Vayu Purana

अमूर्त्तिमन्तः पितरो धर्ममूर्त्तिधरास्तु ये। त्रय एते गणास्तेषां चत्वारोऽन्ये निबोधत ।। ११.

The Pitṛs who are formless, and those who possess the form of righteousness—these are three groups; now hear of four others.

यान्वक्ष्यामि द्विजश्रेष्ठा मूर्त्तिमन्तो महाप्रभाः। उत्पन्नास्ते स्वधायास्तु कन्या ह्यग्नेः कवेः सुताः ।। ११.

O best of twice-born, I shall tell you of those who are endowed with form and great splendor; they were born from Svadhā, the daughters of Agni and Kavi.

पितरो देवलोकेषु ज्योतिर्भासिषु भास्वराः। सर्वकामसमृद्धेषु द्विजा स्तान्भावयन्त्युत ।। ११.

The Pitṛs in the worlds of the gods, shining with radiance, dwell in realms filled with all enjoyments, and the twice-born indeed honor them.

एतेषां मानसी कन्या गौर्नाम दिवि विश्रुता। दत्तसेना कुमारेण शुक्रस्य महिषी प्रिया ।। ११.

Among them, a mind-born daughter named Gaur, renowned in heaven, became the beloved queen of Dattasena Kumāra, the son of Śukra.

एकत्रिंशच्च विख्याता भृगूणां कीर्त्तिवर्द्धनाः। मरीचिगर्भास्ते लोकाः समावृत्य दिवि स्थिताः ।। ११.

There are thirty-one famed among the Bhṛgus, enhancers of glory; these worlds, born from Marīci, are established in heaven, encompassing all.

एते ह्यङ्गिरसः पुत्राः साध्यैः सह विवर्द्धिताः। उपहूताः स्मृतास्ते तु पितरो भास्वरा दिवि। तान्क्षत्रियगणान्दृष्ट्वा भावयन्ति फलार्थिनः ।। ११.

These are the sons of Aṅgiras, who grew together with the Sādhyas; they are called and remembered as the shining Pitṛs in heaven. Seeing these groups of Kṣatriyas, those desiring results honor them.

एतेषां मानसी कन्या यशोदा नाम विश्रुता। पत्नी सा विश्वमहतः स्नुषा वै विश्वशर्म्मिणः ।। ११.

Among them, a mind-born daughter named Yaśodā is renowned; she is the wife of Viśvamahat and the daughter-in-law of Viśvaśarman.

राजर्षेर्जननी देवी खट्वाङ्गस्य महात्मनः। यस्य यज्ञे पुरा गीता गाथा गीतैर्महर्षिभिः ।। ११.

She is the divine mother of the royal sage Khaṭvāṅga, the great soul, at whose sacrifice, in ancient times, songs were sung by the great sages.

अग्नेर्जन्म तथा दृष्ट्वा शाण्डिल्यस्य महात्मनः। यजमानं दिलीपं ये पश्यन्ति सुसमाहिताः। सत्यव्रतं महात्मानं ते स्वर्गजयिनोऽमराः ।। ११.

Having seen the birth of Agni and of the great soul Śāṇḍilya, those who attentively behold the sacrificer Dilīpa and the great soul Satyavrata—those immortals are victorious in heaven.

आज्यपा नाम पितरः कर्दमस्य प्रजापतेः । समुत्पन्नस्य पुलहादुत्पन्नास्तस्य वै पुनः ।। ११.

The Pitṛs called Ājyapās were born from Kardama, the progenitor; they were again produced from Pulaha.

लोकेष्वेतेषु वर्त्तन्ते कामगेषु विहङ्गमाः । एतान्वैश्यगणाः श्राद्धे भावयन्ति फलार्थिनः ।। ११.

In these worlds, they move about as birds, desiring pleasures; the groups of Vaiśyas honor them in śrāddha rites, seeking rewards.

एतेषां मानसी सन्या विरजा नाम विश्रुता । ययातेर्जननी साध्वी पत्नी सा नहुषस्य तु ।। ११.

Among them, a mind-born daughter named Virajā is renowned; she is the virtuous mother of Yayāti and the wife of Nahuṣa.

सुकाला नाम पितरो वसिष्ठस्य प्रजापतेः । हिरण्यगर्भस्य सुताः शूद्रास्तान्बावयन्त्युत ।। ११.

The Pitṛs called Sukālās are the offspring of Vasiṣṭha, the progenitor, and the sons of Hiraṇyagarbha; the Śūdras honor them.

मानसा नाम ते लोका वहन्ते यत्र ते दिवि। एतेषां मानसी कन्या नर्मदा सरितां वरा ।। ११.

Their worlds are called Mānasa, which they bear in heaven; among them, a mind-born daughter is Narmadā, the best of rivers.

