तेषामभिमुखो दद्याद्दर्भत्पिण्डांश्च यत्नतः
One should carefully offer them darbha grass balls, facing them directly.
हरिता वै स पिञ्जालाः पुष्टाः स्निग्धाः समाहिताः
They should be green, with fine roots, nourished, glossy, and well-arranged.
उपमूले तथा नीला विष्टरार्थं कुशोत्तमाः
At the base, they are blue; for the purpose of spreading, the best kuśa grass.
पूर्वं कीर्त्तिमतां श्रेष्ठो बभूवाश्वः प्रजापतिः
Formerly, among the illustrious, the horse became the best, O Prajāpati.
तस्माद्देयाः सदा काशाः श्राद्धकर्मसु पूजिताः
Therefore, kāśa grass should always be given, honored in śrāddha rites.
प्रजाः पुष्टिद्युतिप्रज्ञाकीर्त्तिकान्तिसमन्विताः
Beings endowed with nourishment, brilliance, wisdom, fame, and beauty.
सकृदेवास्तरेद्यर्भान्पिण्डार्थे दक्षिणामुखः
If one crosses children just once for the sake of the offering, facing south.
एकत्र चाधाय मनः श्राद्धं कुर्यात्समाहितः
With mind concentrated in one place, one should perform śrāddha with attention.
रक्षांसि यक्षाः सपिशाचसंघा हता मया यातुधानाश्च सर्वे
Demons, yakṣas, and hosts of piśācas, as well as all yātudhānas, have been slain by me.
शिवां हि बुद्धिं ध्रुवमिच्छमानः क्षिपेद्द्विचातिर्दिशमुत्तरां गतः
Desiring firm and auspicious understanding, one should cast four times toward the north.
यस्मिन्देशे पठ्यते मन्त्र एष तं वै देशं राक्षसा वर्जयन्ति
In whatever place this mantra is recited, the rākṣasas avoid that place.
पवित्रपाणिश्च भवेन्न वा हि यः पुमान्न कार्यस्य फलं समश्नुते
If one does not have a pure hand, he does not obtain the fruit of the act.
मनसा काङ्क्षते यद्यत्तत्तद्यद्युः पितमहाः
Whatever one desires in the mind, that indeed the ancestors receive.
भवन्त्येवं कृते श्राद्धे नित्यमेव प्रयत्नतः
Thus, when the śrāddha is performed with constant care, it surely bears fruit.
विरणाश्चोतुवालाश्च लड्वा वर्ज्याश्च नित्यशः
Foods such as viraṇā, utuvālā, and laḍvā are always to be avoided.
अञ्जनाभ्यजनं गन्धान्सूत्रप्रणयनं तथा
Application of collyrium, perfumes, and the wearing of garlands are likewise to be avoided.
काशाः पुनर्भवा ये च बर्हिणो ह्युपबर्हिणः
Those who are kāśāḥ, punarbhavāḥ, barhiṇaḥ, and upabarhiṇaḥ are also to be avoided.
पुष्पगन्धविभूषाणामेष मन्त्र उदाहृतः
This is the mantra prescribed for flowers, fragrances, and ornaments.
अन्यार्थे लौकिकं वापि जुहुयात्कर्मसिद्धये
For other purposes, or even for worldly aims, one may offer oblations for the accomplishment of the rite.
समाहितेन मनसा प्रणीयाग्निं समन्ततः
With a concentrated mind, the fire should be kindled all around.
सोमाय वै पितृमते स्वधा अङ्गिरसे पुनः
To Soma, to the Lord of the Fathers, to Svadhā, and again to Aṅgiras.
इत्येते होममन्त्रास्तु त्रयाणामनुपूर्वशः
These are the mantras for the oblation, to be recited in the proper order for the three.
एतयोरन्तरे नित्यं जुहुयाद्वै विवस्वते
In between these two, one should always offer oblation to Vivasvat.
होमजप्ये नमस्कारः प्रोक्षणं च विशेषतः
In the homa and recitation, salutation and sprinkling are especially prescribed.
अञ्जनाब्यञ्जनं चैव पिण्डनिर्वपणं तथा
Application of collyrium and anointment, as well as the offering of balls of food, are also to be performed.
क्रिया सर्वा यथोद्दिष्टाः प्रयत्नेन समाचरेत्
All the rites as prescribed should be performed with diligence.
विधूमे लेलिहाने च होतव्यं कर्मसिद्धये
When the fire is smokeless and licking upward, the offering should be made for the success of the rite.
यजमानो भवे दन्धः सो ऽमुत्रेति हि नः श्रुतम्
If the sacrificer is slow, it is said that he will be so in the next world as well—so we have heard.
ज्वालाधूमापसव्यश्च स तु वह्निरसिद्धये
If the fire has flames, smoke, or moves to the left, it leads to failure of the rite.
भूमिं वगाहते यत्र तत्र विद्यात्पराभवत्
Wherever the fire touches the ground, that should be known as defeat.