Vayu Purana

तेनैव वचसा पुत्रा ब्रह्मणः परमेष्ठिनः। पुत्राः पितृत्त्वमाजग्मुः पुत्रत्वं पितरः पुनः ।। १०.

By that very word of Brahmā, the Supreme Lord, the sons became ancestors, and the ancestors became sons again.

तस्मात्ते पितरः पुत्राः पितृत्वे तेषु तत्स्मृतम् । एवं स्मृत्वा पितॄन् पुत्रान्पुत्राश्च पितरस्तथा। व्याजहार पुनर्ब्रह्मा पिदॄनात्मविवृद्धये ।। १०.

Therefore, those ancestors are sons, and in them is remembered the state of ancestorhood; thus, remembering ancestors as sons and sons as ancestors, Brahmā again spoke for the growth of the ancestors' selves.

यो ह्यनिष्ट्वा पितॄञ्छ्राद्धे क्रियां काञिचित्करिष्यति। राक्षसा दानवाश्चैव फलं प्राप्स्यन्ति तस्य तत् ।। १०.

Whoever, without offering śrāddha to the ancestors, performs any rite, the fruit of that will go to the Rākṣasas and Dānavas.

श्राद्धैराप्यायिताश्चैव पितरः सोममव्ययम्। आप्याय्यमाना युष्माभिर्वर्द्धयिष्यन्ति नित्यशः ।। १०.

The ancestors, nourished by offerings of śrāddha, partake of the inexhaustible Soma; as they are replenished by you, they will continually increase.

श्राद्धैराप्यायितः सोमो लोकानाप्याययिष्यति । कृत्स्रं सपर्वतवनं जङ्गमाजङ्गमैर्वृतम् ।। १०.

When Soma is nourished by śrāddha offerings, he will nourish the worlds—entirely, with all mountains, forests, and beings both moving and unmoving.

श्राद्धानि पुष्टिकामाश्च ये करिष्यन्ति मानवाः। तेभ्यः पुष्टिं प्रजाश्चैव दास्यन्ति पितरः सदा ।। १०.

Those humans who perform śrāddha desiring nourishment, the ancestors will always grant them nourishment and offspring.

श्राद्धे येभ्यः प्रदास्यन्ति त्रीन् पिण्डान् नामगोत्रतः। सर्वत्र वर्त्तमानास्ते पितरः प्रपितामहम्। तेषामाप्याययिष्यन्ति श्राद्धदानेन वै प्रजाः ।। १०.

To those for whom three balls are given at śrāddha, named and identified by lineage, the ancestors and forefathers, present everywhere, will nourish their descendants through the gift of śrāddha.

एवमाज्ञा कृता पूर्वं ब्रह्मणा परमेष्ठिना। तेनैतत्सर्वथा सिद्धं दानमध्ययनं तपः ।। १०.

Thus, the command was formerly given by Brahmā, the supreme lord; therefore, giving, study, and austerity are accomplished in every way.

ते तु ज्ञानप्रदातारः पितरो वो न संशयः। इत्येते पितरो देवा देवाश्च पितरः पुनः । अन्योन्यं पितरो ह्येते देवाश्च पितरश्च ह ।। १०.

Indeed, your ancestors are the givers of knowledge—there is no doubt; thus, these ancestors are gods, and the gods are again ancestors; these are mutually ancestors and gods.

एतद्ब्रह्मवचः श्रुत्वा सूतस्य विहितात्मनः । पप्रच्छुर्मुनयो भूयः सूतं तस्माद्यदुत्तरम् ।। १०.

Having heard these words of Brahmā, spoken by the Sūta whose mind was established, the sages again questioned the Sūta about what followed.

कियन्तो वै पितृगणाः कस्मिन्काले च ते गणाः । वर्त्तन्ते देवप्रवरा देवानां सोमवर्द्धनाः ।। १०.

How many groups of ancestors are there, and at what times do these groups exist, O best among the gods, those who nourish Soma among the gods?

एतद्वोऽहं प्रवक्ष्यामि पितृसर्गमनुत्तमम्। शंयुः पप्रच्छ यत्पूर्वं पितरं वै बृहस्पतिम् ।। १०.

I will declare to you the supreme origin of the ancestors, which Śaṃyu formerly asked of Bṛhaspati.

बृहस्पतिमुपासीनं सर्वज्ञानार्थकोविदम्। पुत्रः शंयुरिमं प्रश्नं पप्रच्छ विनयान्वितः ।। १०.

Śaṃyu, the son, approached Bṛhaspati, who was versed in all knowledge, and respectfully asked this question.

क एते पितरो नाम कियन्तः के च नामतः। समुद्भूताः कथञ्चैते पितृत्वं समुपागताः ।। १०.

