The Destiny of Death by Fasting

Verse 1 (garuda.2.36.1)

तार्क्ष्यौवाच । कस्मादनशनं पुण्यमक्षय्यगतिदायकम् । स्वगृहन्तु परित्यज्य तीर्थे वै म्रियते यदि

tārkṣyauvāca kasmādanaśanaṁ puṇyamakṣayyagatidāyakam svagṛhantu parityajya tīrthe vai mriyate yadi

Tarkshya said: "Why is fasting-unto-death meritorious, granting an imperishable destiny? If a man abandons his own home and dies at a holy ford,"

Verse 2 (garuda.2.36.2)

अप्राप्य तीर्थं म्रियते गृहे वा मृत्यु मागतः । बूत्वा कुटीचरो यस्तु स कां गतिमवाप्नुयात्

aprāpya tīrthaṁ mriyate gṛhe vā mṛtyu māgataḥ būtvā kuṭīcaro yastu sa kāṁ gatimavāpnuyāt

"and if death comes before he reaches a holy ford, or if he dies at home, and if he has become a kutichaka — what destiny does he attain?"

Verse 3 (garuda.2.36.3)

संन्यासं कुरुते यस्तु तीर्थे वापि गृहेऽपि वा । कथं तस्य प्रकर्तव्यमप्राप्तनिधनेऽपि वा

saṁnyāsaṁ kurute yastu tīrthe vāpi gṛhe'pi vā kathaṁ tasya prakartavyamaprāptanidhane'pi vā

"For one who takes renunciation, whether at a holy ford or at home, how should this rite be carried out, even before death has actually come?"

Verse 4 (garuda.2.36.4)

नियमे चेत्कृते देव चित्तभङ्गो हि जायते । केन तस्य भवेत्सिद्धिः कृतेनाप्यकृतेन वा

niyame cetkṛte deva cittabhaṅgo hi jāyate kena tasya bhavetsiddhiḥ kṛtenāpyakṛtena vā

"O God, if his resolve falters after taking the vow, by what does his success come — by completing the vow, or even by leaving it incomplete?"

Verse 5 (garuda.2.36.5)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । कृत्वा निरशनं यो वै मृत्युमाप्नोति कोऽपि चेत् । मानुपीं तनुमुत्सृज्य मम तुल्यो विराजते

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca kṛtvā niraśanaṁ yo vai mṛtyumāpnoti ko'pi cet mānupīṁ tanumutsṛjya mama tulyo virājate

Shri Krishna said: "Whoever undertakes fasting-unto-death and thereby attains death, casting off his human body, shines forth equal to me."

Verse 6 (garuda.2.36.6)

यावन्त्यहानि जीवेत्व्रते निरशने कृते । क्रतुभिस्तानि तुल्यानि समग्रवदक्षिणैः

yāvantyahāni jīvetvrate niraśane kṛte kratubhistāni tulyāni samagravadakṣiṇaiḥ

"For as many days as he lives once he has undertaken the fasting-vow, those days are equal to sacrifices complete with every fee."

Verse 7 (garuda.2.36.7)

तीर्थे गृहे वा संन्यासं नीत्वा चेन्म्रियते यदि । प्रत्यहं लभते सोऽपि पूर्वोक्तं द्विगुणं फलम्

tīrthe gṛhe vā saṁnyāsaṁ nītvā cenmriyate yadi pratyahaṁ labhate so'pi pūrvoktaṁ dviguṇaṁ phalam

"If, having taken renunciation at a holy ford or at home, he dies afterward, he too receives, day by day, double the fruit stated before."

Verse 8 (garuda.2.36.8)

महारोगोपपत्तौ च गृहीतेऽनशने कृते । पुनर्न जायते रोगो देववद्धि विराजते

mahārogopapattau ca gṛhīte'naśane kṛte punarna jāyate rogo devavaddhi virājate

"When a great illness arises and fasting-unto-death is then undertaken, the illness does not recur; he shines forth like a god."

Verse 9 (garuda.2.36.9)

य आतुरः सन् सन्न्यासं गृह्णाति यदि मानवः । पुनर्न जायते भूमौ संसारे दुः खसागरे

ya āturaḥ san sannyāsaṁ gṛhṇāti yadi mānavaḥ punarna jāyate bhūmau saṁsāre duḥ khasāgare

"If an ailing man takes up renunciation, he is not born again upon the earth, in this sorrowful ocean of samsara."

