The Dharma and Adharma That Bring Man Happiness and Sorrow

Verse 1 (garuda.2.48.1)

तार्क्ष्य उवाच । ये मर्त्यलोके निवसन्ति मानवास्ते सर्वजातौ निधनं प्रयान्ति । काले स्वकीये निजपुण्यसंख्यया वदन्ति लाक कथस्व तन्मे

tārkṣya uvāca ye martyaloke nivasanti mānavāste sarvajātau nidhanaṁ prayānti kāle svakīye nijapuṇyasaṁkhyayā vadanti lāka kathasva tanme

Tarkshya said: "Men who dwell in the world of mortals, of every caste, come to their death; at their own appointed time, according to the reckoning of their own merit, what do they say? Tell me this, O lord of the world."

Verse 2 (garuda.2.48.2)

गच्छन्ति मार्गेण सुदुस्तरेण विधातृनिष्पादितवर्त्मनि स्थिताः । केनैव पुण्येन मुदं प्रयान्ति तिष्ठन्ति केनैव कुलं बलं वयः

gacchanti mārgeṇa sudustareṇa vidhātṛniṣpāditavartmani sthitāḥ kenaiva puṇyena mudaṁ prayānti tiṣṭhanti kenaiva kulaṁ balaṁ vayaḥ

"They travel a most difficult road, set upon the path fashioned by the Creator; by what merit do they go forth rejoicing, and by what do lineage, strength, and lifespan remain steady?"

Verse 3 (garuda.2.48.3)

सूत उवाच । श्रुत्वाथ देवो गरुडं त्ववोचत्स्मृत्वा वपुः कर्मभयञ्च रूपम् । सृष्टा धरा येन चराचरं जगत्स येन शस्ता विहितो यमो विभुः

sūta uvāca śrutvātha devo garuḍaṁ tvavocatsmṛtvā vapuḥ karmabhayañca rūpam sṛṣṭā dharā yena carācaraṁ jagatsa yena śastā vihito yamo vibhuḥ

Suta said: "Hearing this, the god then spoke to Garuda, recalling the body, the fear born of deeds, and its form — by whom the earth and the whole moving and unmoving universe were created, and by whom Yama was appointed as ruler."

Verse 4 (garuda.2.48.4)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । धर्मार्थकामं चिरमोक्षसञ्चयमन्यं द्वितीयं यममार्गगामिनाम् । प्रविश्यचाङ्गुष्ठसमे स तत्र वै तं प्राप्य देहं स्वमन्दिरम्?

śrībhagavānuvāca dharmārthakāmaṁ ciramokṣasañcayamanyaṁ dvitīyaṁ yamamārgagāminām praviśyacāṅguṣṭhasame sa tatra vai taṁ prāpya dehaṁ svamandiram?

Shri Bhagavan said: "Dharma, artha, kama, and the long accumulation toward liberation — these there are, and a second, different course, for those who travel Yama's road. Entering a form the size of a thumb, having there attained a body, he goes on toward his own dwelling."

Verse 5 (garuda.2.48.5)

गृहीतपाशो रुदते पुनः पुनर्देशे सुपुण्ये द्विज देहसंस्थितः । देवेन्द्रपूजा पितृदेवतृप्तिदं मोहान्न चेष्टं न च पुत्त्रसन्ततिः

gṛhītapāśo rudate punaḥ punardeśe supuṇye dvija dehasaṁsthitaḥ devendrapūjā pitṛdevatṛptidaṁ mohānna ceṣṭaṁ na ca puttrasantatiḥ

"Bound by the noose, he weeps again and again, lodged in a twice-born's body in a meritorious land: 'The worship of the lord of gods, and the satisfaction of the ancestral deities — through delusion I performed neither, nor did I raise up a line of sons.'"

