तत्सर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामि श्राद्धस्य फलमुत्तमम्
I wish to hear from you the supreme fruit of the śrāddha rite.
कियंतः पितरो नित्यं तृप्ता यांति सुरालयम्
For how long are the ancestors always satisfied and reach the abode of the gods?
तथापि शृणु वै वत्स श्राद्धस्य विधिमुत्तमम्
Nevertheless, listen, dear one, to the supreme procedure of śrāddha.
श्राद्धे प्रकल्पिता लोकाः श्राद्धे धर्मः प्रतिष्ठितः
Worlds are established through śrāddha; righteousness is founded in śrāddha.
श्रद्धया दीयते किंचिद्दैवं ब्रह्माग्नितर्पणम्
Whatever is given with faith—whether to the gods, to Brahmā, or as an offering to fire—
मनुष्या ऋषयः सर्वे सुरसिद्धाश्च राक्षसाः
All humans, sages, divine beings, perfected ones, and even demons—
त्रीन्पितॄंश्च समुद्दिश्य श्राद्धं दद्युः समाहिताः
With focused mind, they should offer the śrāddha rite, addressing the three ancestral lines.
एवं परंपरामार्गं प्रवर्तंते सनातनम्
Thus, the eternal tradition proceeds in succession.
तत्सर्वं संप्रवक्ष्यामि यथा श्रुतं तथा शृणु 5.1.58.
I will explain all this as it has been heard; listen accordingly.
अन्योन्यं पितरो ह्येते देवाः पितृगणैः सह
These ancestors are indeed gods, together with the groups of Pitṛs.
निबोध त्वं मतं सर्वं यदुक्तं तत्समाहितः
Understand fully, with concentration, all that has been declared.
चत्वारो मूर्तिमंतो वै त्रयस्तेषां च मूर्तयः
There are four who possess form, and three of them have manifestations.
तेषां लोकं विसर्गं च कीर्तयिष्यामि तच्छणु
I will recount their worlds and their emanation; listen to this.
धर्ममूर्तिधरास्तेषां तपो ये परमं गताः
Those among them who have attained supreme asceticism bear the form of Dharma.
लोकाः सनातना नाम यत्र तिष्ठंति भास्वराः
The radiant ones dwell in the worlds called eternal.
विराजस्य द्विजश्रेष्ठ वैराजा इति नः श्रुतम्
Of Virāj, O best of twice-born, we have heard that his descendants are called Vairājas.
एते वै योगविभ्रष्टा लोकान्प्राप्य सनातनान्
These, having fallen from yoga, attain the eternal worlds.
ते प्राप्य तां स्मृतिं भूयः सांख्ययोगमनुत्तमम्
Having regained that memory, they again pursue the supreme Sāṃkhya-yoga.
एते स्युः पितरस्तात योगिनां योगवर्धनाः 5.1.58.
These, O dear one, are the ancestors who foster the yoga of yogins.
तस्माच्छ्राद्धानि देयानि योगिनां द्विजसत्तम
Therefore, O best of twice-born, śrāddha offerings should be given for yogins.
एतेषां मानसी कन्या मेना नाम महागिरेः
Among these, the mental daughter is named Menā, of the great mountain.
मैनाकस्य सुतः श्रीमान्क्रौंचो नाम महागिरिः
The illustrious son of Maināka is named Krauncha, the great mountain.
याम्यां बर्हिषदश्चासन्यमाश्च पश्चिमां दिशम्
Barhiṣads dwell in the southern direction, and the Amāśas in the western.
अमूर्तिमंतावाकाशे कव्यवाडनलौ क्षितौ
The formless ones are in the sky, Kavyavāḍa and Anala are on the earth.
यक्षरक्षःपिशाचाश्च यजंते भावितात्मनः
Even yakṣas, rākṣasas, and piśācas worship those whose minds are purified.
मानवाः श्राद्धदेवं च ऋषयो ब्रह्म सनातनम्
Humans, the gods of the śrāddha, and sages worship the eternal Brahman.
देवकार्यात्परं कार्यं पितृकार्यं विशिष्यते
Among all duties for the gods, the duty toward the ancestors is considered superior.
जातिस्मरत्वमापन्ना निर्वाणपदवीं गताः
Those who have attained remembrance of birth have reached the path of liberation.
पितॄनुद्दिश्य ते सर्वे भक्षयंतः क्षुधा र्दिताः 5.1.58.
All of them, driven by hunger, eat offerings dedicated to the ancestors.
सप्त जातिस्मरास्ते वै योगयुक्ता बभूविरे
Those seven, endowed with yoga, became possessed of birth-remembrance.