Lord Krishna's answers to Garuda's questions

Answers to the questions asked by Garuda Ji to Lord Krishna for the peace of the souls of ancestors and for the welfare of humanity.

When Garuda asked Lord Krishna about the sorrows of the mortal world, Lord Krishna was very pleased to hear his questions. He said, "You have asked a very important question concerning the well-being of humans. Now, listen carefully to the rituals performed for the peace of the soul after the body dies."

"Hey Garuda, you are my dear devotee, and since you have asked about this important matter, I will tell you something that has not been shared with anyone else. This supreme essence is beyond all distinctions and is described in stories and scriptures. It cannot be seen by Indra, other deities, yogis, or wise sages who practice meditation. It is a secret, and I am revealing it to you now."

In this world, according to tradition, the soul cannot find peace without proper last rites. Therefore, it is essential to perform the final rites according to the rules. Traditionally, sons or descendants carry out these rites, which is why having a good son is considered highly beneficial. However, anyone who follows all the rituals with full devotion can perform these rites. For example, a disciple is also considered like a son.

Brothers, sisters, friends, and relatives can all perform the last rites and Shraddh (rituals for ancestors). Spreading sesame seeds and kusha grass on the ground where the body is placed makes the base of the body like the sacred ground of a menstruating woman, capable of supporting life. Placing five gems (Panchratna) in the deceased's mouth is like sowing seeds, ensuring the soul's positive journey. Therefore, it is important to perform the rituals involving sesame seeds, kusha grass, Panchratna, and others with devotion and according to the prescribed methods.

First, the ground should be covered with cow dung. After that, sesame seeds and kusha grass should be spread on it. Then, the person who has died should be laid on the seat made of kusha grass and sesame seeds on that ground. Doing this helps the soul burn away all its sins and become free from them. The kusha grass spread beneath the dead body ensures that the soul will definitely reach heaven—there is no doubt about it.

The ground where there is no excrement remains always pure. If there is a mixture of excrement and urine, cleaning it and covering it with cow dung makes it pure. When a deceased person is laid on the ground that has not been covered with cow dung, evil beings like ghosts, spirits, and demons may enter the body.

To ensure the liberation of a dying person, they should be laid on a mandala (a sacred geometric pattern) made on the ground. Daily rituals like offerings, Shraddh (rituals for ancestors), washing the body with water for purification, and worship of Brahmins are considered important for liberation. A person should not be laid on the ground without being covered with cow dung and without a mandala.

Creating a mandala on the ground invites the presence of deities like Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Lakshmi, and Agni, making it essential to form one. If a person dies on ground without a mandala, whether a child, elder, or adult, they do not receive another body. Instead, their soul wanders aimlessly with the wind. Such wandering souls do not receive Shraddh or water offerings, and they do not attain liberation.

"Hey Garuda, sesame seeds originated from my sweat, so they are completely pure and sacred. Using sesame seeds for a deceased person ensures that evil beings like demons and spirits do not come near. Sesame seeds are like the color of white, black, and cow urine. They help destroy all the sins committed by the body. One donation of sesame seeds is equivalent to donating thirty-two tolas (approx. 23 gm) of gold. Offering sesame seeds in rituals, donations, and sacrifices is highly meritorious and everlasting.

Kusha grass originated from my hair, and sesame seeds came from my sweat. Therefore, kusha grass is essential for satisfying deities, and sesame seeds are necessary for satisfying ancestors."

When deities and ancestors are satisfied, it leads to the satisfaction of the entire world, and since Lord Hari is the protector of the world, satisfying the world also satisfies Him. Therefore, to ensure the well-being and liberation of ancestors, one should perform the Shraddh rituals using sesame seeds as prescribed. This practice satisfies all deities, including Brahma, ancestors, and other gods. Performing rituals with the right shoulder covered (as per traditional practice) ensures the satisfaction of ancestors. It is important to know that Brahma resides in the root part of kusha grass, Vishnu in the middle part, and Shiva in the tip. These three deities are considered to be present in kusha grass.

"Hey King of Birds, Brahmins, mantras, kusha grass, fire, and tulsi (holy basil) are never considered stale even when used repeatedly. They can be used multiple times in rituals. Tulsi, Brahmins, cows, Vishnu, and the Ekadashi fast—these five-help people stranded in the ocean of worldly existence to cross over like a boat.