Who are these ancestors by name, how many are there, and what are their names? How did they arise, and how did they attain the status of ancestors?

कस्माच्च पितरं पूर्वं यज्ञे युज्यन्ति नित्यशः। क्रियाश्च सर्वा वर्त्तन्ते श्राद्धपूर्वा महात्मनाम् ।। १०.

Why are the ancestors always joined in sacrifice from the beginning, and why do all rites of the great-souled proceed preceded by śrāddha?

कस्मै श्राद्धानि देयानि किञ्च दत्तं महाफलम्। केषु वाप्यक्षयं श्राद्धं तीर्थेषु च नदीषु च ।। १०.

To whom should śrāddha offerings be given, and what is the great fruit of what is given? In which places is śrāddha imperishable—in holy sites and rivers?

केषु वै सर्वमाप्नोति श्राद्धं कृत्वा द्विजोत्तमः। कश्च कालो भवेच्च्राद्धे विधिः कश्चानुवर्त्तते ।। १०.

In which places does a best of twice-born attain everything by performing śrāddha? What time is proper for śrāddha, and what procedure is followed?

एतदिच्छामि भगवन् विस्तरेण यथातथम्। व्याख्यातुमानुपूर्व्येण यत्र चोदाहृतं मया ।। १०.

O revered one, I wish for you to explain all this in detail and in proper sequence, as I have asked.

बृहस्पतिरिदं सम्यगेवं पृष्टो महामतिः। व्याजहारानुपूर्व्येण प्रश्नं प्रश्नविदां वरः ।। १०.

Bṛhaspati, of great intellect, thus questioned, spoke in proper sequence, being foremost among those skilled in answering questions.

कथयिष्यामि ते तात यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि। विनयेन यथान्यायं गम्भीरं प्रश्नमुत्तमम् ।। १०.

I will tell you, dear one, what you have asked me, the profound and excellent question, with due respect and according to proper order.

द्यौरन्तरिक्षं पृथिवी नक्षत्राणि दिशस्तथा। सूर्याचन्द्रमसौ चैव तथाहोरात्रमेव च ।। १०.

The sky, the atmosphere, the earth, the stars, the directions, the sun and moon, and likewise day and night.

न बभूवुस्तदा तात तमोभूतमिदं जगत्। ब्रह्मैको दुश्चरं तत्र चचार परमं तपः ।। १०.

At that time, O dear one, there was nothing; this world was enveloped in darkness. Only Brahma existed, performing the most arduous austerity there.

शंयुस्तमब्रवीद्भूयः पितरं ब्रह्मवित्तमम्। सर्वदैव व्रतस्नातं सर्वज्ञानविदांवरम् ।। १०.

Shamyu then spoke again to his father, the foremost knower of Brahma, always purified by vows, the best among those who possess all knowledge.

कीदृशं सर्वभूते शस्तपस्तेपे प्रजापतिः। एवमुक्तो बृहत्तेजा बृहस्पतिरुवाच तम् ।। १०.

What kind of supreme austerity did Prajapati undertake for all beings? Thus addressed, the greatly radiant Brihaspati replied to him.

सर्वेषां तपसां युक्तिस्तपोयोगमनुत्तमम्। ध्यायंस्तदा तद्भगवांस्तेन लोकनवासृजत् ।। १०.

The highest union of all austerities is the supreme discipline of austerity; at that time, the blessed one meditated, and through that, he created the worlds anew.

भूतभव्यानि ज्ञानानि लोकान्वेदांश्च कृत्स्नशः। योगमाविश्य तत्सृष्टं ब्रह्मणा योगचक्षुषा ।। १०.

All knowledge of past and future, all worlds, and the Vedas in their entirety—having entered into yoga, Brahma created them with the vision of yoga.

लोकाः सान्तानिका नाम यत्र तिष्ठन्ति भास्वराः। ते वैराजा इति ख्याता देवानां दिवि देवताः ।। १०.

The worlds called Santanika are where the radiant ones reside; they are known as the Virajas, the divine beings among the gods in heaven.

योगेन तपसा युक्तः पूर्वमेव तदा प्रभुः। देवानसृजत ब्रह्मा योगं युक्त्वा सनातनम् ।। १०.

Previously, the Lord, united with yoga and austerity, created the gods; Brahma, established in eternal yoga, brought them forth.

आदिदेवा इति ख्याता महासत्त्वा महौजसः। सर्वकामप्रदाः पूज्या देवदानवमानवैः ।। १०.

They are known as the Adidevas, beings of great strength and mighty brilliance, bestowers of all desires, revered by gods, demons, and humans.