ज्ञानस्वरुपममलं परं ज्योतिः सनातनम्
Of the nature of knowledge, stainless, the supreme, eternal light.
निर्गुणं परमं ध्यायेदात्मानं परतः परम्
He should meditate on the supreme Self, beyond attributes, higher than the highest.
सहस्रशीर्षं देवं च सदा ध्यायेज्जितेन्द्रियः
With senses subdued, he should always meditate on the God with a thousand heads.
स याति परमानन्दं परं ज्योतिः सनातनम्
He attains supreme bliss, the supreme, eternal light.
स याति परमं स्थानं यत्र गत्वा न शोचयति
He attains the supreme state, where, having reached, one does not grieve.
नारायणपरा यान्ति तद्विष्णः परमं पदम्
Those devoted to Nārāyaṇa go to that highest abode of Viṣṇu.
यच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुच्यते नात्र संशयः
By hearing this, one is freed from all sins; there is no doubt about this.
अधः शायी ब्रह्मचारी निशि विप्रान्निमन्त्रयेत्
One who sleeps on the ground, observes celibacy, and invites brāhmaṇas at night—
रत्योषधिपरान्नानि श्राद्धकर्त्ताविवर्जयेत्
The performer of a śrāddha should avoid food prepared by women at night and medicinal herbs.
श्राद्धकर्त्ता च भोक्ता च दिवास्वापं च वर्जयेत्
The performer of a śrāddha, as well as the eater, should also avoid sleeping during the day.
ब्रह्महत्यामवान्पोति नरकं चापि गच्छति
One who has committed the killing of a brāhmaṇa, or who is an outcaste, indeed goes to hell.
यथास्वाचारनिरतं प्रशान्तं सत्कुलोद्बगवम्
One should be devoted to proper conduct, peaceful, and born in a noble family.
त्रिमधुत्रिसुपर्णज्ञं सर्वभूतदयापरम्
He should know the three kinds of honey and the three kinds of rice, and be supremely compassionate to all beings.
वेदान्ततत्त्वसंपन्नं सर्वलोकहिते रतम्
He should be accomplished in the true meaning of Vedānta and devoted to the welfare of all worlds.
परोपदेशनिरतं सच्छास्त्रकथनैस्तथा
He should be engaged in instructing others and in the exposition of true scriptures.
श्राद्धे वर्ज्यान्मवक्ष्यामि शृणु तान्मुसमाहितः
I will now tell you those who are to be avoided at a śrāddha; listen to them attentively.
कुष्टी च कुनखी चैव लंबकर्णः क्षतव्रतः
A leper, one with deformed nails, one with hanging ears, or one who has broken his vows—
कुवादी परिर्वत्ता च तथा देवलकः खलः
One who speaks ill, a turncoat, likewise a temple-servant, or a wicked person—
असच्छास्त्राभिनिरतः परान्ननिगतस्तथा
One devoted to false scriptures, or one who eats others’ food—
कुण्डश्च गोलकश्चैव ह्ययाज्यानां च याजकः
A bald man, one with a round head, or a priest for those unfit for sacrifice—
विष्णुभक्तिविहीनश्च शिवभक्तिपराड्मुखः
One devoid of devotion to Viṣṇu, or one who turns away from devotion to Śiva—
स्मृतिविक्रयिणश्चैव मन्त्रविक्रयिणस्तथा
One who sells smṛti texts, or one who sells mantras—
वेदनिन्दापरश्चैव ग्रामापण्यप्रदाहकः
One who is devoted to reviling the Vedas, and one who gives away goods from villages or markets,
कूटयुक्तिरतश्चैव श्राद्धे वर्ज्याः प्रयत्नतः
And one who engages in deceitful practices—these must be carefully excluded from the śrāddha ceremony.
निमन्त्रितो भवेद्विप्रो ब्रह्मचारी जितेन्द्रियः
A Brāhmaṇa who is invited should be a celibate, self-controlled.
निमन्त्रयेद्द्विजं प्राज्ञं दर्भपाणिर्जितेन्द्रियः
One should invite a wise twice-born, holding darbha grass and self-controlled.
श्राद्धं समाचरेद्विद्वान्काले कुतपसंज्ञिते
The learned should perform the śrāddha at the time known as kutapa.
स कालः कुतपस्तत्र पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम्
That time is called kutapa; whatever is given then to the ancestors is imperishable.
तत्काल एव दातव्यं कव्यं तस्माद्द्विजोत्तमैः
Therefore, offerings should be given to the best of twice-born precisely at that time.
राक्षसं तद्धि विज्ञेयं पितॄणां नोपतिष्टति
That is to be understood as rākṣasa; it does not reach the ancestors.