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.
अथ सुस्राव नेत्राभ्यां जलं तत्रात्रिसंभवम्। द्योतयद्विश्वमखिलं ज्योत्स्नया सचराचरम्
Then, from his eyes, water flowed forth there, born of Atri; with its radiance, like moonlight, it illumined the entire universe, all that moves and does not move.
तद्दिशो जगृहुस्तत्र स्त्रीरूपेणासहृच्छयाः। गर्भो भूत्वोदरे तासां स्थितः सोप्यत्रिसंभवः
In that place, the directions, overcome with longing, received it in the form of women; that which was born of Atri became an embryo within their wombs.
आशाश्च मुमुचुर्गर्भमशक्ता धारणे ततः। समादायाथ तं गर्भमेकीकृत्य चतुर्मुखः
The directions, unable to bear the embryo, released it; then the Four-faced One gathered that embryo together.
युवानमकरोद्ब्रह्मा सर्वायुधधरं नरम्। स्यंदनेथ सहस्तेन वेदशक्तिमये प्रभुः
Brahmā made him into a young man, a wielder of all weapons, a man; the Lord, with his own hand, set him on a chariot made of Vedic power.
आरोप्य लोकमनयदात्मीयं स पितामहः। ततो ब्रह्मर्षिभिः प्रोक्तं ह्यस्मत्स्वामीभवत्वयम्
Having placed him, the Grandfather led him to his own world; then the Brahmarṣis declared, 'Let this one become our Lord.'
ऋषिभिर्देवगंधर्वैरप्सरोभिस्तथैव च। स्तूयमानस्य तस्याभूदधिकं महदंतरम्
As he was praised by the seers, gods, Gandharvas, and likewise by the Apsarases, a great and extraordinary event occurred.
तेजोवितानादभवद्भुवि दिव्यौषधीगणः। तद्दीप्तिरधिका तस्माद्रात्रौ भवति सर्वदा
From the canopy of his brilliance arose on earth a multitude of divine herbs; because of that radiance, their glow is always greater at night.
तेनौषधीशः सोमोभूद्द्विजेष्वपि हि गण्यते। वेदधामा रसश्चायं यदिदं मंडलं शुभम्
Thus Soma became the lord of herbs, and is also counted among the twice-born; this auspicious orb is the abode of the Vedas and the essence of sap.
क्षीयते वर्द्धते चैव शुक्ले कृष्णे च सर्वदा। विंशतिं च तथा सप्त दक्षः प्राचेतसो ददौ
It always wanes and waxes in the bright and dark fortnights; and Dakṣa, son of Pracetas, gave him twenty-seven as well.
रूपलावण्यसंयुक्तास्तस्मै कन्याः सुवर्चसः। ततः शक्तिसहस्राणां सहस्राणि दशैव तु
To him, Dakṣa gave daughters endowed with beauty and charm; then, ten thousand times a thousand powers.