मनसाकाङ्क्षितान्कामांस्त्रैलोक्यप्रवरानपि
Even the highest desires of the three worlds, wished for in the mind,
इति श्रीब्रह्माण्डे महापुराणे वायुप्रोक्ते मध्यभागे तृतीय उपोद्धातपादे श्राद्धकल्पे ऽशौचविधिर्नाम चतुर्दशो ऽध्योयः
Thus ends the fourteenth chapter named 'The Rule of Impurity' in the Śrāddha Kalpa, the third section of the middle part, spoken by Vāyu, in the glorious Brahmāṇḍa Mahāpurāṇa.
श्रुता नः श्राद्धकल्पास्तु ऋषिभिर्ये प्रकीर्त्तिताः
We have heard the Śrāddha Kalpas as proclaimed by the sages.
देवाशेषं महाप्राज्ञ ऋषेस्तस्य मतं यथा
O greatly wise one, as the opinion of that sage concerning the gods in entirety.
श्राद्धं प्रति महाभागस्तन्मे श्रुणुत विस्तरात्
O highly fortunate ones, now hear from me in detail about the śrāddha rite.
परिशिष्टं प्रवक्ष्यामि ब्रह्मणानां परिक्षणम्
I shall explain the remainder, the examination of Brāhmaṇas.
दैवे पित्र्ये च नियतं श्रूयते वै परीक्षणम्
It is indeed heard that examination is prescribed in both divine and ancestral rites.
जानीयाद्वापि संवासाद्वर्जयेत्तं प्रयत्नतः
One should know by association, or else carefully avoid him.
सिद्धा हि विप्ररूपेण चरन्ति पृथिवीमिमाम्
Perfected beings indeed roam this earth in the form of Brāhmaṇas.
पूजयेच्चार्घ्यपाद्याभ्यां तथाभ्यञ्जनभोजनैः
One should honor them with water for washing the feet and for sipping, as well as with anointing and food.
नानारूपैश्चरन्त्येते प्रजा धर्मेण योजयन्
These beings move about in various forms, guiding people in righteousness.
व्यञ्जनानि तु वक्ष्यामि फलं तेषां तथैव च
I shall declare the characteristics and likewise the results of these.
सषोडशी सत्रफलं घृतेन मध्वातिरात्रस्य फलं तथैव
The sixteenfold offering yields the fruit of a complete sacrifice; with ghee and honey, the fruit of an Atirātra rite likewise.
सर्वार्थदं सर्वविप्रातिथेयं फलं च भुङ्क्ते सर्वमेधस्य नित्यम्
He enjoys the result of all-sacrifices, of all gifts to Brāhmaṇas, and of all desired objects, always.
तं वै देवा निरस्यन्ति हतो यद्वत्परावसुः
The gods indeed reject him, just as one slain is abandoned by his companions.
आविश्य विप्रं मोक्ष्यन्ति लोकानुग्रहकारणात्
Entering a Brāhmaṇa, they release him, for the sake of benefiting the world.
सर्वस्वेनापि तस्माद्धि पूजयेदतिथिं सदा
Therefore, one should always honor the guest with all one’s possessions.
वालखिल्यो यतिश्चैव विज्ञेयो ह्यतिथिः सदा
A Vālakhilya and an ascetic should always be recognized as guests.
अतिथेरतिथिः प्रोक्तः सो ऽतिथिर्योग उच्यते
A guest is called 'atithi' because he comes without a fixed time; such a one is said to be a true guest.
न च संतानसंबद्धो न देवी नागसे ऽतिथिः
He who is connected with offspring, or is a deity, or a serpent, is not a guest.
तस्मै सत्कृत्य दातव्यं यज्ञम्य फलमिच्छता
To him, one desiring the fruit of sacrifice should give with proper honor.
तस्मै सत्कृत्य दातव्यं सदापचितिरेव सः
To him, one should always give with proper honor; he is indeed to be ever respected.
एकान्तशीलं धीमन्तं सदा श्राद्धेषु भोजयेत्
One should always feed at śrāddha rites a person who is steadfast in conduct and wise.
अपि जातिशतं गत्वा न स मुच्येत किल्बिषात्
Even after passing through a hundred births, he does not become free from sin.
नियुक्तो ह्यनि युक्तो वा पङ्क्त्या हरति किल्बिषम्
Whether appointed or not, one in the line removes sin.
यतिस्तु सर्वविप्राणां सर्वेषामग्रतो भवेत्
Among all the Brāhmaṇas, the ascetic should be placed at the forefront.
योगादनन्तरं सो ऽथ नियोक्तव्यो विजानता
After the yogic act, he should then be appointed by one who knows.
एकवेदस्ततः पश्चादुपाध्यायस्ततः परम्
Next comes the single-Veda-knower, then the preceptor after that.
य एते पूर्वनिर्द्दिष्टाः सर्वे ते ह्यनुपूर्वशः
All those previously mentioned should be seated in due order.
यायावरश्च पञ्चैते विज्ञेयाः पङ्क्तिपावनाः
The wandering mendicant and these five are to be known as purifiers of the line.