Verse 6 (garuda.2.48.6)

न मेऽस्ति बन्धुर्यममार्गगामिनो मया न कृत्यं द्विजदेहलिप्सया । सम्प्राप्य विप्रत्वमतीव दुर्लभं नाधीतवान्वेदपुराणसंहिताः । प्राप्तं सुरत्नं करसंस्थितं गतं देहन्क्वचिन्निस्तर यत्त्वया कृतम्

na me'sti bandhuryamamārgagāmino mayā na kṛtyaṁ dvijadehalipsayā samprāpya vipratvamatīva durlabhaṁ nādhītavānvedapurāṇasaṁhitāḥ prāptaṁ suratnaṁ karasaṁsthitaṁ gataṁ dehankvacinnistara yattvayā kṛtam

"'As I travel Yama's road I have no kinsman; having longed for a brahmin's body, I did nothing with it. Having attained the exceedingly rare state of brahminhood, I never studied the Vedas, the Puranas, the Samhitas. The precious jewel once held in the hand is gone — O embodied one, save yourself somehow, by whatever you have done!'"

Verse 7 (garuda.2.48.7)

यः क्षत्त्रियो बाहुबलेन संयुगे ललाटदेशाद्रुधिरं मुखे पपौ । तत्सोमपानं हि कृतं महामखे जीवन्मृतः सोऽपि हि याति मुक्तिक्

yaḥ kṣattriyo bāhubalena saṁyuge lalāṭadeśādrudhiraṁ mukhe papau tatsomapānaṁ hi kṛtaṁ mahāmakhe jīvanmṛtaḥ so'pi hi yāti muktik

"The kshatriya who, by the might of his own arm in battle, drinks in his mouth the blood flowing from his own brow, does as it were drink the soma at a great sacrifice; though yet living, that one already dead attains liberation."

Verse 8 (garuda.2.48.8)

स्थानान्यनेकानि कृतानि तानि पीतान्यनेकान्यपि गर्हितानि । शस्त्रं गृहीत्वा समरे रिपूणां यः संमुखं याति स मुक्तपापः

sthānānyanekāni kṛtāni tāni pītānyanekānyapi garhitāni śastraṁ gṛhītvā samare ripūṇāṁ yaḥ saṁmukhaṁ yāti sa muktapāpaḥ

"Many such stations have been established, and many draughts too are condemned; whoever takes up his weapon and goes to face the enemy in battle is freed from sin."

Verse 9 (garuda.2.48.9)

क्षत्त्रान्वयो वापि विशोन्वयो वा शूद्रान्वयो वापि हि नीचवर्णः । संग्रामदेवद्विजबालघाती स्त्रीवृद्धहा दीनतपस्विहन्ता

kṣattrānvayo vāpi viśonvayo vā śūdrānvayo vāpi hi nīcavarṇaḥ saṁgrāmadevadvijabālaghātī strīvṛddhahā dīnatapasvihantā

"Whether of kshatriya lineage, or of vaishya lineage, or even of shudra lineage, of however low a varna he may be —"

Verse 10 (garuda.2.48.10)

उपद्रुतेष्वेषु पराङ्मुखो यः स्युस्तस्य देवाः सकलाः पराङ्मुखाः । तिलोदकं नैव पिबन्ति पूर्वे हुतं न गृह्णाति हुताशनोपि तत्

upadruteṣveṣu parāṅmukho yaḥ syustasya devāḥ sakalāḥ parāṅmukhāḥ tilodakaṁ naiva pibanti pūrve hutaṁ na gṛhṇāti hutāśanopi tat

"the killer of gods, brahmins, and children in war, the slayer of women and the aged, the destroyer of the poor and of ascetics — whoever turns his back on such calamities finds every god turned away from him as well. His ancestors do not drink his sesame-water, nor does fire accept his offering."

