चित्रायां चैव यः कुर्यात्पश्येद्रूपवतः सुतान्
And whoever performs it under Citrā will see sons endowed with beauty.
पुत्रार्थी तु विशाखासु श्राद्धमीहेत मालवः
One desiring sons should strive to perform śrāddha under the Viśākhā constellation.
आधिपत्यं भवेच्छ्रेष्ठं ज्येष्ठायां सततं तु यः
He who always performs it under the Jyeṣṭhā constellation attains supreme lordship.
उत्तरासु तु कुर्वाणो वीतशोको भवेन्नरः
Indeed, by performing it under the Uttarā constellations, a man becomes free from sorrow.
राज्यभागी धनिष्ठासु प्राप्नुया द्विपुलं धनम्
By performing it under the Dhaniṣṭhā constellation, one attains a share in rulership and abundant wealth.
नक्षत्रैर्वारुणैः कुर्वन्भिषक्सिद्धिमवाप्नुयात्
By performing it under the Varuṇa constellations, one attains success as a physician.
उत्तरास्वनतिक्रम्य विन्देद्गा वै सहस्रशः
Having crossed the northern regions, one indeed finds cows by the thousands.
अश्वानश्वयुजा भक्तो भरण्यां साधुसत्तमः
The best among the virtuous, devoted, with horses yoked and unyoked, in Bharaṇī.
कृत्स्नां बलेन सो ऽक्लिष्ठो लभ्ध्वा च प्रशशास ह
He, unwearied, having obtained the entire force, ruled indeed.
श्राद्धकल्पे नक्षत्रश्राद्धं नाम अष्टादशो ऽध्यायः
In the section on Śrāddha, the eighteenth chapter is called 'Nakṣatra Śrāddha.'
किंस्वित्स्याच्चिररात्राय किं वानन्त्याय कल्पते
What, indeed, is suitable for a long night, or what is proper for the end?
तानि मे शृणु सर्वाणि फलं चैषां यथातथम्
Hear from me all of these, and the result of each, as they truly are.
दत्तेन मासं प्रीयन्ते श्राद्धेन हि पितामहाः
By a gift, the ancestors are pleased for a month through the Śrāddha offering.
शाशेन चतुरो मासान्पञ्च प्रीणाति शाकुनैः
With hare, one pleases them for four months, and with birds, for five.
अष्टमासिकमित्युक्तं यच्च पार्वतकं भवेत्
That which is called 'eight-monthly' is said to be that which comes from a mountain animal.
गवयस्य तु मांसेन तृप्तिः स्याद्दशमासिकी
With the flesh of the wild ox, satisfaction lasts for ten months.
श्राद्धे च तृप्तिदं गव्यं पयः संवत्सरं द्विजाः
And in Śrāddha, cow's milk, O twice-born, gives satisfaction for a year.
पायसं मधुसर्पिर्भ्यां छायायां कुञ्जरस्य च
Rice cooked with milk, with honey and ghee, and the shadow of an elephant as well.
अत्र गाथाः पितृगीताः कीर्तयन्ति पुराविदः
On this, the ancient knowers recite verses sung by the ancestors.
अपि नः स कुले यायाद्यो नो दद्यात् त्रयोदशीम्
May he not come into our family who does not give the thirteenth offering.
गौरीं वाप्युद्वहेद्भार्यां नालं वा वृषमुत्सृजेत्
Or who does not marry a fair wife, or does not release a bull.
दातॄणां चैव यत्पुण्यं निखिलेन प्रवीहि मे
And the merit of the givers—tell me all of it in full.
पितृक्षये हि तत्पुत्र तस्मात्तत्राक्षयं स्मृतम्
For when the ancestors are diminished, O son, therefore that is called inexhaustible.
फलं वृषस्य वक्ष्यामि गदतो मे निबोधत
I will declare the fruit of the bull; listen as I speak.
वृषोत्स्रष्टा पुनात्येव दशातीतान्दशावरान्
The one who offers a bull purifies ten ancestors above and ten below.
वृषोत्सर्ग्गत्पितॄणां तु ह्यक्षयं समुदाहृतम्
The offering of a bull to the ancestors is indeed declared to be inexhaustible.
सर्वं तदक्षयं तस्य पितॄणां नात्र संशयः
All that is inexhaustible for his ancestors—of this there is no doubt.
मधुकुल्याः पितॄंस्तस्य ह्यक्षयाश्च भवन्ति वै
The ancestors who partake of honey and grains from him also become inexhaustible.
तृप्तिस्तु या पितॄणां वै सा वृषेणेह कल्पते
The satisfaction that comes to the ancestors is indeed produced here by the bull.
मधु वामधुमिश्रं वा सर्वमेवाक्षयं भवेत्
Honey, or honey mixed with butter, all of it becomes inexhaustible.