O best of birds, Vishnu, Ekadashi fast, the Gita, tulsi, Brahmins, and cows—these six are the means to provide liberation in this material world. This is known as the 'Shatpadi' or 'Sixfold Path'."

Darbhamoole sthito Brahma madhye Devo Janaardanah।।

Darbhaagre Shankaram vidyaat trayo devaah kushe smritaah।

Vipraah mantraah kusha vahnistulasii cha khageshwara।।

Naite nirmaalyataam yaanti kriyamaanaah punah punah।

Tulasii braahmanaa gaavo vishnurekaadashii khaga।।

Pancha pravahanaanyeva bhavaavdhau majjataam nrinaam।

Vishnurekaadashii geetaa tulasii vipradhenavah॥

Asaare durgasansaare shatpadee muktidaayinee।

Just as the purity of sesame seeds cannot be compared, similarly, kusha grass and tulsi are also extremely pure. These three substances protect a dying person from their suffering.

Kusha grass should be pulled up with both hands, placed on the ground, and sprinkled with water. It should be held in the dying person's hands at the time of death.

A person who holds kusha grass and is surrounded by it, even if they are without mantras, reaches the realm of Vishnu. In this transient world, by spreading kusha grass on the ground after applying cow dung, and placing the dying person on it, and burning them in pure fire, all their sins are destroyed.

Salt and its divine essence help one reach a higher realm and fulfill all desires. Without salt, food lacks flavor. Therefore, salt is very dear to ancestors and helps attain heaven. Salt is said to have originated from the body of Lord Vishnu. Yogis who understand this recommend giving salt as a donation. If a person of any caste—whether a Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, woman, or Shudra—is restless and unable to breathe, giving salt can help them attain heaven.

"Hey King of Birds, Now listen carefully about death. Death is a time called "Kala," when the soul separates from the body. Death occurs at its appointed time. Due to the pain and suffering at the time of death, a person forgets all their actions. Just as the wind moves clouds around, living beings are controlled by time.

Sattvic, Rajasic, and Tamasic qualities are all under the influence of time. They affect living beings according to the seasons. The Sun, Moon, Shiva, Wind, Indra, Fire, Sky, Earth, Friends, Medicine, the Eight Vasus, Rivers, Oceans, and the concepts of presence and absence all appear, grow, diminish, and eventually are destroyed by time.

O bird,When death approaches, a divine affliction may arise in the body. The senses become weak, and strength, light, and energy diminish. Just as a person might feel the pain of being stung by millions of scorpions, they should understand that this is similar to the pain of dying. After this, consciousness fades, and a state of rigidity follows.

After this, the messengers of Yama, the god of death, come close to the person and start pulling their soul forcefully. At that time, the person's soul rises to their throat. Just before death, the person’s appearance becomes horrifying. They start frothing at the mouth, and their mouth fills with saliva. After this, the small figure inside the body cries out and looks towards their home as the messengers of Yama take them to the realm of the dead.

At the time of death, the air flowing within the body becomes enraged and moves rapidly, causing the fire element to also become agitated. Without fuel, intense heat starts to penetrate deep into the being, causing severe pain. However, the air known as Udana, which prevents those devoted and unattached to worldly pleasures from descending, rises upward.

Those who do not lie, do not break promises of love, are devout, and have faith die peacefully. People who, despite their desires, jealousy, and hatred, remain righteous and virtuous, also die happily.

Those who teach ignorance and delusion get caught in deep darkness at the time of death. Those who give false testimony, lie, betray trust, and slander die in a state of unconsciousness. For them, evil spirits, the Yamadutas, come with sticks and maces, causing a terrible stench and fear. Witnessing such a horrific sight, the person's body trembles with fear.

At that time, the person continuously remembers their parents and children, crying, screaming, and shouting for help. Despite their efforts, no clear words come out of their mouth. Fear makes their eyes flutter, their breaths become rapid, and their mouth dries up. Overwhelmed by pain, they abandon their body and become untouchable and repulsive to everyone. Oh Garuda, I have now described the nature of death in detail.

Now, I will answer your second question, which is quite unusual. Oh, king of birds, beings suffer from various ailments from their past lives and continue to wander here. Deities, demons, and spirits provide some comfort, while human, animal, and bird forms are extremely painful. In these forms, beings experience the results of their past actions according to their karma. I will now describe the consequences of karma in this context.

Oh Garuda! Beings take birth in this world to experience the results of their good and bad deeds. Listen to what happens to those who commit great sins, like killing a Brahmin, and then return to Earth to experience the results of their actions.

