Who May Perform the Rites, and the Shraddha for the Living

Verse 1 (garuda.2.8.1)

गरुड उवाच । स्वामिन्कस्याधिकारोऽत्र सर्व एवौर्ध्वदेहिके । क्रियाः कतिविधाः प्रोक्ता वदैतत्सर्वमेव मे

garuḍa uvāca | svāminkasyādhikāro'tra sarva evaurdhvadehike | kriyāḥ katividhāḥ proktā vadaitatsarvameva me

Garuda said: O Lord, who has the foremost right in these funerary rites? How many kinds of rites are declared? Tell me all this.

Verse 2 (garuda.2.8.2)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । पुत्रः पौत्रः प्रपौत्रो वा तद्भ्राता भ्रातृसन्ततिः । सपिण्डसन्ततिर्वापि क्रियार्हाः खग ज्ञातयः

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca | putraḥ pautraḥ prapautro vā tadbhrātā bhrātṛsantatiḥ | sapiṇḍasantatirvāpi kriyārhāḥ khaga jñātayaḥ

Shri Krishna said: The son, grandson, or great-grandson, his brother, the brother's offspring, or the offspring of the same lineage-offering — O bird, these kinsmen are entitled to the rite.

Verse 3 (garuda.2.8.3)

तेषामभावे सर्वेषां समानोदकसन्ततिः । कुलद्वयेऽपि चोच्छिन्ने स्त्रीभिः कार्याः क्रियाः खग

teṣāmabhāve sarveṣāṁ samānodakasantatiḥ | kuladvaye'pi cocchinne strībhiḥ kāryāḥ kriyāḥ khaga

In the absence of all these, the more distant water-kin become entitled. And if both lineages have entirely died out, O bird, the rites should be performed by the women of the family.

Verse 4 (garuda.2.8.4)

इच्छयोच्छिन्नबन्धश्च कारयेदवनीपतिः । पूर्वाः क्रिया मध्यमाश्च तथा चैवोत्तराः क्रियाः

icchayocchinnabandhaśca kārayedavanīpatiḥ | pūrvāḥ kriyā madhyamāśca tathā caivottarāḥ kriyāḥ

If all kinship has died out entirely, then the king, at his discretion, should have the rites performed. The earlier, the middle, and the later rites —

Verse 5 (garuda.2.8.5)

प्रतिसंवत्सरं पक्षिन्नेकोद्दिष्टविधानतः । श्राद्धं तत्र प्रकर्तव्यं फलं तस्य शृणुष्व मे

pratisaṁvatsaraṁ pakṣinnekoddiṣṭavidhānataḥ | śrāddhaṁ tatra prakartavyaṁ phalaṁ tasya śṛṇuṣva me

O bird, every year the shraddha should there be performed by the ekoddishta procedure. Now hear from me its fruit.

Verse 6 (garuda.2.8.6)

ब्रह्मेन्द्ररुद्रनासत्यसूर्याग्निवसुमारुतान् । विश्वेदेवान्पितृ गणान्वयांसि मनुजान्पशून्

brahmendrarudranāsatyasūryāgnivasumārutān | viśvedevānpitṛ gaṇānvayāṁsi manujānpaśūn

Brahma, Indra, Rudra, the Nasatyas, the Sun, Agni, the Vasus, the Maruts, the Vishvedevas, the ancestors, birds, men, beasts,

Verse 7 (garuda.2.8.7)

सरीसृपान्मातृगणान्यच्चान्यद्भूतसंज्ञितम् । श्राद्धं श्रद्धान्वितः कुर्वन्प्रीणयत्यखिलं जगत्

sarīsṛpānmātṛgaṇānyaccānyadbhūtasaṁjñitam | śrāddhaṁ śraddhānvitaḥ kurvanprīṇayatyakhilaṁ jagat

reptiles, the divine mothers, and whatever else is called a 'being' — all these does one who performs the shraddha with faith gladden, the entire universe indeed.

Verse 8 (garuda.2.8.8)

ते तृप्तास्तर्पयन्त्येनं पुत्रदारधनैस्तथा । अधिकारः क्रियाभेदः समासात्ते निरूपितः

te tṛptāstarpayantyenaṁ putradāradhanaistathā | adhikāraḥ kriyābhedaḥ samāsātte nirūpitaḥ

Being satisfied, they in turn satisfy him with sons, wife, and wealth. Thus have the entitlement and the distinctions of the rite been set forth in brief.

