Varaha Purana

तस्माच्छ्राद्धानि देयानि योगिनां योगिसत्तम । एष वै प्रथमः सर्गः सोमपानामनुत्तमः ।। १३.

Therefore, śrāddha offerings should be given by yogins, O best of yogis; this is indeed the foremost creation of those who drink soma, unsurpassed.

एते त एकतनवो वर्तन्ते द्बिजसत्तमाः । भूर्लोकवासिनां याज्याः स्वर्गलोकनिवासिनः १३.

These very ones, O best of twice-born, exist as a single lineage; those dwelling in the earthly world are to be worshipped, as are those residing in the heavenly world.

कल्पवासिकसंज्ञानां तेषामपि जने गताः । सनकाद्यास्ततस्तेषां वैराजास्तपसि स्थिताः । तेषां सत्यगता मुक्ता इत्येषा पितृसंततिः ।। १३.

Among them are those known as Kalpavāsikas; among their people are Sanaka and others, and the Vairājas established in austerity; among them, those who have attained truth are liberated—thus is the lineage of the ancestors.

अग्निष्वात्तेति मारीच्या वैराजा बर्हिसंज्ञिताः । सुकालेयापि पितरो वसिष्ठस्य प्रजापतेः । तेऽपि याज्यास्त्रिभिर्वर्णैर्न शूद्रेण पृथक्कृतम् ।। १३.

The Agniṣvāttas are the descendants of Marīci, the Vairājas are called Barhiṣads; the ancestors of Vasiṣṭha, the lord of progeny, are called Sukāleyas; these also are to be worshipped with the three Vedic mantras, not separately by a Śūdra.

वर्णत्रयाभ्यनुज्ञातः शूद्रः सर्वान् पितृन् यजेत् । न तु तस्य पृथक् सन्ति पितरः शूद्रजातयः ।। १३.

A Śūdra, permitted by the three varṇas, may worship all the ancestors; but there are no separate ancestors belonging to the Śūdra lineage.

मुक्तश्चेतनको ब्रह्मन् ननु विप्रेषु दृश्यते । विशेषशास्त्रदृष्ट्या तु पुराणानां च दर्शनात् ।। १३.

O Brāhmaṇa, a liberated and conscious being is indeed seen among the Brāhmaṇas; but according to the special scriptures and the view of the Purāṇas, it is otherwise.

एवं ऋषिस्तुतैः शास्त्रं ज्ञात्वा याज्यकसंभवान् । स्वयं सृष्ट्यां स्मृतिर्लब्धा पुत्राणां ब्रह्मणा ततः । परं निर्वाणमापन्नास्तेऽपि ज्ञानेन एव च ।। १३.

Thus, knowing the scripture praised by the sages and the origins of those to be worshipped, memory of their own creation was obtained by their sons from Brahmā; they too attained the highest liberation through knowledge.

वस्वादीनां कश्यपाद्या वर्णानां वसवादयः । अविशेषेण विज्ञेया गन्धर्वाद्या अपि ध्रुवम् ।। १३.

The Vasus and others, beginning with Kaśyapa, are to be understood as belonging to all varṇas; the Gandharvas and others as well, certainly.

एष ते पैतृकः सर्ग उद्देशेन महामुने । कथितो नान्त एवास्य वर्षकोट्या हि दृश्यते ।। १३.

This, O great sage, is the creation of the ancestors described to you in summary; there is truly no end to it, even in a hundred million years.

श्राद्धस्य कालान् वक्ष्यामि तान् श्रृणुष्व द्विजोत्तम । श्राद्धार्हमागतं द्रव्यं विशिष्टमथवा द्विजम् ।। १३.

I will now speak of the proper times for śrāddha; listen to them, O best of twice-born: when suitable offerings or an excellent Brāhmaṇa is available for śrāddha.

श्राद्धं कुर्वीत विज्ञाय व्यतीपातेऽयने तथा । विषुवे चैव संप्राप्ते ग्रहणे शशिसूर्ययोः । समस्तेष्वेव विप्रेन्द्र राशिष्वर्केऽतिगच्छति ।। १३.

One should perform śrāddha, knowing the proper time, at the solstice, the equinox, and when there is an eclipse of the moon or sun; also, O best of Brāhmaṇas, whenever the sun passes into a new zodiac sign.

नक्षत्रग्रहपीडासु दुष्टस्वप्नावलोकने । इच्छाश्राद्धानि कुर्वीत नवसस्यागमे तथा ।। १३.

When afflicted by inauspicious stars or planets, or after seeing evil dreams, one should perform śrāddha by one's own wish, as well as at the coming of new grain.

अमावास्या यदा आर्द्राविशाखास्वातियोगिनो । श्राद्धैः पितृगणस्तृप्तिं तदाप्नोत्यष्टवार्षिकीम् ।। १३.

When the new moon falls on the conjunction with Ārdrā, Viśākhā, or Svāti, the groups of ancestors attain satisfaction lasting eight years from the śrāddha performed then.

अमावस्या यदा पुष्ये रौद्रेऽथर्क्षे पुनर्वसौ । द्वादशाब्दं तथा तृप्तिं प्रयान्ति पितरोऽर्च्चिताः ।। १३.

When the new moon falls on Puṣya, on the fierce nakṣatra, or on Punarvasu, the ancestors who are honored then attain satisfaction for twelve years.

वासवाजैकपादर्क्षे पितॄणां तृप्तिमिच्छताम् । वारुणे चाप्यमावास्या देवानामपि दुर्लभा ।। १३.

