प्रपितामहास्तथादित्या इत्येषा वैदिकी श्रुतिः। नामगोत्रं पितॄणां तु प्रापकं हव्यकव्ययोः
The great-grandfathers are likewise Ādityas—so declares the Vedic tradition. The name and lineage of the ancestors are the means by which the offerings to gods and ancestors reach them.
श्राद्धस्य मन्त्रतस्तत्वमुपलभ्येत भक्तितः। अग्निष्वात्तादयस्तेषामाधिपत्ये व्यवस्थिताः
The true nature of the śrāddha is understood through the mantra and with devotion; among them, the Agniṣvāttas and others are established as the presiding deities.
नामगोत्रास्तदा देशा भवंत्युद्भवतामपि। प्राणिनः प्रीणयत्येतदर्हणं समुपागतं
At that time, the names, lineages, and places of those who have arisen become manifest; this honor, when properly performed, satisfies living beings.
दिव्यो यदि पिता माता गुरुः कर्मानुयोगतः। तस्यान्नममृतं भूत्वा दिव्यत्त्वेप्यनुगच्छति
If the father, mother, or teacher is divine by virtue of their deeds, their food, having become immortal, follows them even in a divine state.
दैत्यत्वे भोगरूपेण पशुत्वेपि तृणं भवेत्। श्राद्धान्नं वायुरूपेण नागत्वेप्युपतिष्ठति
In the state of a demon, it becomes enjoyment; in the state of an animal, it becomes grass; the śrāddha food, in the form of wind, attends even those who have not returned.
पानं भवति यक्षत्वे राक्षसत्वे तथामिषं। दानवत्वे तथा पानं प्रेतत्वे रुधिरोदकम्
In the state of a Yakṣa, it becomes drink; in the state of a Rākṣasa, it becomes meat; in the state of a Dānava, it is also drink; in the state of a departed spirit, it is blood and water.
मनुष्यत्वेन्नपानादि नानाभोगवतां भवेत्। रतिशक्तिस्त्रियः कान्तेऽन्येषां भोजनशक्तिता
In human form, it becomes various enjoyments such as food and drink; for women, it becomes the power of pleasure and beauty; for others, it becomes the power to eat.
दानशक्तिः स विभवा रूपमारोग्यमेव च। श्राद्धपुष्पमिदं प्रोक्तं फलं ब्रह्मसमागमः
It is the power of giving, wealth, form, and health; this is said to be the flower of śrāddha, and its fruit is union with Brahman.
आयुः पुत्रान्धनं विद्यां स्वर्गं मोक्षं सुखानि च। प्रयच्छन्ति तथा राज्यं प्रीताः पितृगणा नृप
Long life, sons, wealth, knowledge, heaven, liberation, and happiness are granted, as well as sovereignty, by the satisfied hosts of ancestors, O king.
श्रूयते च पुरा मोक्षं प्राप्ताः कौशिकसूनवः। पंचभिर्जन्मसंबंधैः प्राप्ता ब्रह्मपरं पदम्
It is also heard that, in ancient times, the sons of Kauśika attained liberation; through five generations of connection, they reached the supreme state of Brahman.
भीष्म उवाच। कथं कौशिकदायादाः प्राप्ता योगमनुत्तमम्। पंचभिर्जन्मसंबन्धैः कथं कर्मक्षयो भवेत्
Bhīṣma said: How did the descendants of Kauśika attain the supreme yoga? And how, through five births, is the exhaustion of karma accomplished?
पुलस्त्य उवाच। कौशिको नाम धर्मात्मा कुरुक्षेत्रे महानृषिः। नामतः कर्मतस्तस्य पुत्राणां तन्निबोध मे
Pulastya said: There was a great sage named Kauśika, righteous in heart, residing in Kurukṣetra. Listen from me about his sons, both by name and by their deeds.
स्वसृपः क्रोधनो हिंस्रः पिशुनः कविरेव च। वाग्दुष्टः पितृवर्ती च गर्गशिष्यास्तदाभवन्५० 1.10.
They were: Svasṛpa, Krodhana, Hiṃsra, Piśuna, and Kavi; also Vāgduṣṭa and Pitṛvartin—these became disciples of Garga.
पितर्युपरते तेषामभूद्दुर्भिक्षमुल्बणं। अनावृष्टिश्च महती सर्वलोकभयंकरी
When their father passed away, a severe famine befell them, and a great drought arose, terrifying all people.
गर्गादेशाद्वने दोग्ध्रीं रक्षंति च तपोधनाः। खादामः कपिलामेतां वयं क्षुत्पीडिता भृशं
On Garga's instruction, the ascetics guarded a milking cow in the forest, but, tormented greatly by hunger, they said, 'Let us eat this cow.'