Verse 9 (garuda.2.8.9)

गरुड उवाच । उक्तेष्वेकोऽपि चेन्न स्यादधिकारी सुरोत्तम । कर्तव्यं किं तदा विष्णो पुरुषेण विजानता

garuḍa uvāca | ukteṣveko'pi cenna syādadhikārī surottama | kartavyaṁ kiṁ tadā viṣṇo puruṣeṇa vijānatā

Garuda said: O best of gods, if none among these declared claimants exists at all, then, O Vishnu, what should a wise man do in such a case?

Verse 10 (garuda.2.8.10)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । अधिकारो यदा नास्ति यदि नास्ति च निश्चयः । जीविते सति जीवाय दद्याच्छ्राद्धंस्वयं नरः

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca | adhikāro yadā nāsti yadi nāsti ca niścayaḥ | jīvite sati jīvāya dadyācchrāddhaṁsvayaṁ naraḥ

Shri Krishna said: When there is no entitled heir, and no certainty of one, then, while still living, a man should himself perform the shraddha for his own soul.

Verse 11 (garuda.2.8.11)

कृतोपवासः सुस्नातः कृष्णासङ्गः समाहितः । कर्तारमथ भोक्तारं विष्णुं सर्वेश्वरं यजेत्

kṛtopavāsaḥ susnātaḥ kṛṣṇāsaṁgaḥ samāhitaḥ | kartāramatha bhoktāraṁ viṣṇuṁ sarveśvaraṁ yajet

Having fasted, bathed well, being engaged during the dark fortnight, with a focused mind, he should worship Vishnu, the lord of all, as both the performer and the recipient of the rite.

Verse 12 (garuda.2.8.12)

सदक्षिणाश्च सतिलास्तिस्त्रश्च जलधेनवः । निवेदयेत्पितृभ्यश्च स्वधेति सुसमाहितः

sadakṣiṇāśca satilāstistraśca jaladhenavaḥ | nivedayetpitṛbhyaśca svadheti susamāhitaḥ

With sacrificial fee and sesame, three 'water-cows' should be offered to the ancestors, with the utmost care, saying 'svadha'.

Verse 13 (garuda.2.8.13)

अग्नये कव्यवाहनाय स्वधा नम इति स्मरन् । सोमायत्वा पितृमते स्वधा नम इति स्मरन्

agnaye kavyavāhanāya svadhā nama iti smaran | somāyatvā pitṛmate svadhā nama iti smaran

'To Agni, the carrier of the oblation, svadha, salutation' — thus remembering; 'to Soma, the lord of the ancestors, svadha, salutation' — thus remembering,

Verse 14 (garuda.2.8.14)

दक्षिणेन तु दद्याच्च तृतीयां दक्षिणायुताम् । यमायाङ्गिरसे चाथ स्वधा नम इति स्मरन्

dakṣiṇena tu dadyācca tṛtīyāṁ dakṣiṇāyutām | yamāyāṁgirase cātha svadhā nama iti smaran

and, toward the south, the third [cow] should be given with a fee — 'to Yama, lord of the ancestors descended from Angiras, svadha, salutation' — thus remembering.

Verse 15 (garuda.2.8.15)

तयोर्मध्ये तु निः क्षिप्य विप्रान्संमन्त्र्य भो जयेत् । प्रथमामुत्तरे न्यस्य द्वितीयां दक्षिणे न्यसेत्

tayormadhye tu niḥ kṣipya viprānsaṁmantrya bho jayet | prathamāmuttare nyasya dvitīyāṁ dakṣiṇe nyaset

Placing the third between the other two, the brahmins should be invited and given a feast. The first should be placed to the north, the second to the south,

Verse 16 (garuda.2.8.16)

मध्ये तृतीयां विन्यस्य पश्चादावाहनादिकम् । आवाहनादिना पूर्वं विश्वेदेवान्प्रपूज्यच

madhye tṛtīyāṁ vinyasya paścādāvāhanādikam | āvāhanādinā pūrvaṁ viśvedevānprapūjyaca

and the third in the middle; then the invocation and the rest should follow. First, having worshipped the Vishvedevas with invocation and the rest,

Verse 17 (garuda.2.8.17)

वसुभ्यस्त्वामहं विप्र रुद्रेभ्यस्त्वामहं ततः । सूर्येभ्यस्त्वामहं विप्र भोजयामीति तान्वदेत्

vasubhyastvāmahaṁ vipra rudrebhyastvāmahaṁ tataḥ | sūryebhyastvāmahaṁ vipra bhojayāmīti tānvadet

'O brahmin, I feed you on behalf of the Vasus; then on behalf of the Rudras; then, O brahmin, on behalf of the Suns [Adityas]' — thus should he say to them.

