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.
दाता नरकमान्पोति भोक्ता च नरकं व्रजेत्
The giver falls into hell, and the recipient also goes to hell.
विद्धापराह्नि कायां तु श्राद्धं कार्यं विजानता
One who knows should perform śrāddha in the afternoon after the day has been pierced.
पूर्वा क्षये तु कर्त्तव्या वृद्वौ कार्या तथोत्तरा
It should be done at the end of the previous tithi, and both the old and the new are to be observed.
तिथिः सायाह्नगा यत्र परा काव्यस्य विश्रुता
The tithi that extends into the evening is renowned as the superior time for offerings.
नैतन्मतं हि सर्वेषां काव्यदाने मुनीश्वर
This is not the opinion of all regarding the giving of offerings, O lord of sages.
प्रायश्चित्तविशुद्धात्मा तेभ्यो ऽनुज्ञां समाहरेत्
With a mind purified by atonement, one should obtain their permission.
उभौ च विश्वेदेवार्थं पिघत्रर्थं त्रीन्यथाविधि
Both, for the sake of the Viśvedevas and for the sake of the ancestors, three according to rule.
श्राद्धार्थं समनुज्ञातः कारयेन्मण्डलद्वयम्
Having been duly permitted for the purpose of śrāddha, one should prepare two circles.
वैश्यस्य वर्तुलं ज्ञेयं शूद्रस्याभ्याभ्युक्षणं भवेत्
For a Vaiśya, a circular one is to be known; for a Śūdra, there should be sprinkling.
आत्मानं वा नियुञ्जीत न विप्रं वेदवर्जितम्
One may appoint oneself, but not a Brāhmaṇa who is devoid of Vedic knowledge.