अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि विष्णुना यदुदीरितम् श्राद्धं साधारणं नाम भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदम्
Now I shall declare what was spoken by Viṣṇu—the śrāddha called 'universal,' which bestows both enjoyment and liberation.
अयने विषुवे युग्मे सामान्ये चार्कसंक्रमे अमावास्याष्टकाकृष्णपक्षे पञ्चदशीषु च
At the solstices, equinoxes, in the dual months, at the general solar transitions, on new moon, on the aṣṭakā, and on the fifteenth day of the dark fortnight—
आर्द्रामघारोहिणीषु द्रव्यब्राह्मणसंगमे गजच्छायाव्यतीपाते विष्टिवैधृतिवासरे
On the days of Ārdrā, Maghā, and Rohiṇī, when there is a conjunction of suitable offerings and Brahmins, at the time of the elephant's shadow, at Vyatīpāta, and on the days of Viṣṭi and Vaidhṛti—
वैशाखस्य तृतीयायां नवमी कार्त्तिकस्य च पञ्चदशी च माघस्य नभस्ये च त्रयोदशी
On the third day of Vaiśākha, the ninth of Kārttika, the fifteenth of Māgha and Nabhasya, and the thirteenth as well—
युगादयः स्मृता ह्य् एता दत्तस्याक्षय्यकारिकाः तथा मन्वन्तरादौ च देयं श्राद्धं विजानता
These are remembered as the beginnings of the yugas; offerings made at these times are said to yield inexhaustible results. Likewise, at the beginning of a manvantara, the wise should offer śrāddha.
अश्वयुक्छुक्लनवमी द्वादशी कार्त्तिके तथा तृतीया चैत्रमासस्य तथा भाद्रपदस्य च
On the ninth day of the bright half of Āśvayuja, the twelfth of Kārttika, the third of Caitra, and also in Bhādrapada—
फाल्गुनस्य ह्य् अमावास्या पौषस्यैकादशी तथा आषाढस्यापि दशमी माघमासस्य सप्तमी
On the new moon of Phālguna, the eleventh of Pauṣa, the tenth of Āṣāḍha, and the seventh of Māgha—
श्रावणस्याष्टमी कृष्णा तथाषाढी च पूर्णिमा कार्त्तिकी फाल्गुनी चैत्री ज्येष्ठपञ्चदशी सिता मन्वन्तरादयश् चैता दत्तस्याक्षय्यकारिकाः
On the eighth of the dark fortnight of Śrāvaṇa, the full moon of Āṣāḍha, the full moon of Kārttika, Phālguna, Caitra, and the fifteenth of the bright half of Jyeṣṭha—these, and the beginnings of manvantaras, are said to yield inexhaustible results for offerings made.
यस्यां मन्वन्तरस्यादौ रथमास्ते दिवाकरः माघमासस्य सप्तम्यां सा तु स्याद्रथसप्तमी
On that day at the beginning of a manvantara when the Sun sits in his chariot, on the seventh of Māgha, that is called the chariot-seventh (ratha-saptamī).
पानीयमप्यत्र तिलैर्विमिश्रं दद्यात्पितृभ्यः प्रयतो मनुष्यः श्राद्धं कृतं तेन समाः सहस्रं रहस्यमेतत्पितरो वदन्ति
Here, with devotion, a person should offer water mixed with sesame to the ancestors; by this śrāddha, a thousand years of merit is obtained—this secret is spoken by the ancestors.
वैशाख्यामुपरागेषु तथोत्सवमहालये तीर्थायतनगोष्ठेषु दीपोद्यानगृहेषु च
During the lunar eclipse in Vaiśākha, at great festivals and sacred assemblies, in holy places, shrines, gatherings, and in houses, gardens, and temples of lamps—
विविक्तेषूपलिप्तेषु श्राद्धं देयं विजानता विप्रान्पूर्वे परे चाह्नि विनीतात्मा निमन्त्रयेत्
In secluded and well-plastered places, one who understands should perform the śrāddha; on the previous or following day, with a humble mind, he should invite the Brāhmaṇas.
शीलवृत्तगुणोपेतान् वयोरूपसमन्वितान् द्वौ दैवे त्रींस्तथा पित्र्य एकैकमुभयत्र वा
He should invite those endowed with good conduct, character, and virtues, possessing suitable age and appearance—two for the divine rite, three for the ancestral, or one for each, or both.
भोजयेत्सुसमृद्धो ऽपि न प्रसज्जते विस्तरे विश्वान्देवान्यवैः पुष्पैर् अभ्यर्च्यासनपूर्वकम्
Even if one is very wealthy, he should not indulge in excess; he should first worship the Viśvadevas with fresh flowers, offering seats as is proper.
पूरयेत्पात्रयुग्मं तु स्थाप्य दर्भपवित्रकम् शं नो देवीत्य् अपः कुर्याद् यवो ऽसीति यवानपि
He should fill a pair of vessels, placing sacred darbha grass upon them; reciting 'śaṃ no devī,' he should pour water, and also place barley, saying 'yavaḥ.'