Verse 18 (garuda.2.8.18)

आवाहनादिकं शेषं कुर्याच्च पितृशेषवत् । साम्यां धेनुं ततो दद्याद्वसूद्देशं द्विजाय तु

āvāhanādikaṁ śeṣaṁ kuryācca pitṛśeṣavat | sāmyāṁ dhenuṁ tato dadyādvasūddeśaṁ dvijāya tu

The remaining invocation and the rest should be done as in the remainder of the ancestral shraddha procedure. Then the cow representing the Vasus' portion should be given to a brahmin,

Verse 19 (garuda.2.8.19)

आग्नेय्यां चाथ रौद्राय याम्यां सूर्यद्विजाय तु । विश्वेभ्यश्चाथ देवेभ्यस्तिलपात्रं निवेदयेत्

āgneyyāṁ cātha raudrāya yāmyāṁ sūryadvijāya tu | viśvebhyaścātha devebhyastilapātraṁ nivedayet

in the fire-direction for Rudra, in the south for the brahmin of the Sun. Then a vessel of sesame should be offered to the Vishvedevas.

Verse 20 (garuda.2.8.20)

स्वस्तीत्येव तथाक्षय्यं जलं दत्त्वाथ तान्द्विजान् । विसर्जयेत्स्मरन्विष्णुं देवमष्टाक्षरं विभुम्

svastītyeva tathākṣayyaṁ jalaṁ dattvātha tāndvijān | visarjayetsmaranviṣṇuṁ devamaṣṭākṣaraṁ vibhum

Saying 'may there be well-being, may this be imperishable', and offering water, the brahmins should then be sent off, while remembering the mighty God Vishnu of the eight syllables.

Verse 21 (garuda.2.8.21)

ततः कामं कुलेशानीं शिवं नारायणं स्मरेत् । चतुर्दश्यां ततो गच्छेद्यथाप्राप्तां सरिद्वराम्

tataḥ kāmaṁ kuleśānīṁ śivaṁ nārāyaṇaṁ smaret | caturdaśyāṁ tato gacchedyathāprāptāṁ saridvarām

Then Kama, the family's presiding goddess, Shiva, and Narayana should be remembered. Then, on the fourteenth day, one should go to whatever excellent river is available.

Verse 22 (garuda.2.8.22)

वस्त्राणि लोहखण्डानि जितं त इति संजपन् । दक्षिणाभिमुखो वह्निं ज्वालयेत्तत्र च स्वयम्

vastrāṇi lohakhaṇḍāni jitaṁ ta iti saṁjapan | dakṣiṇābhimukho vahniṁ jvālayettatra ca svayam

Taking garments and pieces of iron, chanting 'victory over you', and facing south, one should there kindle the fire oneself.

Verse 23 (garuda.2.8.23)

पञ्चाशता कुशैर्ब्राह्मीं कृत्वा प्रतिकृतिं दहेत् । हुत्वा श्माशानिकं होमं पूर्णाहुत्यन्तमेव हि

pañcāśatā kuśairbrāhmīṁ kṛtvā pratikṛtiṁ dahet | hutvā śmāśānikaṁ homaṁ pūrṇāhutyantameva hi

With fifty blades of kusha grass, a brahmin's effigy should be made and cremated. Having performed the crematory oblation, oblations should continue up to the final full offering.

Verse 24 (garuda.2.8.24)

निरग्रिमथ वा भूमिं यमं रुद्रञ्च संस्मरेत् । हुत्वा प्राधानिके स्थाने पश्चादावाहयेच्च तम्

niragrimatha vā bhūmiṁ yamaṁ rudrañca saṁsmaret | hutvā prādhānike sthāne paścādāvāhayecca tam

Even for one who keeps no sacred fire, the earth, Yama, and Rudra should be remembered. Having offered oblation at the principal spot, one should then invoke him,

Verse 25 (garuda.2.8.25)

श्रपयेच्चापरं वह्नौ मुद्गमिश्रं चरुं ततः । तिलतण्डुलमिश्रञ्च द्वितीयं सपवित्रकम्

śrapayeccāparaṁ vahnau mudgamiśraṁ caruṁ tataḥ | tilataṇḍulamiśrañca dvitīyaṁ sapavitrakam

and, upon the fire, another dish should be cooked — a chāru mixed with green gram — then a second, mixed with sesame and rice, together with a purifying grass-blade.

