सृष्टेरादौ पितृगणान्ससर्ज जगतां विधिः
At the beginning of creation, the Lord of the world fashioned the hosts of ancestors.
सप्त दृष्ट्वा पितृगणान्सिद्धिरूपान्मनोहरान्
Seeing seven groups of ancestors, perfect and enchanting in form,
स्नानं तर्पणपर्य्यन्तं श्राद्धान्तं देवपूजनम्
He established the rites from bathing up to offerings, ending with the śrāddha and worship of the gods.
नित्यं न कुर्य्याद्यो विप्रस्त्रिसन्ध्यं श्राद्धतर्पणम्
A brāhmaṇa who does not daily perform the three sandhyās, śrāddha, and offerings,
हरिसेवाविहीनश्च श्रीहरेरनिवेद्यभुक्
Who neglects service to Hari and does not partake of food offered to Śrī Hari,
ब्रह्मा श्राद्धादिकं सृष्ट्वा जगाम पितृहेतवे
Brahmā, having created the śrāddha and related rites, departed for the sake of the ancestors.
सर्वे प्रजग्मुः क्षुधिता विषण्णा ब्रह्मणः सभाम्
All, hungry and dejected, went to the assembly of Brahmā.
ब्रह्मा च मानसीं कन्यां ससृजे तां मनोहराम्
Brahmā then created a daughter by his mind, enchanting in appearance.
विद्यावतीं गुणवतीमपि रूपवतीं सतीम् 2.41.
She was learned, virtuous, beautiful, and devoted.
विशुद्धां प्रकृतेरंशां सस्मितां वरदां शुभाम्
Pure, a portion of Prakṛti, smiling, bestower of boons, and auspicious.
शतपद्मपदन्यस्तपादपद्मं च बिभ्रतीम्
She bore a lotus foot placed upon a hundred-petaled lotus.
पितृभ्यस्तां ददौ कन्यां तुष्टेभ्यस्तुष्टिरूपिणीम्
He gave that daughter to the ancestors, who were pleased, as the embodiment of satisfaction.
स्वधान्तं मन्त्रमुच्चार्य्य पितृभ्यो देहि चेति च
Reciting the mantra ending with 'svadhā', he said, 'Give this to the ancestors.'
स्वाहा शस्ता देवदाने पितृदाने स्वधा वरा
'Svāhā' is best for offerings to the gods; for offerings to the ancestors, 'svadhā' is supreme.
पितरो देवता विप्रा मुनयो मानवास्तथा
Ancestors, gods, brāhmaṇas, sages, and men likewise,
देवादयश्च सन्तुष्टाः परिपूर्णमनोरथाः
The gods and others were satisfied, their desires completely fulfilled.
इत्येवं कथितं सर्वं स्वधोपाख्यानमुत्तमम्
Thus has the excellent account of Svadhā been narrated in full.
नारद उवाच श्रोतुमिच्छामि यत्नेन वद वेदविदां वर
Nārada said: I wish to hear with effort; speak, O best among knowers of the Vedas.
नारायण उवाच सर्वं जानासि वक्ष्ये वै ज्ञातुमिच्छसि वृद्धये ।। 2.41.
Nārāyaṇa said: You know everything; I will indeed speak, since you wish to know for your advancement.
शरत्कृष्णत्रयोदश्यां मघायां श्राद्धवासरे
On the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight in autumn, on the day of Maghā, the occasion for śrāddha rites,
स्वधां नाभ्यर्च्य यो विप्रः श्राद्धं कुर्य्यादहंमतिः
If a brāhmaṇa, with a pure mind, performs śrāddha without first worshipping Svadhā,
ब्रह्मणो मानसीं कन्यां शश्वत्सुस्थिरयौवनाम्
He should meditate upon Brahmā’s mind-born daughter, eternally youthful and steadfast,
इति ध्यात्वा घटे रम्ये शालग्रामेऽथवा शुभे
Thus meditating, in a beautiful vessel, at Śālagrāma or another auspicious place,
आं श्रीं क्लीं स्वधादेव्यै स्वाहेति च महामनुम्
He should recite the great mantra: 'Āṃ, Śrīṃ, Klīṃ, Svadhādevyai, Svāhā.'
स्तोत्रं शृणु मुनिश्रेष्ठ ब्रह्मपुत्र विशारद
Hear the hymn, O best of sages, O wise son of Brahmā.
ब्रह्मोवाच मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो वाजपेयफलं लभेत्
Brahmā said: One is freed from all sins and attains the fruit of the Vājapeya sacrifice.
स्वधा स्वधा स्वधेत्येवं यदि वारत्रयं स्मरेत्
If one remembers 'Svadhā, Svadhā, Svadhā' three times daily,
श्राद्धकाले स्वधास्तोत्रं यः शृणोति समाहितः
Whoever listens attentively to the Svadhā hymn at the time of śrāddha,
स्वधा स्वधा स्वधेत्येवं त्रिसन्ध्यं यः पठेन्नरः 2.41.
Whoever recites 'Svadhā, Svadhā, Svadhā' at the three junctions of the day,
पितॄणां प्राणतुल्या त्वं द्विजजीवनरूपिणी
You are equal to the breath of the ancestors, embodying the life of the twice-born.