Verse 11 (garuda.2.48.11)

द्वेषाद्भयाद्वा समरे समागते शस्त्रं गृहीत्वा परसैन्यसंमुखः । न याति पक्षीन्द्र मृश्च पश्चात्क्षात्त्रं बलं तस्य गतं तथैव । द्विजाय दत्त्वा कनकं महीमिमां भूयः स पश्चाद्भवतीह लोके

dveṣādbhayādvā samare samāgate śastraṁ gṛhītvā parasainyasaṁmukhaḥ na yāti pakṣīndra mṛśca paścātkṣāttraṁ balaṁ tasya gataṁ tathaiva dvijāya dattvā kanakaṁ mahīmimāṁ bhūyaḥ sa paścādbhavatīha loke

"Out of hatred or fear, when battle is joined, whoever, weapon in hand, does not go to face the enemy army, O king of birds — his kshatriya strength is destroyed just as surely as if he gave gold and this whole earth to a brahmin and then took it back again."

Verse 12 (garuda.2.48.12)

दानं प्रदत्तं ग्रहणे द्विजेन्द्रे स्नानं कृतं तेन सदा सुतीर्थे । गत्वा गयायां पितृपिण्डदानं कृतं सदा यो म्रियते तु युद्धे

dānaṁ pradattaṁ grahaṇe dvijendre snānaṁ kṛtaṁ tena sadā sutīrthe gatvā gayāyāṁ pitṛpiṇḍadānaṁ kṛtaṁ sadā yo mriyate tu yuddhe

"A gift given to a foremost brahmin and taken back, a bath always performed at an excellent holy ford, the pinda-offering for the ancestors performed at Gaya — these merits belong to whoever always dies in battle."

Verse 13 (garuda.2.48.13)

यः क्षात्त्रदेहन्तु विहाय शोचते रणाङ्गणे स्वामिवधे च गोग्रहे । स्त्रीबालघाते पथि सार्थहेतवे मया स्वकोशं न हतं न पातितम्

yaḥ kṣāttradehantu vihāya śocate raṇāṅgaṇe svāmivadhe ca gograhe strībālaghāte pathi sārthahetave mayā svakośaṁ na hataṁ na pātitam

"He who, laying down his kshatriya body, grieves on the battlefield over the killing of his lord, over the seizure of cattle, over the slaying of women and children on the road for a caravan's sake, laments: 'I never squandered nor gave away my own treasury.'"

Verse 14 (garuda.2.48.14)

वैश्यः स्वकर्माणि विशोचते तदा गृहीतपाशो न मयापि सञ्चितम् । सत्यं न चोक्तं क्रय विक्रयेण मोहाद्विमूढेन कुटुम्बहेतवे

vaiśyaḥ svakarmāṇi viśocate tadā gṛhītapāśo na mayāpi sañcitam satyaṁ na coktaṁ kraya vikrayeṇa mohādvimūḍhena kuṭumbahetave

"The vaishya too then grieves over his own deeds, bound by the noose: 'Neither did I myself accumulate wealth rightly, nor did I speak the truth in buying and selling, utterly confused by delusion, for the sake of my family.'"

Verse 15 (garuda.2.48.15)

शूद्रं वपुः प्राप्य यशस्करं सदा दानं द्विजेभ्यो न कृतं द्विजार्चनम् । जलाशयो नैव कृतो धरातले असंस्कृतो विप्रवरो न संस्कृतः

śūdraṁ vapuḥ prāpya yaśaskaraṁ sadā dānaṁ dvijebhyo na kṛtaṁ dvijārcanam jalāśayo naiva kṛto dharātale asaṁskṛto vipravaro na saṁskṛtaḥ

"Having attained a shudra's body, ever capable of glory: 'I gave no gift to brahmins, performed no worship of brahmins; [one clause of the source text is illegible in the sole surviving digitization]; no reservoir did I build upon the earth, nor did I have any unconsecrated, excellent brahmin duly consecrated.'"

Verse 16 (garuda.2.48.16)

त्यक्त्वा स्वकर्माणि मदेन सुस्थितं मया सुतीर्थे स्ववपुर्न चोज्झितम् । धर्मोर्जितो नैव न देवपूजनं कृतं मया चैव विमुक्तिहेतवे

tyaktvā svakarmāṇi madena susthitaṁ mayā sutīrthe svavapurna cojjhitam dharmorjito naiva na devapūjanaṁ kṛtaṁ mayā caiva vimuktihetave

"'Abandoning my own duties, secure in my own pride, I never gave up my body at a holy ford; I earned no dharma, nor did I worship the gods for the sake of liberation.'"

