Kurma Purana

अनाहिताग्निर्गृह्येण लौकिकेनेतरो जनः

One who has not kindled the sacred fire should use the household or secular fire, as should other people.

दाहः कार्यो यथान्यायं सपिण्डैः श्रद्धयान्वितैः

The cremation should be performed according to proper procedure by relatives, accompanied by faith.

दशाहं बान्धवैः सार्धं सर्वे चैवार्द्रवाससः

For ten days, together with the relatives, all should wear moist garments.

प्रेताय च गृहद्वारि चतुर्थे भोजयेद् द्विजान्

On the fourth day, at the doorway of the house, one should feed Brahmins for the deceased.

पूर्वं तु भोजयेद् विप्रानयुग्मान् श्रद्धया शुचीन्

First, one should feed pure Brahmin couples with faith.

अयुग्मान् भोजयेद् विप्रान् नवश्राद्धं तु तद्विदुः

Then, one should feed Brahmins who are not couples; this is known as the 'nine shraddha' rite.

एकं पवित्रमेकोर्ऽघः पिण्डपात्रं तथैव च

One purifying object, one vessel for water, and likewise a vessel for the rice-ball offering.

सपिण्डीकरणं प्रोक्तं पूर्णे संवत्सरे पुनः

The rite of joining the deceased with the ancestors is prescribed again at the completion of one year.

प्रेतार्थं पितृपात्रेषु पात्रमासेचयेत् ततः

For the sake of the departed, one should pour the offering into the vessels for the ancestors.

सपिण्डीकरणं श्राद्धं देवपूर्वं विधीयते

The shraddha for joining with the ancestors is prescribed, preceded by offerings to the gods.

यस्तु कुर्यात् पृथक् पिण्डं पितृहा सो ऽभिजायते

He who offers a separate rice-ball becomes a slayer of ancestors.

दद्याच्चान्नं सोदकुम्भं प्रत्यहं प्रेतधर्मतः

One should give food with a water-pot daily, according to the rites for the departed.

प्रतिसंवत्सरं कार्यं विधिरेष सनातनः

This eternal rule is to be performed every year.

पत्नी कुर्यात् सुताभावे पत्न्य भावे सहोदहः

If there is no son, the wife should perform it; if there is no wife, the brother should do so.

कृत्वा दानादिकं सर्वं श्रद्धायुक्तः समाहितः

Having performed all acts of giving and the like, one should be endowed with faith and concentration.

स्त्रीणां तु भर्तृशुश्रूषा धर्मो नान्य इहेष्यते

For women, service to the husband is the only duty recognized here.

प्राप्नोति तत् परं स्थानं यदुक्तं वेदवादिभिः

By that, she attains the supreme state spoken of by the teachers of the Veda.

दर्शेन चैव पक्षान्ते पौर्णमासेन चैव हि

At the end of each fortnight, and indeed on the full moon day,

पशुना त्वयनस्यान्ते समान्ते सौमिकैर्मखैः

And at the end of the year, with a beast, and at the end of the season, with gentle sacrifices,

नवान्नमद्यान्मांसं वा दीर्घमायुर्जिजीविषुः

He who desires long life should not eat new grain, wine, or meat.

प्राणानेवात्तुमिच्छन्ति नवान्नामिषगृद्धिनः

Those greedy for new grain or meat wish only to sustain their own lives.

पितॄंश्चैवाष्टकास्वर्चन् नित्यमन्वष्टकासु च

And one should always honor the ancestors at the Aṣṭakā rites and at the recurring Anvaṣṭakā rites.

त्रयाणामिह वर्णानां गृहस्थाश्रमवासिनाम्

Of the three classes here, those who dwell in the householder stage,

यजेत वा न यज्ञेन स याति नरकान् बहून्

If he does not perform sacrifice, he goes to many hells.

कुम्भीपाकं वैतरणीमसिपत्रवनं तथा

To Kumbhīpāka, Vaitaraṇī, and also the forest of sword-leaves.

अन्त्यजानां कुले विप्राः शूद्रयोनौ च जायते

O Brahmins, he is born in the family of outcastes, or in the womb of a Śūdra.

आधायाग्निं विशुद्धात्मा यजेत परमेश्वरम्

Having established the sacred fire, with a purified mind, he should worship the Supreme Lord.

तस्मादाराधयेन्नित्यमग्निहोत्रेण शाश्वतम्

Therefore, one should always worship the eternal with the Agnihotra sacrifice.

सो ऽसौ मूढो न संभाष्यः किं पुनर्नास्तिको जनः

Such a fool is not to be spoken with, much less a person who is an atheist.