प्रथमं पुष्करारण्ये नैमिषे तदनंतरं। धर्मारण्यं पुनः प्राप्य श्राद्धं भक्त्या प्रदास्यति
First in Puṣkara forest, then in Naimiṣa, and again, having reached Dharmāraṇya, he will devoutly offer the śrāddha.
गयायां धर्मपृष्ठे वा सरसि ब्रह्मणस्तथा। गयाशीर्षवटे चैव पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम्
In Gayā, at Dharmapṛṣṭha, or in the lake of Brahmā, and at the sacred fig tree at Gayā—whatever is given to the ancestors there is imperishable.
व्रजन्कृत्वा निवापं यस्त्वध्वानं परिसर्पति। नरकस्थान्पितॄन्सोपि स्वर्गं नयति सत्वरं
He who, having performed the offering, travels along the path—he quickly leads his ancestors dwelling in hell to heaven.
कुले तस्य न राजेंद्र प्रेतो भवति कश्चन। प्रेतत्वं मोक्षभावं च पिंडदानाच्च गच्छति
In his lineage, O king, no one becomes a ghost; by the offering of rice-balls, both ghosthood and bondage are removed.
एको मुनिस्ताम्रकराग्रहस्तो ह्याम्रेषु मूले सलिलं ददाति। आम्राश्च सिक्ताः पितरश्च तृप्ता एका क्रिया द्व्यर्थकरी प्रसिद्धा
A sage, with copper-colored hands, gives water at the root of a mango tree; the mango trees are watered, the ancestors are satisfied—one act, renowned, accomplishes two purposes.
गयायां पिण्डदानस्य नान्यद्दानं विशिष्यते। एकेन पिंडदानेन तृप्तास्ते मोक्षगामिनः
No other gift surpasses the offering of rice-balls at Gayā; by a single offering, those seeking liberation are satisfied.
धान्यप्रदानं प्रवरं वदंति वसुप्रदानं च तथामुनींद्राः। गया सुतीर्थेषु नरैः प्रदत्तं तद्धर्महेतुं प्रवरं वदंति
The best of sages declare that the giving of grain and wealth is supreme; what is given by men at the holy fords of Gayā is said to be the highest cause of righteousness.
सर्वात्मना सुरुचिना महाचल महानदी। ये तु पश्यंति तां गत्वा मानसे दक्षिणोत्तरे
Whoever, with all their heart and great delight, sees that great mountain and great river, having gone to the southern or northern part of Mānasā lake—
प्रणम्य द्विजमुख्येभ्यः प्राप्तं तैर्जन्मनः फलं। यद्यदिच्छति वै मर्त्यस्तत्तदाप्नोत्यसंशयम्
Having bowed to the foremost twice-born, they attain the fruit of their birth; whatever a mortal desires, he surely obtains.
एष तूद्देशतः प्रोक्तस्तीर्थानां सग्रहो मया। वागीशोपि न शक्नोति विस्तरात्किमु मानुषः
Thus, I have briefly described the collection of holy fords; even the lord of speech cannot describe them in detail, so how could a human?
सत्यं तीर्थं दया तीर्थं तीर्थमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः। वर्णाश्रमाणां गेहेपि तीर्थं शम उदाहृतम्
Truth is a holy ford, compassion is a holy ford, self-control is a holy ford; even in the householder’s home, tranquility is declared to be a holy ford for those of all classes and stages of life.
येषु तीर्थेषु यच्छ्राद्धं तत्कोटिगुणमिष्यते। गयायां यत्तु वै श्राद्धं तच्छ्राद्धमपवर्गदम्
Whatever śrāddha is performed at any holy ford is considered a thousand times greater; but the śrāddha at Gayā bestows liberation.
यस्मात्तस्मात्प्रयत्नेन तीर्थे श्राद्धं विधीयते। प्रातःकालो मुहूर्तांस्त्रीन्संगवस्तावदेव तु
Therefore, with effort, the śrāddha should be performed at a sacred place; the morning period lasts for three muhūrtas, and the saṃgava period is just so long.
मध्याह्नस्त्रिमुहूर्तः स्यादपराह्णस्ततः परम्। सायाह्नस्त्रिमुहूर्तः स्याच्छ्राद्धं तत्र न कारयेत्
The midday consists of three muhūrtas; after that is the afternoon; the evening also consists of three muhūrtas, during which the śrāddha should not be performed.
राक्षसी नाम सा वेला गर्हिता सर्वकर्मसु। अह्नो मुहूर्ता व्याख्याता दशपंच च सर्वदा
That time is called the Rākṣasī period, which is condemned for all rituals; the muhūrtas of the day are always explained as fifteen in total.