Verse 17 (garuda.2.48.17)

देहं समासाद्य तथैव पिण्डजं वर्णांस्तथैवान्त्यजम्लेच्छसंज्ञितान् । मरुन्मयं देहमिमे विशन्ति नैवेहमानाः पथि धर्मसंकुले

dehaṁ samāsādya tathaiva piṇḍajaṁ varṇāṁstathaivāntyajamlecchasaṁjñitān marunmayaṁ dehamime viśanti naivehamānāḥ pathi dharmasaṁkule

"Having attained a body according to their deeds, so too do the outcastes and those called mlecchas — all of them, making no effort upon the path crowded with dharma, enter a body made of wind."

Verse 18 (garuda.2.48.18)

परस्परं धर्मकृन्तं स्वकीयं सम्पाद्य लक्ष्यं पथि सञ्चरन्त्स्वम् । पक्षीन्द्र वाक्यानि शृणुष्व तानि मनोरमाणि प्रवदन्ति यानि

parasparaṁ dharmakṛntaṁ svakīyaṁ sampādya lakṣyaṁ pathi sañcarantsvam pakṣīndra vākyāni śṛṇuṣva tāni manoramāṇi pravadanti yāni

"Each cutting off the other's dharma, pursuing only his own aim, wandering upon his own path — O king of birds, hear the charming words that they speak,"

Verse 19 (garuda.2.48.19)

सारा हि लोकेषु भवेत्त्रिलोकी द्वीपेषु सर्वेषु च जम्बुकाख्यम् । देशेषु सर्वेष्वपि देवदेशः जीवेषु सर्वेषु मनुष्य एव

sārā hi lokeṣu bhavettrilokī dvīpeṣu sarveṣu ca jambukākhyam deśeṣu sarveṣvapi devadeśaḥ jīveṣu sarveṣu manuṣya eva

"who say: 'Among the worlds, the three worlds are the essence; among all continents, the one called Jambu-dvipa; among all lands, the land of the gods; among all living beings, the human alone is the essence.'"

Verse 20 (garuda.2.48.20)

वर्णाश्च चत्वार इह प्रशस्ताः वर्णेषु धर्मिष्ठनराः प्रशस्ताः । धर्मेण सौख्यं समुपैति सर्वं ज्ञानं समाप्नोति महापथे स्थितः

varṇāśca catvāra iha praśastāḥ varṇeṣu dharmiṣṭhanarāḥ praśastāḥ dharmeṇa saukhyaṁ samupaiti sarvaṁ jñānaṁ samāpnoti mahāpathe sthitaḥ

"'Here the four varnas are praiseworthy; among the varnas, righteous men are praiseworthy. Through dharma every happiness is attained; standing upon the great path, knowledge is attained.'"

Verse 21 (garuda.2.48.21)

देहं परित्यज्य यदा गतायुः पक्षिन् स्थितोऽहं कृमिकीटसंस्थितः । सरीसृपोऽहं मशको विनिर्मितश्चतुष्पदोऽहं वनसूकरोऽहम्

dehaṁ parityajya yadā gatāyuḥ pakṣin sthito'haṁ kṛmikīṭasaṁsthitaḥ sarīsṛpo'haṁ maśako vinirmitaścatuṣpado'haṁ vanasūkaro'ham

"'O bird, when my span was spent and I gave up the body, I remained as a worm and an insect; I became a reptile, was fashioned as a mosquito; I became a four-footed beast, I became a wild boar.'"

