they too be given the oil-rub, at a place by land or water?"

Verse 23 (garuda.2.28.23)

देशमेऽहनि यः पिण्डस्तं दद्यादामिषेण तु । पिण्डं चैकादशे कस्माद्वृषोत्सर्गः कथं भवेत्

deśame'hani yaḥ piṇḍastaṁ dadyādāmiṣeṇa tu piṇḍaṁ caikādaśe kasmādvṛṣotsargaḥ kathaṁ bhavet

"Why should the pinda given on the tenth day be given together with meat? Why the pinda on the eleventh day, and how is the vrishotsarga performed?"

Verse 24 (garuda.2.28.24)

श्राद्धानि षोडशैतानि अब्दं यावत्कुतो वद । अन्नादिचोदकेनैव षष्ट्यधिकशतत्रयम्

śrāddhāni ṣoḍaśaitāni abdaṁ yāvatkuto vada annādicodakenaiva ṣaṣṭyadhikaśatatrayam

"Tell me, why these sixteen shraddhas across the whole year? Why three hundred and sixty days, prompted merely by food and the like?"

Verse 25 (garuda.2.28.25)

दिनेदिने च दातव्यं घटान्नं प्रेततृप्तये । प्राप्ते काले च म्रियते अनित्यो मानवः प्रभो

dinedine ca dātavyaṁ ghaṭānnaṁ pretatṛptaye prāpte kāle ca mriyate anityo mānavaḥ prabho

"Why should the pot and food be given day after day for the satisfaction of the preta? O Lord, when his time arrives the impermanent human dies —"

Verse 26 (garuda.2.28.26)

छिद्रं तु नैव पश्यामि कुतो जीवः स निर्गतः । कुतो गच्छन्ति भूतानि पृथिव्यापो मनस्तथा

chidraṁ tu naiva paśyāmi kuto jīvaḥ sa nirgataḥ kuto gacchanti bhūtāni pṛthivyāpo manastathā

"and I see no opening in the body — by what path does the soul depart? Where do the elements go — earth, water, and the mind as well?"

Verse 27 (garuda.2.28.27)

तेजो वदस्व मे नाथ वायुराकाशमेव च । वायवश्चैव पञ्चैते कथं गच्छन्ति चाप्तये

tejo vadasva me nātha vāyurākāśameva ca vāyavaścaiva pañcaite kathaṁ gacchanti cāptaye

"Tell me, O Lord, of fire, air, and space — how do these five elements depart, and toward what do they attain?"

Verse 28 (garuda.2.28.28)

लोभमोहादयः पञ्च शरीरे चैव तस्कराः । तृष्णा कामोऽप्यहङ्कारः कुतो यान्ति जनार्दन

lobhamohādayaḥ pañca śarīre caiva taskarāḥ tṛṣṇā kāmo'pyahaṅkāraḥ kuto yānti janārdana

"Greed, delusion, and the other five thieves within the body, and thirst, desire, and ego as well — where do they go, O Janardana?"

Verse 29 (garuda.2.28.29)

पुण्यं वाप्यथ वापुण्यं यत्किञ्चित्सुकृतं तथा । नष्टे देहे कुतो यान्ति दानानि विविधानि च

puṇyaṁ vāpyatha vāpuṇyaṁ yatkiñcitsukṛtaṁ tathā naṣṭe dehe kuto yānti dānāni vividhāni ca

"Merit or sin, or whatever good deeds there be — when the body perishes, where do these go, and where do the various gifts that were given go?"

Verse 30 (garuda.2.28.30)

सपिण्डनं किमर्थं च पूर्णे संवत्सरेऽपि वा । प्रेतस्य मेलनं सार्धं कैः समं तत्र को विधिः

sapiṇḍanaṁ kimarthaṁ ca pūrṇe saṁvatsare'pi vā pretasya melanaṁ sārdhaṁ kaiḥ samaṁ tatra ko vidhiḥ

"Why is sapindana performed even once the full year has passed? With whom is the preta joined there, and what is the procedure?"

Verse 31 (garuda.2.28.31)

ये दग्धा ये त्वदग्धाश्च पतिता ये नराभुवि । यानि चान्यानि भूतानि तेषामन्ते भवेच्च किम्

ye dagdhā ye tvadagdhāśca patitā ye narābhuvi yāni cānyāni bhūtāni teṣāmante bhavecca kim

"Those who are cremated, those who are not, those who die falling upon the ground, and other beings besides — what becomes of them in the end?"

Verse 32 (garuda.2.28.32)

पापिनो ये दुराचारा मुद्गलत्वं च ये गताः । आत्मघाती ब्रह्महा च स्तेयी विश्वासघातकः

pāpino ye durācārā mudgalatvaṁ ca ye gatāḥ ātmaghātī brahmahā ca steyī viśvāsaghātakaḥ

"Sinners of evil conduct, those who have gone to the lowly state of a mudgala, the one who kills himself, the slayer of a brahmin, the thief, the betrayer of trust —"

Verse 33 (garuda.2.28.33)

कपिलां यः पिबेच्छूद्रो यः पठेद्वैदिकाक्षरम् । धारयेद्वा ब्रह्मसूत्रं का गतिस्तस्य माधव

kapilāṁ yaḥ pibecchūdro yaḥ paṭhedvaidikākṣaram dhārayedvā brahmasūtraṁ kā gatistasya mādhava

"the shudra who drinks the milk of a tawny cow, or who recites the syllables of the Veda, or wears the sacred thread — O Madhava, what fate is his?"

Verse 34 (garuda.2.28.34)

विप्रस्य ब्राह्मणी भार्या संगृही ता यदा भवेत् । तस्मात्पापाच्च भीतोऽहं तन्मे वद जगत्पते । सर्वमेतन्मया पृष्टो वद लोकहिताय वै

viprasya brāhmaṇī bhāryā saṁgṛhī tā yadā bhavet tasmātpāpācca bhīto'haṁ tanme vada jagatpate sarvametanmayā pṛṣṭo vada lokahitāya vai

"When a brahmin's brahmin wife is seized by another man — what then? I am fearful of that very sin; tell me this too, O lord of the world. All this have I asked you — tell me, indeed, for the good of the world."