Garuda Purana: illustrated cover of the Vedapath edition
Garuda Purana: illustrated cover of the Vedapath edition
PuranaNarrated by Vishnu to GarudaVaishnava Tradition

Garuda Purana in Japanese

गरुडपुराण

Afterlife, Dharma & the Path to Moksha

A profound dialogue between Lord Vishnu and his divine mount Garuda, covering afterlife doctrines, dharma, funeral rites, liberation practices, and the full spectrum of Vaishnava wisdom.

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About This Book

The Garuda Purana is one of the eighteen Mahapuranas, a foundational text of the Vaishnava tradition. Narrated by Lord Vishnu to Garuda, it is best known for its vivid descriptions of the afterlife, the journey of the soul after death, and the rites for the departed. Beyond its famous Preta Kalpa, it encompasses creation theology, dharma, vratas, yoga, Ayurvedic medicine, gemology, and the path to final liberation through devotion to Narayana.

How This Book Is Organised

The Garuda Purana is structured across three Kandas, each addressing a distinct domain of sacred knowledge.

Kandas

Three major sections

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Adhyayas

Chapters within each Kanda

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Shlokas

Verses read one by one

Available Reading Features

This edition of the Garuda Purana on Vedapath includes:

Sanskrit

Original Sanskrit verses (Devanagari)

Transliteration

Transliteration for guided reading

Meanings

Word-by-word meanings

Translations

Clear, faithful translations

Enrichment

Afterlife doctrines, shraddha rituals, and moksha practices

Kandas of the Garuda Purana

The Garuda Purana is traditionally divided into three Kandas.
Each Kanda covers a distinct domain of dharma, afterlife, and liberation.

Garuda Purana - Brahma Khanda

Brahma Khanda

The Section on Brahman

第一巻(カンダ1)は『ガルダ・プラーナ』の開門として、その神学的中軸を明確にする。すなわち、ナーラーヤナ(ハリ/ヴァースデーヴァ)こそ至上のブラフマンであり、宇宙の創造・維持・融解の根源である。冒頭はマンガラーチャラナ(吉祥の讃礼)として、垢なく遍満し、物質的器官と感官の限界を超えた主に敬礼する。 続いて主要神々とサラスヴァティーへの帰敬が述べられ、教説がシャーストラ的(正統な聖典学)な対話と講説によって伝えられることが示される。

NarayanaAvatarsDharmaVratasYoga
Garuda Purana - Preta Kalpa

Preta Kalpa (Preta-khaṇḍa) / Funeral & Afterlife Instruction Layer

The Section on the Departed

第2巻(Khanda 2)第1章は、『ガルダ・プラーナ』で最も広く引用される教義・儀礼の流れを開く。すなわち、死後におけるジーヴァ(jīva)の行方と、アンティエーシュティ(antyeṣṭi、最終葬送儀礼)、シュラーダッダ(śrāddha)、プレータ・クリヤー(preta-kriyā)を定めるシャーストラ(śāstra)的根拠である。

AfterlifeYamaShraddhaKarmaNaraka
Garuda Purana - Moksha Sadhana Prakarana

Preta-kalpa (Preta Kalpa) — Mokṣa-sādhana Prakaraṇa (Means to Liberation Unit)

Means to Liberation

第3巻(カンダ3)は、プレータ・カルパ(Preta-kalpa)の解脱志向の説示を開き、神学と解釈学の基礎を確立する。すなわち、ナーラーヤナ(Nārāyaṇa/ヴィシュヌ Viṣṇu)こそが究極の帰依処であり、礼拝の本尊であり、聖典の真意が帰着する中心であると宣言する。古典的プラーナの枠組みとしてナイミシャーラニヤ(Naimiṣāraṇya)において、シャウナカ(Śaunaka)に率いられた聖仙たちは、ダルマ・アルタ・カーマ・モークシャを成就する道を求め、スータ(Sūta)に決定的な実在知を請う。

MokshaBhaktiJnanaLiberationVishnu

Key episodes

  1. Garuda Asks What Happens After Death

    Preta Kalpa, adhyayas 1-2

    With Garuda, Vishnu, Suta and Shaunaka and the sages

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