Verse 22 (garuda.2.48.22)

सर्वं विजानाति हि गर्भसंस्थितो जातश्च सद्यस्तदिदञ्च विस्मरेत् । यच्चिन्तितं गर्भसमागतेन वै बालो युवा वृद्धवया बभूव

sarvaṁ vijānāti hi garbhasaṁsthito jātaśca sadyastadidañca vismaret yaccintitaṁ garbhasamāgatena vai bālo yuvā vṛddhavayā babhūva

"'The being in the womb knows everything, but the instant it is born it forgets it all; that very being, having thought thus on entering the womb, becomes a child, then a youth, then old in years — and forgets.'"

Verse 23 (garuda.2.48.23)

मोहाद्विनाष्टं यदि गर्भचिन्तितं स्मृतं पुनर्मृत्युगते चदेहे । तस्मिन्प्रनष्टे हृदि चिन्तितं गतं स्मृतं पुनर्गर्भगते च देहे

mohādvināṣṭaṁ yadi garbhacintitaṁ smṛtaṁ punarmṛtyugate cadehe tasminpranaṣṭe hṛdi cintitaṁ gataṁ smṛtaṁ punargarbhagate ca dehe

"'If, through delusion, what was thought in the womb is forgotten, it returns to memory again as the body nears death; when that life is destroyed, what was pondered in the heart slips away once more, and returns to memory again when the body enters a womb.'"

Verse 24 (garuda.2.48.24)

तस्मिन्प्रनष्टे हृदि चिन्तितं पुनर्मया स्वकोशे परवञ्चनं कृतम् । द्यूतैश्छलेनापि च चौर्यवृत्त्या धर्मं व्यतिक्रम्य शरीररक्षणे

tasminpranaṣṭe hṛdi cintitaṁ punarmayā svakośe paravañcanaṁ kṛtam dyūtaiśchalenāpi ca cauryavṛttyā dharmaṁ vyatikramya śarīrarakṣaṇe

"'When that is destroyed, what was pondered in the heart returns to my memory again: \"In building my own treasury I deceived others — by gambling, by fraud, and by the way of theft, transgressing dharma, for the mere protection of my body.\"'"

Verse 25 (garuda.2.48.25)

कृच्छ्रेण लक्ष्मीः समुपार्जिता स्वयं मया न भुक्तं मनसेप्सितं धनम् । ताम्बूलमन्नं मधुरं सगोरसं दत्त्वाग्निदेवातिथिबन्धुवर्गे

kṛcchreṇa lakṣmīḥ samupārjitā svayaṁ mayā na bhuktaṁ manasepsitaṁ dhanam tāmbūlamannaṁ madhuraṁ sagorasaṁ dattvāgnidevātithibandhuvarge

"'With great hardship I earned wealth myself, yet the riches my mind desired I never truly enjoyed; betel, sweet food, and dairy together — I never gave them to Agni, to the gods, to guests, or to my circle of kin.'"

Verse 26 (garuda.2.48.26)

सोमग्रहे सूर्यसमागमेपि वा न सेवितं तीर्थवरिष्ठमुत्तमम् । कोशं स्वकीयं मलमूत्रपूरितं देहिन्क्वचिन्निस्तर यत्त्वया कृतम्

somagrahe sūryasamāgamepi vā na sevitaṁ tīrthavariṣṭhamuttamam kośaṁ svakīyaṁ malamūtrapūritaṁ dehinkvacinnistara yattvayā kṛtam

"'At a lunar eclipse, or even at a solar conjunction, I never resorted to the most excellent, supreme holy ford; my own treasury remained filled with filth and urine — O embodied one, save yourself somehow, by whatever you have done!'"

Verse 27 (garuda.2.48.27)

मया न दृष्टा न नता न पूजिता त्रैविक्रमी मूर्तिरिह स्थिता भुवि । प्रभासनाथो न च भक्तिसंस्तुतो देहिन्क्वचिन्निस्तर यत्त्वया कृतम्

mayā na dṛṣṭā na natā na pūjitā traivikramī mūrtiriha sthitā bhuvi prabhāsanātho na ca bhaktisaṁstuto dehinkvacinnistara yattvayā kṛtam

"'I neither beheld, nor bowed to, nor worshipped the Trivikrama form of the Lord standing here upon the earth; I never praised the Lord of Prabhasa with devotion — O embodied one, save yourself somehow, by whatever you have done!'"