Verse 10 (garuda.2.36.10)

अहन्यहनि दातव्यं ब्राह्मणानाञ्च भोजनम् । तिलपात्रं यथाशक्ति दीपदानं सुरार्चनम्

ahanyahani dātavyaṁ brāhmaṇānāñca bhojanam tilapātraṁ yathāśakti dīpadānaṁ surārcanam

"Every day food should be given to brahmins, a vessel of sesame according to one's means, the gift of a lamp, and worship of the gods."

Verse 11 (garuda.2.36.11)

एवं वृत्तस्य दह्यन्ते पापान्युच्चावचानि च । मृतो मुक्तिमवाप्नोति यथा सर्वे महर्षयः

evaṁ vṛttasya dahyante pāpānyuccāvacāni ca mṛto muktimavāpnoti yathā sarve maharṣayaḥ

"For one who lives thus, sins great and small are all burned away; after death he attains liberation like all the great sages."

Verse 12 (garuda.2.36.12)

तस्मादनशनं नॄणां वैकुण्ठपददायकम् । तस्मात्स्वस्थे चोत्तरे वा साधयेन्मोक्षलक्षणम्

tasmādanaśanaṁ nṝṇāṁ vaikuṇṭhapadadāyakam tasmātsvasthe cottare vā sādhayenmokṣalakṣaṇam

"Therefore fasting-unto-death grants men the state of Vaikuntha; therefore, whether in health or at the end, one should accomplish the mark of liberation."

Verse 13 (garuda.2.36.13)

पुत्त्रद्रव्यादि सन्त्यज्य तीर्थं व्रजति यो नरः । ब्रह्माद्या देवतास्तस्य भवेयुस्तुष्टिपुष्टिदाः

puttradravyādi santyajya tīrthaṁ vrajati yo naraḥ brahmādyā devatāstasya bhaveyustuṣṭipuṣṭidāḥ

"For the man who, abandoning son, wealth, and the rest, goes to a holy ford, Brahma and the other gods become the bestowers of contentment and prosperity."

Verse 14 (garuda.2.36.14)

यस्तीर्थसंमुखो भूत्वा व्रते ह्यनशने कृते । चेन्म्रियेतान्तरालेऽपि ऋषीणां मण्डले वसेत्

yastīrthasaṁmukho bhūtvā vrate hyanaśane kṛte cenmriyetāntarāle'pi ṛṣīṇāṁ maṇḍale vaset

"Whoever, setting out toward a holy ford, takes up the fasting-vow, even if he dies on the way, dwells in the company of the sages."

Verse 15 (garuda.2.36.15)

व्रतं निरशन कृत्वा स्वगृहेऽपि मृतो यदि । स्वकुलानि परित्यज्य एकाकी विचरेद्दिवि

vrataṁ niraśana kṛtvā svagṛhe'pi mṛto yadi svakulāni parityajya ekākī vicareddivi

"If, having taken the fasting-vow, one dies even at his own home, he leaves his family behind and wanders alone in heaven."

Verse 16 (garuda.2.36.16)

अन्नञ्चैव तथा तोयं परित्यज्य नरो यदि । पीतमत्पादतोयश्च न पुनर्जायते क्षितौ

annañcaiva tathā toyaṁ parityajya naro yadi pītamatpādatoyaśca na punarjāyate kṣitau

"If a man, having given up both food and water, dies having drunk only the water that has washed a holy man's feet, he is not born again upon the earth."

Verse 17 (garuda.2.36.17)

कृत्त्यासीनन्तत्तीर्थगतं रक्षन्ति वनदेवताः । यमदूता विशेषेण न याम्यास्तस्य पार्श्वगाः

kṛttyāsīnantattīrthagataṁ rakṣanti vanadevatāḥ yamadūtā viśeṣeṇa na yāmyāstasya pārśvagāḥ

"The forest deities protect the pilgrim seated thus at a holy ford; Yama's messengers in particular do not approach him."

Verse 18 (garuda.2.36.18)

तीर्थसेवी नरो यस्तु सर्वकिल्बिषवर्जितः । तत्र म्रियते दह्येत तत्तीर्थफलभाग्भवेत्

tīrthasevī naro yastu sarvakilbiṣavarjitaḥ tatra mriyate dahyeta tattīrthaphalabhāgbhavet

"The man who serves a holy ford and is free of every sin — if he dies and is cremated there, he shares in the fruit of that very ford."

Verse 19 (garuda.2.36.19)

सेवितेऽपि सदा तथि ह्यन्यत्र म्रियते यदि । शुभे देशे कुले धीमान् स भवेद्वेदविद्द्विजः

sevite'pi sadā tathi hyanyatra mriyate yadi śubhe deśe kule dhīmān sa bhavedvedaviddvijaḥ

"Even if one who has always served that ford dies elsewhere, that wise man is still born in a good land and family, becoming a twice-born learned in the Veda."

