He comforted his grieving son with auspicious and imperishable words, seeking to ease the pain in his heart. “This rite for the ancestors,” he explained gently, “is prescribed as a sacred duty by Brahma himself. The first Śrāddha was performed by Svayambhū, the self-born, O best of the wise. In this way, the procedure for the Śrāddha and the acts for the departed have been established.” He continued, “By my grace, I bestow understanding upon you. Know that one must certainly go, by the command of Dharmarāja. For one who is born, death is certain; and for one who has died, birth is certain. Sattva, rajas, and tamas—these three qualities are said to arise from the body. Those dominated by tamas, due to the faults of their actions, do not comprehend the qualities of sattva. But those who know the Vedas, being sattvic in nature, proceed on the path to liberation. The tamasic person is cruel, fearful, addicted to vice, violent, and shameless. Know such a one as tamasic; when spoken to, he does not understand. He is strong in speech, unsteady in mind, and always suspicious. But he who is patient, self-controlled, pure in soul, and endowed with faith is to be known as sattvic. Thus reflecting, you should not give in to sorrow. Modesty, fortitude, righteousness, prosperity, fame, memory, and wisdom—all these, along with every virtue, abandon a man afflicted by grief. When deluded by the power of attachment, a person commits violence and falsehood. Therefore, restraining attachment towards all, one should direct the mind towards righteousness. Now, I shall declare to you the duties of the four varnas, as spoken by Svayambhu. When performing the rites, lying on a bed of kusha grass, the performer should not look in any direction. With affection, he should cause the twice-born, the earth-gods, to recite the appropriate texts. For the sake of benefit in the next world, the gift of a cow is especially praised. By giving such gifts, one is quickly freed from sin. Afterwards, let him make the divine sound heard in the right ear of the departed. Seeing him greatly distressed, and following my path, by this mantra, the release from all worldly existence should be performed. The mantra is: ‘Om, accept from me this purest madhuparka, the foremost, which destroys worldly existence, equal to nectar.’ With this mantra, one should indeed offer the madhuparka. Thus, when the life-breath has departed in this way, he does not return to worldly existence. Then, going to a great tree, one should gather various kinds of fragrant substances, arranging all those things that bestow unfailing brilliance for him. After invoking the sacred waters and the like, one should have him bathed. Think of the holy places—Kurukshetra, the Ganga, the Yamuna, the Gandaki, the auspicious Bhadra, the Sarayu, and all the sacred rivers, as well as the four oceans. Having placed her above him, with her southern tip at his head, meditate on the divine, fire-faced ones, and take fire in hand. Whether knowingly or unknowingly performing this most difficult act, remember that all actions are joined with righteousness and unrighteousness, enveloped by greed and delusion. In this way, one fulfills the rites, guided by wisdom and tradition, seeking the welfare of the departed and the peace of the living.