Verse 28 (garuda.2.48.28)

गत्वा वरिष्ठे भुवि तीर्थसन्निधौ धनं न दत्तं विदुषां करे मया । आप्लुत्य देहं विधिना द्विजे गुरौ दिहिन्क्वचिन्निस्तर यत्त्वया कृतम्

gatvā variṣṭhe bhuvi tīrthasannidhau dhanaṁ na dattaṁ viduṣāṁ kare mayā āplutya dehaṁ vidhinā dvije gurau dihinkvacinnistara yattvayā kṛtam

"'Even having gone to the presence of an excellent holy ford, I never placed wealth in the hands of the learned; nor bathed my body according to rule before a twice-born guru — O embodied one, save yourself somehow, by whatever you have done!'"

Verse 29 (garuda.2.48.29)

न मातृपूजा न च विष्णुशङ्करौ गणेशचणड्यौ न च भास्करोऽपि वा । यञ्चोपचारैर्बलियुक्तचन्दनैर्देहिन्क्वचिन्निस्तर यत्त्वया कृतम्

na mātṛpūjā na ca viṣṇuśaṅkarau gaṇeśacaṇaḍyau na ca bhāskaro'pi vā yañcopacārairbaliyuktacandanairdehinkvacinnistara yattvayā kṛtam

"'I performed no worship of the Mother, nor of Vishnu and Shankara, nor of Ganesha and Chandi, nor even of the sun; what should have been done with proper rites, offerings, and sandal-paste, I never did — O embodied one, save yourself somehow, by whatever you have done!'"

Verse 30 (garuda.2.48.30)

लब्धा मया मानवदेवतोपमा मोहाद्गता सर्वमिदञ्च पार्थिव । गतिं न वीक्षेत स वै विमूढधीर्देहिन्क्वचिन्निस्तर यत्त्वया कृतम्

labdhā mayā mānavadevatopamā mohādgatā sarvamidañca pārthiva gatiṁ na vīkṣeta sa vai vimūḍhadhīrdehinkvacinnistara yattvayā kṛtam

"'O king, I had attained a station equal to a god among men, yet through delusion all of it slipped away; that utterly deluded mind cannot see its own destiny — O embodied one, save yourself somehow, by whatever you have done!'"

Verse 31 (garuda.2.48.31)

एतानि पक्षिन्मनसा विचिन्त्य वाक्यानि धर्मार्थयशस्कराणि । मुक्तिं समायान्ति मनुष्यलोके वसन्ति ये धर्मरताः सुदेशे

etāni pakṣinmanasā vicintya vākyāni dharmārthayaśaskarāṇi muktiṁ samāyānti manuṣyaloke vasanti ye dharmaratāḥ sudeśe

"O bird, reflecting in their minds upon these words, which bring dharma, wealth, and fame, those who dwell devoted to dharma in a good land attain liberation even within the human world."

Verse 32 (garuda.2.48.32)

इति ब्रुवाणैर्यमधूतवर्गैर्विहन्यते कालमयैश्च मुद्गरैः । हा दैव हा दैव इति स्मरन् वै धनं न दत्तं स्वयमर्जितं यत्

iti bruvāṇairyamadhūtavargairvihanyate kālamayaiśca mudgaraiḥ hā daiva hā daiva iti smaran vai dhanaṁ na dattaṁ svayamarjitaṁ yat

"Speaking thus, they are struck down by the throngs of Yama's messengers with clubs shaped like death itself; crying 'Alas, fate! Alas, fate!' they recall: 'The wealth I myself earned, I never gave away.'"