Verse 20 (garuda.2.36.20)

कृत्वा निरशनं तार्क्ष्य पुनर्जीवति मानवः । ब्राह्मणान् स समाहूय सर्वस्वं यत्परित्यजेत्

kṛtvā niraśanaṁ tārkṣya punarjīvati mānavaḥ brāhmaṇān sa samāhūya sarvasvaṁ yatparityajet

"O Tarkshya, if a man, having undertaken fasting-unto-death, goes on living after all, he should summon brahmins and give away all he possesses,"

Verse 21 (garuda.2.36.21)

चान्द्रायणं चरेत्कृत्स्नमनुज्ञातश्च तैर्द्विजैः । अनृतं न वदेत्पश्चाद्धर्ममेव समाचरेत्

cāndrāyaṇaṁ caretkṛtsnamanujñātaśca tairdvijaiḥ anṛtaṁ na vadetpaścāddharmameva samācaret

"and, with the permission of those brahmins, perform the entire Chandrayana fast; thereafter he should speak no falsehood, and should follow dharma alone."

Verse 22 (garuda.2.36.22)

तीर्थे गत्वा च यः कोऽपि पुनरायाति वै गृहम् । अनुज्ञातः स वै विप्रैः प्रायश्चित्तमथाचरेत्

tīrthe gatvā ca yaḥ ko'pi punarāyāti vai gṛham anujñātaḥ sa vai vipraiḥ prāyaścittamathācaret

"Whoever, having gone to a holy ford, returns home again should, with the permission of brahmins, perform an expiation."

Verse 23 (garuda.2.36.23)

दत्त्वा वा स्वर्णदानानि गोमहीगजवाजिनः । तीर्थं यदि लभेद्यस्तु मृत्युकाले स भाग्यवान्

dattvā vā svarṇadānāni gomahīgajavājinaḥ tīrthaṁ yadi labhedyastu mṛtyukāle sa bhāgyavān

"Having given gifts of gold, cows, land, elephants, and horses — whoever attains a holy ford at the moment of death is fortunate indeed."

Verse 24 (garuda.2.36.24)

गृहात्प्रचलितस्तीर्थं मरणे समुपस्थिते । पदेपदे तु गोदानं यदि हिंसा न जायते

gṛhātpracalitastīrthaṁ maraṇe samupasthite padepade tu godānaṁ yadi hiṁsā na jāyate

"Setting out from home toward a holy ford, when death draws near, a gift of a cow should be made at every step, provided no harm results."

Verse 25 (garuda.2.36.25)

गृहे तु यत्कृतं पापं तीर्थस्नानेन शुध्यति । कुरुते तत्र पापञ्चेद्वज्रलेपसमं हि तत्

gṛhe tu yatkṛtaṁ pāpaṁ tīrthasnānena śudhyati kurute tatra pāpañcedvajralepasamaṁ hi tat

"Sin committed at home is purified by bathing at the holy ford; but sin committed there itself becomes like an indelible coating of diamond."

Verse 26 (garuda.2.36.26)

क्लिश्येत्स नात्र सन्देहो यावच्चन्द्रार्कतारकम् । तत्र दत्तानि दानानि जायन्ते चाक्षयाणि वै

kliśyetsa nātra sandeho yāvaccandrārkatārakam tatra dattāni dānāni jāyante cākṣayāṇi vai

"There is no doubt that he suffers for as long as the moon, sun, and stars endure; gifts given there become imperishable."

Verse 27 (garuda.2.36.27)

आतुरे सति दातव्यं निर्धनैरपि मानवैः । गावस्तिला हिरण्यञ्च सप्तधान्यं विशेषतः

āture sati dātavyaṁ nirdhanairapi mānavaiḥ gāvastilā hiraṇyañca saptadhānyaṁ viśeṣataḥ

"During fatal illness, gifts should be given even by poor men — cows, sesame, gold, and, in particular, the seven grains."

Verse 28 (garuda.2.36.28)

दानवन्तं नरं दृष्ट्वा हृष्टाः सर्वे दिवौकसः । ऋषिभिः सह धर्मण चित्रगुप्तेन सर्वदा

dānavantaṁ naraṁ dṛṣṭvā hṛṣṭāḥ sarve divaukasaḥ ṛṣibhiḥ saha dharmaṇa citraguptena sarvadā

"Seeing a generous man, all the gods, the sages, Dharma, and Chitragupta are ever pleased."