तत्राष्टमो मुहूर्तो यः स कालः कुतपः स्मृतः। मध्याह्नात्सर्वदा यस्मान्मंदी भवति भास्करः
Among them, the eighth muhūrta is known as the Kutapa period; from midday onward, the sun becomes less intense.
तस्मादनंतफलदस्तत्रारंभो विशिष्यते। खड्गपात्रं च कुतपस्तथा नैपालकंबलम्
Therefore, actions begun at that time yield endless results; the Kutapa is also associated with a sword-vessel and a Nepalese blanket.
रुक्मं दर्भास्तिला गावो दौहित्रश्चाष्टमः स्मृतः। पापं कुत्सितमित्याहुस्तस्य तत्तापकारिणः
Gold, darbha grass, sesame seeds, cows, and a daughter's son are also considered the eighth; these are said to be sinful and contemptible, causing suffering.
अष्टावेते यतस्तस्मात्कुतपा इति विश्रुताः। ऊर्ध्वं मुहुर्त्तात्कुतपान्महूर्त्तं च चतुष्टयम्
Because these eight are so, they are well known as Kutapa; after the Kutapa period, there are four more muhūrtas.
मुहूर्त्तपंचकं चैव स्वधावाचनमिष्यते। विष्णुदेहसमुद्भूताः कुशाः कृष्णतिलास्तथा
The five muhūrtas are also approved for offering svadhā; kuśa grass and black sesame are said to have arisen from the body of Viṣṇu.
श्राद्धस्य लक्षणं कालमिति प्राहुर्मनीषिणः। तिलोदकांजलिर्देयो जलांते तीर्थवासिभिः
The wise declare this as the characteristic time for śrāddha; an offering of water with sesame should be given at the end of the water-ritual by those residing at the sacred place.
सदर्भहस्तेनैकेन गृहे श्राद्धं गमिष्यति। पुण्यं पवित्रमायुष्यं सर्वपापविनाशनम्
With darbha grass in one hand, one should proceed to perform śrāddha at home; it is meritorious, pure, life-giving, and destroys all sins.
ब्रह्मणा चैव कथितं तीर्थश्राद्धानुकीर्तनम्। शृणोति यः पठेद्वापि श्रीमान्संजायते नरः
And the recounting of śrāddha at sacred places was spoken by Brahmā; whoever hears or recites it becomes a fortunate man.
श्राद्धकाले च वक्तव्यं तथा तीर्थनिवासिभिः। सर्वपापोपशांन्त्यर्थमलक्ष्मीनाशनं मतं
At the time of śrāddha, this should be declared by those residing at the sacred place: it is considered to remove all sins and destroy misfortune.
इदं पवित्रं यशसो निधानमिदं महापातकनाशनं च। ब्रह्मार्करुद्रैरभिपूजितं च श्राद्धस्य माहात्म्यमुशंति तज्ज्ञाः
This is pure, a treasure of fame, and a destroyer of great sins; the wise declare that the greatness of śrāddha is honored by Brahmā, the sun, and Rudra.
भीष्म उवाच। सोमवंशः कथं जातः कथयात्र विशारद। तद्वंशे केतुराजानो बभूवुः कीर्तिवर्द्धनाः
Bhīṣma said: How did the lunar dynasty arise? Tell me this, O learned one. Which famous kings appeared in that lineage?
पुलस्त्य उवाच। आदिष्टो ब्रह्मणा पूर्वमत्रिः सर्गविधौ पुरा। अनंतरं नाम तपः सृष्ट्यर्थं तप्तवान्विभुः
Pulastya said: Formerly, Atri was instructed by Brahmā at the beginning of creation; for the sake of creation, the great one performed austerity called Anantara.
यदानंदकरं ब्रह्म भगवन्क्लेशनाशनं। ब्रह्मरुद्रेन्द्रसूर्याणामभ्यंतरमतींद्रियं
When the blessed Lord, the remover of suffering, who brings joy, who is beyond the senses and within Brahmā, Rudra, and the sun,
शान्तिं कृत्वात्ममनसा तदत्रिः संयमे स्थितः। माहात्म्यं तपसो वापि परमानंदकारकं
Having calmed his mind, Atri remained in self-control; the greatness of austerity is said to bring supreme bliss.
यस्माद्वंशपतिः सार्द्धं समये तदधिष्ठितः। तं दृष्ट्वाचष्ट सोमेन तस्मात्सोमोभवद्विभुः
Because the lord of the lineage, along with his wife, was established at that time, seeing him, Soma spoke, and from him Soma was born, the illustrious one.