Verse 33 (garuda.2.48.33)

न भूमिदानं न च गोप्रदानं न वारिदानं न च वस्त्रदानम् । फलं सताम्बूलविलेपनं वा त्वया न दत्तं भुवि शोचसे कथम्

na bhūmidānaṁ na ca gopradānaṁ na vāridānaṁ na ca vastradānam phalaṁ satāmbūlavilepanaṁ vā tvayā na dattaṁ bhuvi śocase katham

"'No gift of land, no gift of a cow, no gift of water, no gift of clothing; not even the fruit of a simple offering of fruit, betel, and sandal-paste did you give upon this earth — why grieve now?'"

Verse 34 (garuda.2.48.34)

पिता मृतस्ते च पितामहः सा यया धृतो वाप्युदरे स्वकीये । मृतोऽप्यसौ बन्धुजनः समस्तो दृष्टं त्वया सर्वमिदं गतायः

pitā mṛtaste ca pitāmahaḥ sā yayā dhṛto vāpyudare svakīye mṛto'pyasau bandhujanaḥ samasto dṛṣṭaṁ tvayā sarvamidaṁ gatāyaḥ

"'Your father and grandfather have already died; she in whose own womb you were carried has died as well; that whole circle of kinsmen has also died — all this you have seen, and your own span is now spent.'"

Verse 35 (garuda.2.48.35)

कोशं त्वदीयं ज्वलितञ्च वह्निना पुत्त्रैर्गृहीतो धनधान्य सञ्चयः । सुभाषितं धर्मचयं कृतञ्च यत्तदेव गच्छेत्तव पृष्ठसंस्थम्

kośaṁ tvadīyaṁ jvalitañca vahninā puttrairgṛhīto dhanadhānya sañcayaḥ subhāṣitaṁ dharmacayaṁ kṛtañca yattadeva gacchettava pṛṣṭhasaṁstham

"'Your treasury has burned in the fire, the accumulated wealth and grain has been taken by your sons; only the fine words spoken and the store of dharma you gathered follows behind you now.'"

Verse 36 (garuda.2.48.36)

न दृश्यते कोऽपि मृतः समागतो राजा यतिर्वा द्विजपुङ्गवोऽपि वा । यो वै मृतः साहसिकः स मर्त्यको नाशं योऽपि धरातले स्थितः

na dṛśyate ko'pi mṛtaḥ samāgato rājā yatirvā dvijapuṅgavo'pi vā yo vai mṛtaḥ sāhasikaḥ sa martyako nāśaṁ yo'pi dharātale sthitaḥ

"'No one who has died is ever seen to return — neither a king, nor an ascetic, nor even a foremost brahmin; whoever died recklessly is mortal all the same, and whoever stood upon this earth has met his end.'"

Verse 37 (garuda.2.48.37)

एवं गणास्ते ब्रुवते सकिन्नरा धैर्यं समालम्ब्य विपादपूरितः । श्रुत्वा गणानां वचनं महाद्भुतं ब्रवीति पक्षीन्द्र मनुष्यतां गतः

evaṁ gaṇāste bruvate sakinnarā dhairyaṁ samālambya vipādapūritaḥ śrutvā gaṇānāṁ vacanaṁ mahādbhutaṁ bravīti pakṣīndra manuṣyatāṁ gataḥ

"Thus speak those hosts, together with the kinnaras, holding to their courage though filled with grief; hearing the wondrous words of these hosts, O king of birds, one who has attained human birth says:"

Verse 38 (garuda.2.48.38)

दानप्रभावेण विमानसंस्थितो धर्मः पिता मातृदयानुरूपिणी । वाणी कलत्रं मधुरार्थभाषिणी स्नानं सुतीर्थे च सुबन्धवर्गः

dānaprabhāveṇa vimānasaṁsthito dharmaḥ pitā mātṛdayānurūpiṇī vāṇī kalatraṁ madhurārthabhāṣiṇī snānaṁ sutīrthe ca subandhavargaḥ

"'By the power of giving one is seated in a heavenly chariot; dharma is one's father, a mother's tenderness suits it well; sweet, meaningful speech is one's spouse; bathing at an excellent holy ford is one's own good circle of kin.'"

