पुलहाग्रजदायादा वैश्यास्तान्भावयंति ह। यत्र श्राद्धकृतः सर्वे पश्यंति युगपद्गताः
The descendants of Pulaha's eldest brother, who are Vaishyas, honor them; there, all who perform shraddha see those who have departed together.
मातृभ्रातृपितृस्वसॄः सखिसंबंधिबांधवान्। अपिजन्मायुतैर्दृष्टाननुभूतान्सहस्रशः५० 1.9.
Mothers, brothers, fathers, sisters, friends, relatives, and kin—those seen and experienced by birth thousands of times.
एतेषां मानसी कन्या विरजा नाम विश्रुता। सा पत्नी नहुषस्यासीद्ययातेर्जननी तथा
Among them, a mind-born daughter named Viraja is celebrated; she was the wife of Nahusha and also the mother of Yayati.
एषाष्टकाभवत्पश्चाद्ब्रह्मलोकगता सती। त्रय एते गणाः प्रोक्ताश्चतुर्थं तु वदाम्यहम्
Afterwards, she became Ashtaka and went to the world of Brahma; these three groups have been described, now I will tell the fourth.
लोकाः सुमनसो नाम ब्रह्मलोकोपरिस्थिताः। सोमपा नाम पितरो यत्र तिष्ठंति शाश्वतं
The worlds called Sumanasa are situated above Brahma's realm; there, the eternal ancestors known as Somapa reside.
धर्ममूर्तिधराः सर्वे परतो ब्रह्मणः स्मृताः। उत्पन्नाः प्रलयांते तु ब्रह्मत्वं प्राप्य योगिनः
All are bearers of the form of Dharma, remembered as beyond Brahma; born at the end of dissolution, yogis attain Brahmahood.
कृत्वा सृष्ट्यादिकं सर्वे मानसे सांप्रतं स्थिताः। नर्मदा नाम तेषां तु कन्या तोयवहा सरित्
Having performed creation and other acts, all now remain mind-born; among them, the daughter named Narmada is the river that carries water.
भूतानि पुनती या तु पश्चिमोदधिगामिनी। तेभ्यः सर्वत्र मनुजाः प्रजासर्गे च निर्मितम्
She purifies beings and flows westward to the ocean; from them, everywhere, humans are created in the generation of offspring.
ज्ञात्वा श्राद्धानि कुर्वंति धर्मभावेन सर्वदा। सर्वदा तेभ्य एवास्य प्रसादाद्योगसंततिः
Knowing this, people always perform shraddha with righteousness; always, from them alone, the lineage of yoga arises through their grace.
पितॄणामादिसर्गे तु श्राद्धमेवं विनिर्मितम्। सर्वेषां राजतं पात्रमथवा राजतान्वितम्
In the original creation of ancestors, shraddha was thus established; for all, a silver vessel or one adorned with silver is prescribed.
दत्तं स्वधां पुरोधाय पितॄन्प्रीणाति सर्वदा। आग्नीध्रसोमपाभ्यां तु कार्यमाप्यायनं बुधैः
By offering svadhā to the priest, one always satisfies the ancestors; but the wise should perform the replenishing rite for Agnīdhra and Somapā.
अग्न्यभावे तु विप्रस्य पाणौ वाथ जलेपि वा। अजाकर्णेश्वकर्णे वा गोष्ठे वाथ शिवांतिके
If there is no fire, a brāhmaṇa may offer (the oblation) in his hand, or in water, or at the base of a goat's ear, or a cow's ear, or in a cowshed, or near a śiva tree.
पितॄणाममलं स्थानं दक्षिणादिक्प्रशस्यते। प्राचीनावीतमुदकं तिलसंत्यागमेव च
The pure place for the ancestors is especially praised as the southern direction; water should be offered facing west, and sesame should be used.
खड्गिगनामामिषं चैवमन्नं श्यामाकशालयः। यवनीवारमुद्गेक्षु शुक्लपुष्प फलानि च
Sword-bean, meat, rice, black millet, barley, yavanī, wheat, sugarcane, white flowers, and fruits—
वल्लभानि प्रशस्तानि पितॄणामिह सर्वदा। दर्भा माषष्षष्टिकान्नं गोक्षीरं मधुसर्पिषी
—these are always dear and commendable to the ancestors here: darbha grass, māṣa beans, ṣaṣṭika rice, cow's milk, honey, and clarified butter.
शस्त्राणि च प्रवक्ष्यामि श्राद्धे वर्ज्यानि यानि च। मसूर शण निष्पावा राजमाषाः कुलुत्थकाः
Now I will declare the foods that are to be avoided at a śrāddha: lentils, hemp, niṣpāva beans, royal māṣa beans, and kuluttha beans.