Oh, king of birds! Those who commit the grave sin of killing a Brahmin are reborn as deer, horses, pigs, or camels. Thieves who steal gold are reborn as worms, insects, or moths. Those who have relationships with their guru’s wife are reborn as grass, vines, or shrubs.

People who have committed severe sins, like killing a Brahmin, are affected by diseases. For example, a person who has killed a Brahmin might suffer from diseases like tuberculosis, while a person who steals gold or has an affair with a guru’s wife might suffer from skin diseases.

Associating with wicked people for even a year makes one sinful. Talking, touching, breathing together, living together, eating together, performing rituals, giving advice, and sexual activities spread sins in one’s body.

Engaging in relationships with others' wives and stealing a Brahmin's wealth results in being reborn as a Brahma Rakshasa, living in forests and desolate places. Those who steal jewels will lead a life of extreme poverty.

People who steal leaves and scents from trees are reborn as moles. Those who steal grains become rats, vehicle thieves are reborn as camels, and fruit thieves become monkeys.

Eating without reciting prayers results in being reborn as a crow. Stealing household items leads to being reborn as a vulture, honey thieves become bees, and fruit thieves are reborn as vultures. Stealing a cow means being reborn as a cow, while stealing fire leads to becoming a heron.

Stealing women's clothes results in diseases like white discharge, and stealing liquids decreases interest in food. Those who steal bronze are reborn as swans. Stealing someone else's wealth causes epilepsy, killing a guru results in being a cruel, dwarf-like being, and abandoning one's wife leads to a distorted body.

Stealing from gods and Brahmins or eating others' flesh results in leprosy. Ignorance about what is edible or not leads to a serious disease called goiter in the next life. Stealing inheritance makes one blind and living off a woman's support results in being lame in the next birth.

A person who abandons his faithful wife is born unlucky in the next life. Someone who eats sweets alone suffers from breathing problems. If a man has relations with a Brahmin's wife, he becomes a jackal, a bed thief becomes poor, and a clothes thief is reborn as an insect. A person born blind with a fish-like defect becomes a beggar if they steal a lamp. Killing a friend results in being reborn as an owl. Speaking ill of one's father or elders leads to tuberculosis. A liar stammers, and a false witness suffers from dropsy. Someone who disrupts marriages becomes a mosquito, and if reborn as a human, they will have a cleft lip.

A person who relieves themselves at a crossroads becomes sinful. Someone who corrupts a young girl suffers from incontinence and impotence. A person who sells the Vedas becomes unrighteous and is reborn as a tiger. Those who perform forbidden rituals are reborn as pigs. Eating prohibited food leads to becoming a weasel, and those who burn forests are reborn as fireflies. Eating stale or forbidden food results in becoming a worm, and someone affected by fish-related faults is reborn as a bee.

A person who sets houses on fire becomes a leper, and someone who takes what isn’t given to them is reborn as an ox. Stealing cows leads to being reborn as snakes. Those who steal food suffer from indigestion and stealing water results in being reborn as fish. Stealing milk leads to becoming a crane, and giving stale food to a Brahmin makes one hunchbacked. If someone steals fruit, their children die. A person who eats alone without sharing becomes childless in their next life. Abandoning the path of renunciation leads to becoming a demon.

Stealing water leads to being reborn as a papiha bird, and stealing books causes one to be born blind. A person who promises to donate to Brahmins but doesn't fulfill it is reborn as a jackal. Those who spread false rumors become turtles. Fruit sellers may face misfortune in their next life. A Brahmin who marries a lower-caste woman is reborn as a wolf. Touching fire with feet leads to becoming a cat and eating animal meat results in sickness. Destroying water sources causes one to be reborn as a fish. Those who don't listen to Lord Vishnu’s stories or saints' praises suffer from ear diseases. A person who steals food from someone else becomes foolish.

A person who steals traditional musical instruments used in worship suffers from goiter. Someone who performs religious acts out of pride gets a skin disease. A betrayer experiences constant headaches. Taking offerings like flowers and food dedicated to Lord Shiva causes sexual issues. Women who participate in sinful acts are reborn as wives of animals. After experiencing the consequences of such actions, people enter the various realms of hell.

Just as there are different things in the world, there are also many species. Each being experiences happiness and sorrow based on their past actions. The message is clear: good deeds lead to good outcomes, while bad deeds result in suffering.

Writer :- krishna