Varaha Purana

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.

असमर्थोऽन्नदानस्य वन्यशाकं स्वशक्तितः । प्रदास्यतिद्विजाग्र्येभ्यः स्वल्पां यो वापि दक्षिणाम् ।। १३.

If unable to give food, he will offer wild greens according to his capacity, or even a small fee, to foremost Brāhmaṇas.

तत्राप्यसामर्थ्ययुतः कराग्राग्रस्थितांस्तिलान् । प्रणम्य द्विजमुख्याय कस्मैचिद् द्विज दास्यति ।। १३.

If even that is not possible, he will respectfully offer a few sesame seeds, held at his fingertips, to any distinguished Brāhmaṇa.

तिलैः सप्ताष्टभिर्वापि समवेतां जलाञ्जलिम् । भक्तिनम्रः समुद्दिश्याप्यस्माकं संप्रदास्यति ।। १३.

With seven or eight sesame seeds, or with a handful of water, offered with devotion and humility for our sake, he will make the gift.

यतः कुतश्चित् संप्राप्य गोभ्यो वापि गवाह्निकम् । अभावे प्रीणयत्यस्मान् भक्त्या युक्तः प्रदास्यति ।। १३.

Whatever he obtains from anywhere, or even the daily milk from cows, if nothing else is available, he will satisfy us with devotion by making the offering.

सर्वाभावे वनं गत्वा कक्षामूलप्रदर्शकः । सूर्यादिलोकपालानामिदमुच्चैः पठिष्यति ।। १३.

If everything is lacking, he should go to the forest, point out a sacred spot at the root of a tree, and recite aloud this for the Sun and other guardians of the worlds:

न मेऽस्ति वित्तं न धनं न चान्य- च्छ्राद्धस्य योग्यं स्वपितॄन् नतोऽस्मि । तृप्यन्तु भक्त्या पितरो मयैतौ भुजौ ततौ वर्त्मनि मारुतस्य ।। १३.

"I have no wealth, no riches, nor anything else suitable for śrāddha; bowing to my ancestors, may they be satisfied with my devotion—my arms outstretched on the path of the wind."

इत्येतत् पितृभिर्गीतं भावाभावप्रयोजनम् । कृतं तेन भवेच्छ्राद्धं य एवं कुरुते द्विज ।। १३.

Thus, this has been sung by the ancestors regarding the purpose of existence and non-existence; the ritual becomes a śrāddha by this, for the twice-born who performs it in this way.

मार्कण्डेय उवाच । एतन्मे कथितं पूर्वं ब्रह्मपुत्रेण धीमता । सनकानुजेन विप्रर्षे ब्राह्मणान् श्रृणु सांप्रतम् ।। १४.

Markandeya said: This was previously told to me by the wise son of Brahma, Sanaka's younger brother, O sage among Brahmins; now listen to the Brahmins.

त्रिणाचिकेतस्त्रिमधुस्त्रिसुपर्णः षडङ्गवित् । वेदवित् श्रोत्रियो योगी तथा वै ज्योष्ठसामगः ।। १४.

One who knows the three Nachiketas fires, the three Madhu verses, the three Suparna hymns, is versed in the six limbs, knows the Vedas, is learned, is a yogi, and is also the foremost singer of the Jyotish Sama.

ऋत्विजं भागिनेयं च दौहित्रं श्वसुरं तथा । जामातरं मातुलं च तपोनिष्ठं च ब्राह्मणम् ।। १४.

A priest, a nephew, a grandson, a father-in-law, a son-in-law, a maternal uncle, and a Brahmin devoted to austerity.