स्निग्धः प्रदक्षिणश्चैव वह्निः स्यात्कार्यसिद्धये
The fire should be gentle and move to the right for the accomplishment of the rite.
अक्षयं पूजितास्तेन भवन्ति पितरो ऽग्नयः
By worshipping with that, the ancestors and the fires become inexhaustible.
श्राद्धे महापवित्राणि मेध्यानि च विशेषतः
In the śrāddha, the most pure and especially sanctified things are required.
पात्रेषु फलमुद्दिष्टं यन्मया श्राद्धकर्मणि
The fruit that I have prescribed for the śrāddha rite is to be placed in the vessels.
कृत्वा समाहितं चित्तमाग्नेयं वै करोम्यहम्
Having composed the mind, I perform the fire offering with concentration.
घृतमादाय पात्रे च जुहुयाद्धव्यवाहने
Taking ghee in a vessel, one should offer it into the sacrificial fire.
उदुंबरस्तथाबिल्वश्चन्दनो यज्ञियाश्च ये
The udumbara, bilva, sandalwood, and those trees suitable for sacrifice—
समिदर्थे प्रशस्ताः स्युरेते वृक्षा विशेषतः
These trees are especially praised for use as sacrificial sticks.
पूजिताः समिदर्थं ते पितॄणां वचनं यथा
When these are offered as sacrificial sticks, it is as the ancestors have declared.
फलं यत्कर्मणस्तस्य तन्मे निगदतः शृणु
Now hear from me, as I declare, the fruit of that action.
श्लेष्मान्तको नक्तमालः कपित्थः शाल्मलिस्तथा
Śleṣmāntaka, naktamāla, kapittha, and also śālmalī—
चिरबिल्वस्तथा कोलस्तिदुकः श्राद्धकर्मणि
Long bilva, kola, and tiduka are used in the śrāddha rite.
शकुनानां निवासांश्च वर्जयेत महीरुहान्
One should avoid trees that are the dwelling places of birds.
स्वाहेति चैव देवानां यज्ञकर्मण्युदाहृतम्
The word 'svāhā' is uttered for the gods in the sacrificial rite.
उपोद्धातपादे श्राद्धकल्पे समिद्वर्णन नामैकादशो ऽध्यायः
In the section on preliminary procedures, this is the eleventh chapter, named 'Description of the Sacred Sticks in the Śrāddha Rite.'
आथर्वणस्त्वेष विधिरित्युवाच बृहस्पतिः
Then Bṛhaspati said: 'This is the Atharvan procedure.'
देवा अपि पितॄन्पूर्वमर्च्चयन्ति हि यत्नतः
Even the gods, with great care, first worship the ancestors.
विश्वाख्यास्तु सुतास्तस्यां धर्मतो जज्ञिरे दश
Ten sons, known as the Viśvas, were righteously born to her.
समस्तास्ते महात्मानश्चेरुरुग्रं महत्तपः
All those great souls performed intense and severe austerities.
शुद्धेन मन्सा प्रीता ऊचुस्तान्पितरस्तदा
With pure minds, pleased, the ancestors then spoke to them.
एवमुक्ते तु पितृभिस्तदा त्रैलोक्यभावनः
When thus addressed by the ancestors, the creator of the three worlds,
प्रीतो ऽस्मि तपसानेन कं कामं करवाणि वः
I am pleased by this austerity—what boon shall I grant you?
ऊचुस्ते सहिताः सर्वे ब्रह्माणां लोकभावनम्
All of them together spoke to Brahmā, the creator of the worlds.
प्रत्युवाच ततो ब्रह्मा तान्वै त्रिदशपूजितः
Then Brahmā, honored by the gods, replied to them.
पितृभिश्च तथेत्युक्तमेवमेतन्न संशयः
And the ancestors said, 'So be it; thus it is, without doubt.'
अस्माकं कल्पिते श्राद्धे युष्मानप्राशनं हि वै
In the śrāddha we have established, you must partake of the offerings.
विसर्जनमथास्माकं पूर्वं पश्चात्तु दैवतम्
The dismissal of us should come first, and then that of the gods.
भूतानां देवतानां च पितॄणां चैव कर्मणि
In the rites for beings, gods, and ancestors alike,
एवं दत्त्वा वरं तेषां ब्रह्मा पितृगणैः सह
Thus granting them the boon, Brahmā, together with the hosts of ancestors,
वेदे पञ्च महायज्ञा नराणां समुदाहृताः
In the Veda, five great sacrifices of men are declared.