Verse 26 (garuda.2.8.26)

ओं पृथिव्यै नमस्तुभ्यमिति चैकं निवेदयेत् । ओं यमाय नमश्चेति द्वितीयं तदनन्तरम्

oṁ pṛthivyai namastubhyamiti caikaṁ nivedayet | oṁ yamāya namaśceti dvitīyaṁ tadanantaram

Saying 'Om, salutation to the Earth', one should be offered. 'Om, salutation to Yama' — immediately after, the second,

Verse 27 (garuda.2.8.27)

ओं नमश्चाथ रुद्राय श्माशानपतये नमः । ततो दीप्ते समिद्धेऽग्नौ भूमौ प्रकृतिदारुणे

oṁ namaścātha rudrāya śmāśānapataye namaḥ | tato dīpte samiddhe'gnau bhūmau prakṛtidāruṇe

'Om, salutation to Rudra, salutation to the lord of the cremation ground' — [thus the third]. Then, once the fire is blazing, upon the ground, terrible by its very nature,

Verse 28 (garuda.2.8.28)

सप्तभ्यो यमसंज्ञेभ्यो दद्यात्सप्त जलाञ्जलीन् । यमाय धर्मराजाय मृत्यवे चान्तकाय च

saptabhyo yamasaṁjñebhyo dadyātsapta jalāñjalīn | yamāya dharmarājāya mṛtyave cāntakāya ca

seven palmfuls of water should be offered to the seven deities bearing the name of Yama — to Yama, Dharmaraja, Mrityu, and Antaka,

Verse 29 (garuda.2.8.29)

वैवस्वताय कालाय सर्वप्राणहराय च । स्वधाकारनमस्कारप्रणवैः सह सप्तधा

vaivasvatāya kālāya sarvaprāṇaharāya ca | svadhākāranamaskārapraṇavaiḥ saha saptadhā

to Vaivasvata, Kala, and Sarvapranahara — accompanied by 'svadha', by salutation, and by the sacred syllable, thus to all seven.

Verse 30 (garuda.2.8.30)

अमुकामुकगौत्रैतत्तुभ्यमस्तु तिलोदकम् । प्रदद्याद्दश पिण्डांस्तु अर्घपुष्पसमन्वितान्

amukāmukagautraitattubhyamastu tilodakam | pradadyāddaśa piṇḍāṁstu arghapuṣpasamanvitān

'O one of such-and-such gotra, may this sesame-water be for you' — [thus saying], ten pindas, together with arghya and flowers, should be offered.

Verse 31 (garuda.2.8.31)

धूपो दीपो बलिर्गन्धः सर्वेषामस्तु चाक्षयः । दश पिण्डांस्तु दान्दत्त्वा विष्णोः सौम्यं मुखं स्मरेत्

dhūpo dīpo balirgandhaḥ sarveṣāmastu cākṣayaḥ | daśa piṇḍāṁstu dāndattvā viṣṇoḥ saumyaṁ mukhaṁ smaret

Incense, a lamp, offerings, and fragrant paste — may all be imperishable. Having given the gift of ten pindas, one should then remember the gentle face of Vishnu.

Verse 32 (garuda.2.8.32)

कुर्याच्च मासिकं मासि सपिण्डीकरणं ततः । आशौचान्ते ततः कुर्यादात्मनो वा मरस्य तु

kuryācca māsikaṁ māsi sapiṇḍīkaraṇaṁ tataḥ | āśaucānte tataḥ kuryādātmano vā marasya tu

Then the monthly shraddha should be performed each month, followed by the sapindikarana. At the end of the period of impurity, whether for oneself or for one already dead,

Verse 33 (garuda.2.8.33)

कुर्यादस्थिरतां ज्ञात्वा शक्त्यारोग्यधनायुषम् । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं जीवच्छ्राद्धं मया खग

kuryādasthiratāṁ jñātvā śaktyārogyadhanāyuṣam | etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ jīvacchrāddhaṁ mayā khaga

knowing the instability of the body, one should perform this according to one's own capacity, health, wealth, and lifespan. O bird, I have thus told you fully of this shraddha performed for the living.