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.
यत्र स्थास्यन्ति दातारस्तत्स्थानं वै निबोधत
Where the givers will abide—know that place.
ब्राह्मं स्थानमवाप्नोति सर्वलोकपुरस्कृतम्
He attains the Brahmic state, honored by all the worlds.
अतो ऽन्यथा तु यो भुङ्क्ते स ऋणं नित्यमश्नुते
But whoever eats otherwise always consumes debt.
तस्मान्निर्वर्तयेत्पञ्च महायज्ञान्सदा बुधः
Therefore, the wise should always perform the five great sacrifices.
बलिं सुविहितं कुर्या दुच्चैरुच्चतरं क्षिपेत्
One should properly offer the bali, casting it high and higher.
तन्निवेद्यो भवेत्पिण्डः पितॄणां यस्तु जीवति
That ball of food should be offered to the ancestors by one who is alive.
निवेद्यं केचिदिच्छन्ति जीवन्त्यपि हि यत्नतः
Some wish for the offering to be made even while they are alive, with great effort.
इच्छन्ति केचिदाचार्यः पश्चात्पिण्डनिवेदनम्
Some teachers desire the offering of the rice-ball to be made afterwards.
तद्धिधर्मार्थकुशलो नेत्युवाच बृहस्मतिः
Bṛhasmati, skilled in dharma and artha, declared that this is not so.
योगात्मानो महात्मानः पितरो योग संभवाः
The ancestors are great souls, whose essence is yoga, and who arise from yoga.