गन्धपुष्पैश्च संपूज्य वैश्वदेवं प्रति न्यसेत् विश्वे देवास इत्याभ्याम् आवाह्य विकिरेद्यवान्
Having worshipped with fragrance and flowers, he should set aside the vaiśvadeva offering; invoking the Viśvadevas with the two mantras, he should scatter barley.
गन्धपुष्पैर् अलंकृत्य या दिव्येत्यर्घ्यमुत्सृजेत् अभ्यर्च्य ताभ्यामुत्सृष्टं पितृकार्यं समारभेत्
Adorning with fragrance and flowers, he should offer arghya with the mantra 'yā divyā'; after worshipping with those two, having offered, he should begin the ancestral rite.
दर्भासनं तु दत्त्वादौ त्रीणि पात्राणि पूरयेत् खपवित्राणि कृत्वादौ शं नो देवीत्य् अपः क्षिपेत्
First, having given a seat of darbha grass, he should fill three vessels; having made them pure, he should pour water reciting 'śaṃ no devī.'
तिलो ऽसीति तिलान्कुर्याद् गन्धपुष्पादिकं पुनः पात्रं वनस्पतिमयं तथा पर्णमयं पुनः
He should place sesame seeds, saying 'tilāḥ,' and again add fragrance and flowers; the vessel may be made of wood or leaves as well.
जलजं वाथ कुर्वीत तथा सागरसम्भवम् सौवर्णं राजतं वापि पितॄणां पात्रमुच्यते
Or he may use a vessel made of water plants, or one originating from the sea; a vessel of gold or silver is also prescribed for the ancestors.
रजतस्य कथा वापि दर्शनं दानमेव वा राजतैर् भाजनैरेषाम् अथवा रजतान्वितैः
Even the story, sight, or gift of silver, or vessels made of silver, or those adorned with silver, are considered suitable for them.
वार्यपि श्रद्धया दत्तम् अक्षयायोपकल्पते तथार्घ्यपिण्डभोज्यादौ पितॄणां राजतं मतम्
Water given with faith, even in a silver vessel, becomes inexhaustible; likewise, for arghya, piṇḍa, and food offerings to the ancestors, silver is considered proper.
शिवनेत्रोद्भवं यस्मात् तस्मात्तत्पितृवल्लभम् अमङ्गलं तद्यत्नेन देवकार्येषु वर्जयेत्
Because silver is said to have arisen from the eye of Śiva, it is dear to the ancestors; but as it is inauspicious, it should be carefully avoided in rites for the gods.
एवं पात्राणि संकल्प्य यथालाभं विमत्सरः या दिव्येति पितुर्नाम गोत्रैर्दर्भकरो न्यसेत्
Thus, having chosen the vessels according to availability, without envy, he should place them, reciting 'yā divyā,' with the ancestor’s name and lineage, holding darbha grass.
पितॄन् आवाहयिष्यामि कुर्वित्युक्तस्तु तैः पुनः उशन्तस्त्वा तथायन्तु ऋग्भ्याम् आवाहयेत्पितॄन्
Having declared, 'I will invoke the ancestors,' he should again, with those mantras, invite the ancestors with the two Ṛgvedic verses, 'uśantastvā' and 'tathāyantu.'
या दिव्येत्यर्घ्यमुत्सृज्य दद्याद्गन्धादिकांस्ततः हस्तात्तदुदकं पूर्वं दत्त्वा संस्रवमादितः
Having offered arghya with the mantra 'yā divyā,' he should then give fragrance and other offerings; having first poured water from the hand, he should begin the libation.
पितृपात्रे निधायाथ न्युब्जमुत्तरतो न्यसेत् पितृभ्यः स्थानमसीति निधाय परिषेचयेत्
Placing the vessel for the ancestors, he should set it down facing north; reciting 'pitṛbhyaḥ sthānam,' he should pour water around it.
तत्रापि पूर्ववत्कुर्याद् अग्निकार्यं विमत्सरः उभाभ्यामपि हस्ताभ्याम् आहृत्य परिवेषयेत्
There also, as before, he should perform the fire rite without envy; bringing the offerings with both hands, he should serve them.
प्रशान्तचित्तः सततं दर्भपाणिरशेषतः गुणाढ्यैः सूपशाकैस्तु नानाभक्ष्यैर्विशेषतः
With a mind always at peace, holding darbha grass in hand, one should offer, without omission, foods rich in virtues, including various soups, vegetables, and especially diverse edibles.
अन्नं तु सदधिक्षीरं गोघृतं शर्करान्वितम् मासं प्रीणाति वै सर्वान् पितॄनित्याह केशवः
Food prepared with curd, milk, cow’s ghee, and mixed with sugar, when offered, satisfies all the ancestors for a month—so declares Keshava.