पद्म बिल्वार्कादुत्तूर पारिभद्राटरूषकाः। न देयाः पितृकार्येषु पयश्चाजाविकं तथा
Lotus, bael, arka, datura, pāribhadra, aṭarūṣaka—these should not be given in ancestral rites, nor should goat's milk.
कोद्रवोदारवरटकपित्थं मधुकातसी। एतान्यपि न देयानि पितॄभ्यः श्रियमिच्छता
Kodrava, udāra, varaṭaka, kapittha, madhuka, and atasi—these also should not be offered to the ancestors by one desiring prosperity.
पितृन्प्रीणाति यो भक्त्या ते पुनः प्रीणयंति तं। यच्छंति पितरः पुष्टिं स्वांगारोग्यं प्रजाफलम्
He who pleases the ancestors with devotion, they in turn please him; the ancestors grant him nourishment, bodily health, and offspring.
देवकार्यादपि पुनः पितृकार्यं विशिष्यते। देवताभ्यः पितॄणां तु पूर्वमाप्यायनं स्मृतम्
The rite for the ancestors is considered superior even to the rite for the gods; replenishing the ancestors is remembered as coming before that for the deities.
शीघ्रप्रसादास्त्वक्रोधा निस्संगाः स्थिर सौहृदाः। शांतात्मानः शौचपराः सततं प्रियवादिनः
They are quickly pleased, free from anger, unattached, steadfast in friendship, peaceful in mind, devoted to purity, and always speak kindly.
भक्तानुरक्ताः सुखदाः पितरः पर्वदेवताः। हविष्मतामाधिपत्ये श्राद्धदेवः स्मृतो रविः
The ancestors, attached to their devotees and givers of happiness, are like festival deities; among those who offer oblations, the Sun is regarded as the deity of the śrāddha.
एतद्धि सर्वमाख्यातं पितृवंशानुकीर्त्तनम्। पुण्यं पवित्रमारोग्यं कीर्त्तनीयं नृभिः सदा
All this has been declared—the account of the ancestral lineage; it is meritorious, pure, health-giving, and should always be recited by men.
भीष्म उवाच। श्रुत्वैतदखिलं भूयः पराभक्तिरुपस्थिता। श्राद्धकालं विधिं चैव श्राद्धमेव तथैव च
Bhīṣma said: Having heard all this, my devotion has increased even more; tell me about the time and procedure for the śrāddha, and about the śrāddha itself.
श्राद्धेषु भोजनीया ये श्राद्धवर्ज्या द्विजातयः। कस्मिन्वासरभागे तु पितृभ्यः श्राद्धमारभेत्
Which twice-born are to be fed at śrāddhas, and which are to be avoided? At what time of day should one begin the śrāddha for the ancestors?
अन्नं दत्तं कथं याति श्राद्धे वै ब्रह्मवित्तम। विधिना केन कर्त्तव्यं कथं प्रीणाति तान्पितॄन्
How does the food given at a śrāddha reach the ancestors, O best of knowers of Brahman? By what procedure should it be done, and how does it please the ancestors?
पुलस्त्य उवाच। कुर्यादहरहः श्राद्धमन्नाद्येनोदकेन च। पयोमूलफलैर्वापि पितृभ्यः प्रीतिमावहन्
Pulastya said: One should perform the śrāddha every day with food and water, or with milk, roots, and fruits, bringing satisfaction to the ancestors.
नित्यं नैमित्तिकं काम्यं त्रिविधं श्राद्धमुच्यते। नित्यं तावत्प्रवक्ष्यामि अर्घ्यावाहनवर्जितम्
Śrāddha is said to be of three kinds: daily, occasional, and desired; now I will explain the daily one, which omits the arghya and the invocation.
अदैवतं विजानीयात्पार्वणं पर्व सुस्मृतम्। पार्वणं त्रिविधं प्रोक्तं शृणु यत्नान्महीपते
Know that a parva which is not connected to the gods is called 'adaivata,' and the parva is well remembered. Three kinds of parva are taught—listen to them carefully, O king.
पार्वणेय नियोज्यास्तु तान्शृणुष्व नराधिप। पंचाग्निः स्नातकश्चैव त्रिसौपर्णः षडंगवित्
Those who are to be appointed for the parva rites—hear of them, O ruler of men: one who maintains five fires, a snātaka, one who recites the three Sauparṇa hymns, and one learned in the six limbs of the Veda.