Garuda Mahā Purana - Preta Khaṇḍa
13 - Obsequial Rites
Garuda said:
1. O Lord of gods, please tell me by means of what rite can one prevent a stalemate after death. (What are the rites that men should do in the world to forestall the state of being a ghost for ever?)
The lord said:
2. Please listen, I shall explain briefly the obsequious rites. If one desires to attain salvation, one has to perform them oneself.
3-4. Even in regard to women, and children above the age of five, this is specially insisted on. The rites of Vrushotsarga (gifting away a bull calf) are for forestalling the continuance of ghost hood. There is no other rite in the world except Vrushotsarga (for that purpose). While during his life or after death if Vrushotsarga is performed he will never continue for long as a ghost. There is no necessity for other gifts or sacrifices.
Garuda said:
5-6. If Vrushotsarga is to the performed during life or after death, at what time has it to be performed, O foremost among gods, Madhusudana, please tell me. If the sixteen types of Shraddha are performed what are their effects on the dead man?
The lord said:
7. If Pindas are offered without performing Vrushotsarga no benefit accrues. Everything given unto the dead is fruitless.
8. If Vrushotsarga is not carried out on the eleventh day after death, the ghost hood of the dead becomes eternal even if hundreds of Shraddhas are performed in his favour.
Garuda said:
9-10. If a person dies of snake-bite, no funeral rite, such as cremation takes place. Similarly, if he dies by drowning or being struck by a horned animal or through weapons or an accident for how many days do the relatives remain impure? O lord, please remove my doubts on this point.
The lord said:
11. If he is a Brahmin, impurity lasts for six months; if a Kshatriya, two months and a half; if a Vaishya, one month and a half, and if a Shudra it lasts for a month.
12. If a person has gifted some precious articles of different sorts to a worthy receiver and has lived a celibate life when alive, he does not go to a wretched state (even if he dies an unnatural death).
13. If a person has performed the rite of Vrushotsarga and has lived a celibate life, he goes to Brahmaloka, even if he dies an unnatural death.
14. If a person has lived an unrighteous life devoid of good conduct, but has performed Vrushotsarga, he does not go to the world of Yama after death.
15. When a person dies, his son, brother, grandson, relative, caste-man or the successor should perform Vrushotsarga.
16. If there be no son, the wife can perform Vrushotsarga; if no wife, the daughter's son or the daughter herself can do the same. But, in case, he has sons, none else should perform Vrushotsarga.
Garuda said:
17. If one has no kinsmen such as sons, mother, relatives, wife or husband, how are the obsequial rites to be performed? By what rite are men and women to attain salvation warding off miseries. O lord, please dispel this doubt of mine entirely.
The lord said:
18. There is no salvation for a man without a son. He can never hope to attain heaven. Hence, somehow a man must strive to get a son.
19. Whatever gifts are made by one during the life time, become beneficial later.
20. Different sorts of delicacies and foodstuff given by one's hand stand in good stead after death.
21. Cows, plots of land, gold, clothes, foodstuffs, good posts (positions), etc. offered to the needy succour a man wherever he is.
22. One shall perform sacred rites as long as the body is hale and hearty. Falling sick, one may not feel enthusiastic to do anything even if prompted by others.
23. Until the rites of obsequies are performed the dead man, ever hungry, roams about day and night in the form of airy matter.
24. He is likely to be born again, a worm or an insect or a locust or in the womb of an evil-minded base woman. He may die immediately after rebirth.
25. As long as the body is healthy, free from sickness, as long as old age has not set in, as long as the power of sense organs is not impaired, as long as there is no risk to life, an intelligent man should endeavour for the welfare of the soul. It is foolishness to begin to dig a well when the house has caught fire.
Summary of chapter 13 of the Garuda Mahā Purana - Preta Khaṇḍa is as follows:
The Supreme Lord reveals the compassionate remedies designed to grant ultimate liberation to souls trapped in ghostly bondage, placing primary importance upon the sacred rite of Vṛshotsarga, the ceremonial release of a consecrated bull. Bhagavān Vishṇu explains that when a bull marked with sacred symbols is freed with Vedic chants during the funeral ceremonies, its every step in the physical world generates boundless merit that instantly shatters the chains of Pretatva. The Lord assures Garuḍa that this noble ceremony pleases all deities and ancestors, elevating the trapped spirit directly from darkness into the radiant heavenly realms.