Verse 29 (garuda.2.36.29)

आत्मायत्तं धनं यावत्तावद्विप्रे समर्पयेत् । पराधीनं मृते सर्वं कृपया कः प्रदास्यति

ātmāyattaṁ dhanaṁ yāvattāvadvipre samarpayet parādhīnaṁ mṛte sarvaṁ kṛpayā kaḥ pradāsyati

"Only while wealth remains within one's own control should it be given to a brahmin; after death everything falls under others' control — who then will give it out of compassion?"

Verse 30 (garuda.2.36.30)

पित्रुद्देशेन यः पुत्त्रैर्धनं विप्रकरेऽर्पितम् । आत्मानं सधनं तेन चक्रे पुत्रप्रपौत्रकैः

pitruddeśena yaḥ puttrairdhanaṁ viprakare'rpitam ātmānaṁ sadhanaṁ tena cakre putraprapautrakaiḥ

"The son who places wealth in a brahmin's hand for his father's sake thereby makes himself, together with his sons and grandsons, rich in merit."

Verse 31 (garuda.2.36.31)

पितुः शतगुणं दत्तं सहस्रं मातुरुच्यते । भगिन्या शतसाहस्रं सोदर्ये दत्तमक्षयम्

pituḥ śataguṇaṁ dattaṁ sahasraṁ māturucyate bhaginyā śatasāhasraṁ sodarye dattamakṣayam

"A gift given for the father's sake is said to be a hundredfold, for the mother's a thousandfold; for a sister's it is a hundred-thousandfold, and what is given for a brother is imperishable."

Verse 32 (garuda.2.36.32)

यदि लोभान्न यच्छन्ति प्रमादान्मोहतोऽपि वा । मृताः शोचन्ति ते सर्वे कदर्याः पापिनस्त्विति

yadi lobhānna yacchanti pramādānmohato'pi vā mṛtāḥ śocanti te sarve kadaryāḥ pāpinastviti

"If, through greed, negligence, or even delusion, they fail to give, then all such stingy, sinful people grieve after death."

Verse 33 (garuda.2.36.33)

अतिक्लेशेन लब्धस्य प्रकृत्या चञ्चलस्य च । गतिरेकैव वित्तस्य दानमन्या विपत्तयः

atikleśena labdhasya prakṛtyā cañcalasya ca gatirekaiva vittasya dānamanyā vipattayaḥ

"Wealth, gained through great hardship and fickle by nature, has only one true destiny — the gift; every other fate for it is only calamity."

Verse 34 (garuda.2.36.34)

मृत्युः शरीगोप्तारं वसुरक्षं वसुन्धरा । दुश्चारिणीव हसति स्वपतिं पुत्रवत्सलम्

mṛtyuḥ śarīgoptāraṁ vasurakṣaṁ vasundharā duścāriṇīva hasati svapatiṁ putravatsalam

"Death, the guardian of the body, and the earth, the keeper of wealth — these two laugh at their own devoted master, like an unfaithful wife."

Verse 35 (garuda.2.36.35)

उदासे धार्मिकः सौम्यः प्राप्यापि विपुलं धनम् । तृणवन्मन्यते तार्क्ष्य आत्मानं वित्तमप्यथ

udāse dhārmikaḥ saumyaḥ prāpyāpi vipulaṁ dhanam tṛṇavanmanyate tārkṣya ātmānaṁ vittamapyatha

"The detached, righteous, gentle man, O Tarkshya, even upon gaining abundant wealth, regards both himself and his wealth as no more than a blade of grass."

Verse 36 (garuda.2.36.36)

न चैवोपद्रवास्तस्य मोहजालो न चैव हि । मृत्युकाले न च भयं यमदूतसमुद्भवम्

na caivopadravāstasya mohajālo na caiva hi mṛtyukāle na ca bhayaṁ yamadūtasamudbhavam

"For him there are neither calamities nor any net of delusion; nor, at the time of death, any fear arising from Yama's messengers."

Verse 37 (garuda.2.36.37)

समाः सहस्राणि च सप्त वै जले दशैकमग्नौ पवने च षोडश । महाहवे पष्टिरशीतिर्गोगृहे अनाशके काश्यप चाक्षया गतिः

samāḥ sahasrāṇi ca sapta vai jale daśaikamagnau pavane ca ṣoḍaśa mahāhave paṣṭiraśītirgogṛhe anāśake kāśyapa cākṣayā gatiḥ

"Seven thousand years for one who dies in water, ten thousand and one in fire, sixteen thousand in the wind, sixty thousand in a great battle, eighty thousand in a cow-shed — but O Kashyapa, in death by fasting there is an imperishable destiny."