On the new moon in the Vāsava, Ājaikapāda, or Vāruṇa nakṣatras, those who desire the satisfaction of the ancestors should perform śrāddha; even the gods find it difficult to obtain satisfaction then.

नवस्वर्क्षेष्वमावास्या यदा तेषु द्विजोत्तम । तदा श्राद्धानि देयानि अक्षय्यफलमिच्छताम् । अपि कोटिसहस्त्रेण पुण्यस्यान्तो न विद्यते ।। १३.

O best of twice-born, when the new moon falls in any of the nine nakṣatras, śrāddha should be performed by those desiring inexhaustible merit; even with ten million times a thousand, the limit of merit is not reached.

अथापरं पितरः श्राद्धकालं रहस्यमस्मत् प्रवदन्ति पुण्यम् । वैशाखमासस्य तु या तृतीया नवम्यसौ कार्त्तिकशुक्लपक्षे ।। १३.

Now, the ancestors speak of another, secret, and meritorious time for śrāddha: the third day of the bright half of Vaiśākha, and the ninth day of the bright half of Kārttika.

नभस्यमासस्य तमिस्त्रपक्षे त्रयोदशी पञ्चदशी च माघे । उपप्लवे चन्द्रमसो रवेश्च तथाष्टकास्वप्ययनद्वये च ।। १३.

On the thirteenth and fifteenth days of the dark fortnight in the month of Māgha, during an eclipse of the moon or sun, as well as on the Aṣṭakā days and at both solstices—

पानीयमप्यत्र तिलैर्विमिश्रं दद्यात्पितृभ्यः प्रयतो मनुष्यः । श्राद्धं कृतं तेन समाःसहस्त्रं रहस्यमेतत् पितरो वदन्ति ।। १३.

—here, a person should, with devotion, offer water mixed with sesame seeds to the ancestors; by this act, the śrāddha performed grants satisfaction to the ancestors for a thousand years—this secret is spoken by the forefathers.

माघासिते पञ्चदशी कदाचि- दुपैति योगं यदि वारुणेन । ऋक्षेण कालः परमः पितॄणां न त्वल्पपुण्यैर्द्विज लभ्यतेऽसौ ।। १३.

If, in the bright half of Māgha, the fifteenth day coincides with the conjunction of the star Varuṇa, that time is supremely auspicious for the ancestors; but such a moment is not attained by those of little merit, O twice-born.

काले धनिष्ठा यदि नाम तस्मिन् भवेत्तु विप्रेन्द्र सदा पितृभ्यः । दत्तं जलान्नं प्रददाति तृप्तिं वर्षायुतं तत्कुलजैर्मनुष्यैः ।। १३.

If, at that time, the star Dhaniṣṭhā is present, O best of Brāhmaṇas, then water and food offered to the ancestors by the family brings them satisfaction for ten thousand years.

तत्रैव चेद् भाद्रपदास्तु पूर्वाः काले तदा यैः क्रियते पितृभ्यः । श्राद्धं परा तृप्तिमुपेत्य तेन युगं समग्रं पितरः स्वपन्ति १३.

If, at that very time, the early Bhādrapadā stars are present, then those who perform śrāddha for the ancestors cause them to attain supreme satisfaction, and the ancestors rest peacefully for an entire age.

गङ्गासरयूमथवा विपाशां सरस्वतीं नैमिषगोमतीं वा । ततोऽवगाह्यार्चनमादरेण कृत्वा पितॄणामहितानि हन्ति ।। १३.

One who bathes with reverence in the Gaṅgā, Sarayū, Vipāśā, Sarasvatī, Naimiṣā, or Gomati, and then performs worship for the ancestors, destroys their misfortunes.

गायन्ति चैतत् पितरः कदा तु वर्षामघातृप्तिमवाप्य भूयः । माघासितान्ते शुभतीर्थतोयै- र्यास्याम तृप्तिं तनयादिदत्तैः ।। १३.

The ancestors sing this: 'When, after a year, we again attain satisfaction at the end of the bright Māgha fortnight, with the pure waters of holy fords, through gifts made by sons and others—'

चित्तं च वित्तं च नृणां विशुद्धं शस्तश्च कालः कथितो विधिश्च । पात्रं यथोक्तं परमा च भक्ति- र्नृणां प्रयच्छन्त्यभिवाञ्छितानि ।। १३.

A pure mind and wealth, an auspicious time, the prescribed rite, the proper vessel, and supreme devotion—these grant to people all that is desired.

पितृगीतास्तथैवात्र श्लोकास्तान् श्रृणु सत्तम । श्रुत्वा तथैव भविता भाव्यं तत्र विधात्मना ।। १३.

Now, O noble one, listen to these verses sung by the ancestors; having heard them, one should act accordingly, as ordained by destiny.

अपि धन्यः कुले जायादस्माकं मतिमान् नरः । अकुर्वन् वित्तशाठ्यं यः पिण्डान् यो निर्वपिष्यति ।। १३.

Blessed indeed is the wise man born in our lineage, who, without deceit regarding wealth, will offer the rice-balls for us.

रत्नवस्त्रमहायानं सर्वं भोगादिकं वसु । विभवे सति विप्रेभ्यो अस्मानुद्दिश्य दास्यति ।। १३.

He who, possessing jewels, garments, vehicles, all enjoyments, and wealth, will give gifts to Brāhmaṇas on our behalf—

अन्नेन वा यथाशक्त्या कालेऽस्मिन् भक्तिनम्रधीः । भोजयिष्यति विप्राग्र्यांस्तन्मात्रविभवो नरः ।। १३.

Or, with whatever food he is able, at this time, with devotion and humility, will feed excellent Brāhmaṇas—even that much is sufficient for a man.