Verse 39 (garuda.2.48.39)

करार्पितं यत्सुकृतं समस्तं स्वर्गस्तदा स्यात्तव किङ्करोपमः । यो धर्मवान् प्राप्स्यति सोऽतिसौख्यं पापी समस्तं विविधञ्च दुःखम्

karārpitaṁ yatsukṛtaṁ samastaṁ svargastadā syāttava kiṅkaropamaḥ yo dharmavān prāpsyati so'tisaukhyaṁ pāpī samastaṁ vividhañca duḥkham

"'Every good deed given with one's own hand then makes heaven itself like a servant to you; whoever is righteous attains the greatest happiness, while the sinner attains every manifold sorrow.'"

Verse 40 (garuda.2.48.40)

यो धर्मशीलो जितमानरोषो विद्याविनीतो न परोपतापी । स्वदारतुष्टः परदारदूरःस वै नरो नो भुवि वन्दनीयः

yo dharmaśīlo jitamānaroṣo vidyāvinīto na paropatāpī svadāratuṣṭaḥ paradāradūraḥsa vai naro no bhuvi vandanīyaḥ

"'Whoever is devoted to dharma, has conquered pride and anger, is humble despite his learning, torments no one, is content with his own wife and stays far from another's — that man alone is worthy of reverence on this earth.'"

Verse 41 (garuda.2.48.41)

मिष्टान्नदाता चरिताग्निहोत्रो वेदान्तविच्चन्द्रसहस्रजीवी । मासोपवासी च पतिव्रता चषड्जीवलोके मम वन्दनीयाः

miṣṭānnadātā caritāgnihotro vedāntaviccandrasahasrajīvī māsopavāsī ca pativratā caṣaḍjīvaloke mama vandanīyāḥ

"'The giver of sweet food, the performer of the fire-sacrifice, the knower of Vedanta who lives long, one who fasts every month, and a devoted wife — these six are worthy of my reverence in this world of the living.'"

Verse 42 (garuda.2.48.42)

एवं समाचारयुतो नरोऽपि वापीं सकूपां सजलं तडागम् । प्रपाशुभं हृद्गृहदेवमन्दिरं कृतं नरेणैव स धर्मौत्तमः

evaṁ samācārayuto naro'pi vāpīṁ sakūpāṁ sajalaṁ taḍāgam prapāśubhaṁ hṛdgṛhadevamandiraṁ kṛtaṁ nareṇaiva sa dharmauttamaḥ

"'A man of such good conduct, who builds a step-well together with a well, a tank filled with water, an auspicious water-station, and a temple to the household deity dear to his heart — that man alone is of the highest dharma.'"

Verse 43 (garuda.2.48.43)

वर्षाशनं वेदविदे च दत्तं कन्याविवाहस्त्वृणमोचनं द्विजे । भूमिः सुकृष्टापि तृषार्तिहेतोस्तदेवमेतं सुकृतत्समस्तम्

varṣāśanaṁ vedavide ca dattaṁ kanyāvivāhastvṛṇamocanaṁ dvije bhūmiḥ sukṛṣṭāpi tṛṣārtihetostadevametaṁ sukṛtatsamastam

"'A year's provision given to a knower of the Veda, a daughter's marriage, the release of a twice-born from debt, and well-tilled land given for the relief of those tormented by thirst — thus all these are reckoned as good deeds.'"

Verse 44 (garuda.2.48.44)

अध्यायमेनं सुकृतस्य सारं शृणोति गायत्यपि भावशुद्ध्या । स वै कुलीनः स च धर्मयुक्तो विश्वालयं याति परं स नूनम्

adhyāyamenaṁ sukṛtasya sāraṁ śṛṇoti gāyatyapi bhāvaśuddhyā sa vai kulīnaḥ sa ca dharmayukto viśvālayaṁ yāti paraṁ sa nūnam

"Whoever hears this chapter, the very essence of good deeds, or even sings it with a pure heart, is certainly well-born and righteous, and surely goes to the supreme abode of the universe."