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.
द्वौ मासौ मत्स्यमांसेन त्रीन्मासान्हारिणेन तु औरभ्रेणाथ चतुरः शाकुनेनाथ पञ्च वै
With fish meat, the ancestors are satisfied for two months; with deer meat, for three months; with goat or sheep meat, for four; and with bird meat, for five months.
षण्मासं छागमांसेन तृप्यन्ति पितरस्तथा सप्त पार्षतमांसेन तथाष्टाव् एणजेन तु
With goat meat, the ancestors are satisfied for six months; with parṣata fish meat, for seven months; and with ena antelope meat, for eight months.
दश मासांस्तु तृप्यन्ति वराहमहिषामिषैः शशकूर्मजमांसेन मासानेकादशैव तु
With boar and buffalo meat, they are satisfied for ten months; with rabbit and tortoise meat, for eleven months.
संवत्सरं तु गव्येन पयसा पायसेन च रौरवेण च तृप्यन्ति मासान्पञ्चदशैव तु
With cow’s milk, with rice cooked in milk, and with the meat of the raurava animal, the ancestors are satisfied for a full year and for fifteen months.
वार्ध्रीणसस्य मांसेन तृप्तिर् द्वादशवार्षिकी कालशाकेन चानन्ता खड्गमांसेन चैव हि
With the meat of the vārdhrīṇasa (wild ox), satisfaction lasts for twelve years; with kālaśāka greens, endlessly; and likewise with swordfish meat.
यत्किंचिन्मधुसम्मिश्रं गोक्षीरं घृतपायसम् दत्तमक्षयमित्याहुः पितरः पूर्वदेवताः
Any offering of cow’s milk, ghee, or sweet rice mixed with honey is said by the ancestors and ancient deities to be inexhaustible.
स्वाध्यायं श्रावयेत्पित्र्यं पुराणान्यखिलानि च ब्रह्मविष्ण्वर्करुद्राणां सूक्तानि विविधानि च
One should have recited the svādhyāya (ancestral recitation), all the Purāṇas, and the various hymns to Brahmā, Viṣṇu, the Sun, and Rudra.
इन्द्राग्निसोमसूक्तानि पावनानि स्वशक्तितः बृहद्रथंतरं तद्वज् ज्येष्ठसाम सरौहिणम्
Hymns to Indra, Agni, and Soma, which are purifying, should be recited according to one’s ability, as well as the Bṛhat and Rathantara Sāmans, the Jyeṣṭha Sāman, and the Sarauhiṇa.
तथैव शान्तिकाध्यायं मधुब्राह्मणमेव च मण्डलं ब्राह्मणं तद्वत् प्रीतिकारि तु यत्पुनः
Likewise, the Śāntikādhyāya, the Madhu Brāhmaṇa, the Maṇḍala Brāhmaṇa, and whatever else brings satisfaction should be recited.
विप्राणामात्मनश्चैव तत्सर्वं समुदीरयेत् भुक्तवत्सु ततस्तेषु भोजनोपान्तिके नृप
All this should be proclaimed by the brāhmaṇas and by oneself, after the guests have eaten and while they are still near the food, O king.