इति चिंतयतां पापं लघुः प्राह तदानुजः। यद्यवश्यमियं वध्या श्राद्धरूपेण योज्यतां
As they contemplated this sinful act, the youngest brother spoke: 'If she must be killed, let it be done in the form of a śrāddha offering.'
श्राद्धे नियोज्यमानायां पापं नश्यति नो ध्रुवं। एवं कुर्वित्यनुज्ञातः पितृवर्ती तदानुजैः
'If she is offered in a śrāddha, our sin will surely be destroyed.' Thus permitted by his younger brothers, Pitṛvartin proceeded.
चक्रे समाहितः श्राद्धमुपयुज्याथ तां पुनः। द्वौ दैवे भ्रातरो कृत्वा पित्र्ये त्रींश्चापरान्क्रमात्
With focused mind, he performed the śrāddha, then partook of her; two brothers were assigned to the divine share, and three to the ancestral, in order.
तथैकमतिथिं कृत्वा श्राद्धदः स्वयमेव तु। चकार मंत्रवच्छ्राद्धं स्मरन्पितृपरायणः
Then, appointing one as the guest, the śrāddha-giver himself performed the śrāddha with mantras, remembering his ancestors with devotion.
तदा गत्वा विशंकास्ते गुरवे च न्यवेदयन्। व्याघ्रेण निहता धेनुर्वत्सोयं प्रतिगृह्यतां
Afterwards, they went without hesitation and reported to their teacher: 'The cow has been killed by a tiger; let this calf be accepted.'
एवं सा भक्षिता धेनुः सप्तभिस्तैस्तपोधनैः। वैदिकं बलमाश्रित्य क्रूरे कर्मणि निर्भयाः
Thus, the cow was consumed by those seven ascetics, who, relying on Vedic power, were fearless in that cruel act.
ततः काले प्रणष्टास्ते व्याधा दश पुरेभवन्। जातिस्मरत्वं प्राप्तास्ते पितृभावेन भाविताः
Then, in time, they perished and were born as hunters in ten cities; endowed with remembrance of past lives, they were devoted to their ancestors.
तत्र विज्ञाय वैराग्यं प्राणानुत्सृज्य धर्मतः। लोकैरवीक्ष्यमाणास्ते तीर्थांतेनशनेन तु
There, realizing detachment, they gave up their lives in righteousness; unseen by people, they fasted at holy places.
संजाता मृगरूपास्ते सप्त कालंजरे गिरौ। प्राप्तविज्ञानयोगास्ते तत्यजुस्तां निजां तनुम्
They were then born as deer on Mount Kālañjara; having attained knowledge and yoga, they abandoned that very body.
मम्रुः प्रपतनेनाथ जातवैराग्यमानसाः। मानसे चक्रव्राकास्ते संजाताः सप्तयोगिनः
Dying by falling, their minds filled with detachment, they were born as seven yogins in the city of Mānasa.
नामतः कर्मतः सर्वे सुमनाः कुसुमोवसुः। चित्तदर्शी सुदर्शी च ज्ञाता ज्ञानस्य पारगः
By name and by deed, they were: Sumanas, Kusumavasu, Cittadarśin, Sudarśin, Jñāta, Jñānasya, and Pāraga.
ज्येष्ठानुरक्ताः श्रेष्ठास्ते सप्तैते योगपावनाः। योगभ्रष्टास्त्रयस्तेषां बभूवुश्चलचेतसः
Devoted to their eldest and foremost among men, these seven became pure through yoga; three among them, with unsteady minds, fell from yoga.
दृष्ट्वा विभ्राजमानं तमणुहं स्त्रीभिरन्वितम्। क्रीडंतं विविधैर्भोगैर्महाबलपराक्रमम्
Seeing the radiant Anuha, surrounded by women, sporting in various enjoyments, possessing great strength and valor—
पञ्चालान्वयसंभूतं प्रभूतबलवाहनम्। राज्यकामोभवत्त्वेकस्तेषां मध्ये जलौकसाम्
Among the aquatic beings, there was one who was born in the lineage of the Panchalas, possessing great strength and many vehicles, and who desired sovereignty.
पितृवर्ती च यो विप्रः श्राद्धकृत्पितृवत्सलः। अपरौ मंत्रिणौ दृष्ट्वा प्रभूतबलवाहनौ
There was a Brahmin who followed his father's path, performed śrāddha rites, and was devoted to his ancestors; seeing two other ministers, both possessing great strength and many vehicles.