The path taken by the departed souls is veiled in mystery; it cannot be known by the living, nor is their return possible. Among those who have gone before, some ancestors are not counted among the divine—they are regarded as worldly ancestors. Yet, all the gods themselves are indeed ancestors, and it is these gods whom the ancestors praise. Within every family, the line of descent is honored: father, grandfather, and great-grandfather are all remembered. Those who, during their lives, performed sacrificial rites with offerings are known as Barhishads. Because of their shared righteousness, the twice-born say that such ancestors attain union with the divine. In the end, those who fulfill their duties with steadfast faith do not fall from their state. Through śrāddha rites, through knowledge, and through seven forms of giving, these ancestors are honored. Together with the divine ancestors, subtle Soma-offerings are made for them. When offerings are given by relatives—those who share their lineage—these human ancestors partake of the monthly śrāddha, receiving what is given with devotion. However, there are those who have fallen from the duties of their order, deprived of the sacred offerings of svadhā and svāhā. Lamenting their own deeds, these souls reach places of torment, afflicted by hunger and thirst, wandering here and there. Longing for the food of others, they suffer many torments. They may be found on the Śālmalī tree, in the dreadful Vaitaraṇī river, in the pit of Kumbhīpāka, or ground between stones—each fate the result of their own actions. For those ancestors dwelling in other worlds, relatives, according to their family name, go and offer oblations to them in the realm of the departed. Sometimes, those who have fallen low due to their own actions are reborn at the end of the immobile beings. Whatever food these beings receive in those wombs and species, at the proper time, to the deserving recipient, and as prescribed by rule, it is given. Just as a calf finds its mother among many lost cows, so too does an offering to the ancestors, given with faith and accompanied by the proper mantras, never fail to reach its intended recipient. He who understands the coming and going of the departed knows how the ancestors are attained through the śrāddha performed with them in mind. The dark fortnight belongs to the ancestors in your hands, while the bright fortnight is for their dreams at night. The ancestors are remembered as the seasons, as the half-months, and as the months—each corresponding to one another. When they are pleased, the ancestors are satisfied by the acts performed with śrāddha. Thus, the true nature of the ancestors has been revealed in the Purāṇa. The means by which nectar is attained and the satisfaction of the ancestors have also been described. This eternal creation has been briefly recounted for you. It cannot be fully listed by one who desires prosperity; it is to be accepted with faith. What more, then, should I describe in detail and in order? Hearing this, the listener expresses a desire to know in detail about the origin and true nature of the ancestors. The sage responds: “I will tell you about their fourfold age; listen attentively. I will speak of the age, its divisions, and the duties of each age. This is known as the era of six illuminations, and I will now explain it to you in detail.” “One should know that the time of a blink of the eye is equal to the duration of a short syllable. Thirty such divisions make a muhūrta, and thirty muhūrtas together form a day and night. The sun divides day and night into measures for humans and for the world.