Varaha Purana

स्थिता एतावदेवं तु कालं यास्यामहेऽम्बुधौ 180.

We remain only for this period; then we will go to the ocean.

श्रुत्वैतत्स त्रिकालज्ञो मोहाविष्टोऽब्रवीदिदम्

Hearing this, the knower of the three times, overwhelmed by delusion, spoke thus:

विधिरत्र कथं तस्या येन यूयं सपुत्रिणः

What is the rule here for her, by which you all, with sons, exist?

पूर्वकर्मविपाकेन यां यां गतिमधोमुखीम्

By the result of previous actions, whichever downward path one attains,

श्राद्धं पिण्डोदकं दानं नित्यं नैमित्तिकं तथा

Offerings of śrāddha, food, water, gifts—both regular and occasional—

अपि स्यात्स कुलेऽस्माकं यो नो दद्याज्जलाञ्जलिम्

Perhaps someone in our lineage may exist who would give us a handful of water.

विशेषात्तीर्थमध्ये तु तिलमिश्रं जलाञ्जलिम्

Especially, in the midst of a sacred place, a handful of water mixed with sesame seeds,

दर्भपाणिस्त्रिस्त्रिगोत्रे पितृनाम समुच्चरन्

Holding darbha grass in hand, reciting the three gotras and the names of the ancestors,

आदावेकाञ्जलिर्द्वे तु तिस्रो वै तर्पणे स्मृताः

One handful is taken first, then two, and three are remembered for the act of tarpaṇa.

तृप्यध्वमिति चान्ते वै मन्त्रं मन्त्रप्रतिक्रियाः

At the end, recite the mantra 'Be satisfied,' along with the prescribed mantras.

पित्रे प्रथमतो दद्यान्मात्रे दद्यात्तथाचरन् 180.

First, one should offer to the father; then, acting likewise, to the mother.

एवं मातामहः शर्मा गोत्रे पितामहस्तथा

In this way, to the maternal grandfather, to the ancestor in the gotra, and likewise to the paternal grandfather.

मधुवातेत्यृचं तद्वत्पूर्ववत्समुदीरयेत्

Recite the ṛc 'madhuvātā' in the same manner as before, following the earlier order.

एवं मातामहानां च पूर्ववत्क्रमशो बुधः

Thus, for the maternal ancestors also, the wise should proceed in the same sequence as before.

गोत्रोच्चारं प्रकुर्वीत असूर्यान्नाशयामहे

One should pronounce the gotra, saying 'We destroy those who eat without the sun.'

गोत्रायै मात्रे मह्यै तु देव्यै चासनकर्मणि

For the gotra, the mother, the great mother, and the goddess, in the act of seating,

अर्घ्यपात्रसंकल्पे तु पिण्डदानेऽवनेजने

In the intention for the arghya vessel, in the offering of the rice ball, and in the act of washing,

गोत्रायै मातुर्महायै देव्याश्चाज्ञेयकर्मणि

For the gotra, the great mother, and the goddess, in the prescribed ritual acts,

प्रथमा चाशिषि प्रोक्ता दत्तस्याक्षय्यकारिका

The first blessing is spoken, which ensures the imperishability of what is given.

पितुरक्षयकाले तु पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम्

At the time of the father's imperishability, the offering to the ancestors is imperishable.

वार्यपि श्रद्धया दत्तं तदानन्त्याय कल्पते 180.

Even water given with faith is considered to lead to endless benefit.

कृत्वा श्राद्धं तु पितरो हृष्टा मुमुदिरे सदा ।। जोषमास्स्व त्रिकालज्ञ गच्छामो नरकाय वै

Having performed the śrāddha, the ancestors were always delighted; 'Remain at ease, knower of the three times, for we now go to hell.'

पूर्वकर्मविपाकेन चिरं तु वसितुं मुने ये मया चागता दृष्टास्तीर्थेऽस्मिन्पितरोऽथ वै

Because of the ripening of previous actions, O sage, those ancestors whom I saw here at this holy place had come and stayed for a long time.

बहवः स्वस्थमनसो बहवो दुःस्थमानसाः

Many were of tranquil mind, and many were of troubled mind.

मौनेन गच्छतां तेषां किमेतद्वद निश्चयम् अत्र यन्निश्चयं श्राद्धे पुत्रस्य विफलं भवेत्

As they went in silence, what is the certainty in this matter? Tell me—under what condition does a son's śrāddha become fruitless here?

नरस्य करणं किञ्चित्तन्मे निगदतः शृणु

Hear from me, as I declare, what action of a man leads to this.

अपात्रे मलिनं द्रव्यं महत्पापाय जायते

If the substance is impure or given to an unworthy recipient, it results in great sin.

तिलमन्त्रकुशैर्हीनमासुरं तद्भवेदिति

If it lacks sesame, mantras, or kuśa grass, it is said to be demonic.

तथा दाशरथी रामो हत्वा राक्षसमीश्वरम्

Thus Rāma, son of Daśaratha, after slaying the lord of the Rākṣasas—