सा भावयति भूतानि दक्षिणापथगामिनी । जननी त्रसद्दस्योर्हि पुरुकुत्सपरिग्रहः ।। ११.

She sustains beings as she flows southward; she is the mother of Trasaddasyu and the spouse of Purukutsa.

एतेषामभ्युपगमान्मातुर्मन्वन्तरेश्वरः । मन्वन्त रादौ श्राद्धानि प्रवर्त्तयति सर्वशः ।। ११.

By approaching these in the age of Manu, the lord of the Manvantara, all śrāddha rites are established at the beginning of the Manvantara.

पिदॄणामानुपूर्व्येण सर्वेषां द्विजसत्तमाः । तस्मादिह स्वधर्मेण श्राद्धं देयन्तु श्रद्धया ।। ११.

O best of twice-born, in due order for all the Pitṛs, therefore here, one should offer śrāddha with faith, according to one's own duty.

सर्वेषां राजतैः पात्रैरपि वा रजतान्वितैः। दत्तं स्वधां पुरोधाय तथा प्रीणाति वै पितॄन् ।। ११.

Even when offerings are made to all with vessels of silver, or vessels adorned with silver, placing the svadhā first, it indeed pleases the ancestors.

सोमस्याप्यायनं कृत्वा ह्यग्नेर्वैवस्वतस्य च। उद गायनञ्चाग्नौ च अश्वमेधं तदामुयात् ।। ११.

Having performed the replenishment of Soma, and likewise of Agni and Vaivasvata, and the singing of praises to the waters and to Agni, one attains the fruit of the horse sacrifice.

पितॄन् प्रीणाति वै भक्त्या पितरः प्रीणयन्ति तम्। पितरः पुष्टिकामस्य प्रजाकामस्य वा पुनः। पुष्टिं प्रजां च स्वर्गं प्रयच्छन्ति न संशयः ।। ११.

He pleases the ancestors with devotion, and the ancestors in turn please him; the ancestors grant nourishment and progeny to one desiring them, as well as heaven—there is no doubt.

देवकार्य्यादपि सदा पितृकार्य्यं विशिष्यते। देवताभ्यः पितॄणां हि पूर्व्वमाप्यायनं स्मृतम् ।। ११.

The rites for the ancestors always surpass those for the gods; for the replenishment of the ancestors is remembered as prior to that of the deities.

न हि योगगतिः सूक्ष्मा पितॄणामपि तृप्तयः। तपसा हि प्रसिद्धेन दृश्यन्ते मांसचक्षुषा ।। ११.

The subtle path of yoga is not for the ancestors, nor their satisfaction; they are perceived by the power of renowned austerity, with the physical eye.

इत्येते पितरश्चैव लोका दुहितरश्च वै। दौहित्रा यजमानाश्च प्रोक्ता ये भावयन्ति तान् ।। ११.

Thus these are the worlds of the ancestors, as well as their daughters, grandsons, and sacrificers, who sustain them as has been declared.

चत्वारो मूर्त्तिमन्तश्च त्रयस्तेषाममूर्त्तयः। तेभ्यः श्राद्धानि सत्कृत्य देवाः कुर्व्वन्ति यत्नतः ।। ११.

Four are embodied, and three among them are without form; the gods, honoring them with care, perform the śrāddha rites diligently.

भक्ताः प्राञ्जलयः सर्वे सेन्द्रास्तद्घतमानसाः। विश्वे च सिकताश्चैव पृश्निजाः श्रृङ्गिणस्तथा ।। ११.

All are devoted, with hands joined, including Indra and those whose minds are thus inclined; the Viśve, the Sand-grains, the Pṛśnijas, and the Śṛṅgins likewise.

कृष्णाः श्वेतास्त्वजाश्चैव विधिवत्पूजयन्त्युत। प्रजास्ता वातरशना दिवाकीर्त्त्यास्तथैव च ।। ११.

The black, the white, and the unborn also worship according to proper rites; those offspring with wind-belts and those famed by day likewise.

लेखाश्च मरुतश्चैव ब्रह्माद्याश्च दिवौकसः। अत्रिभृग्वङ्गिराद्याश्च ऋषयः सर्व्व एव च ।। ११.

The Lekhas, the Maruts, and the celestial beings beginning with Brahma; the sages, all of them, beginning with Atri, Bhṛgu, and Angiras.

यक्षा नागाः सुपर्णाश्च किन्नरा राक्षसैः सह। पितॄंस्त्वपूजयन्सर्वे नित्यमेव फलार्थिनः ।। ११.

Yakṣas, Nāgas, Suparṇas, Kinnaras, together with Rākṣasas—all perpetually worship the ancestors, desiring fruit.

एवमेते महात्मानः श्राद्धे सत्कृत्य पूजिताः। सर्वान्कामान्प्रयच्छन्ति शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ।। ११.

Thus, these great souls, honored and worshipped at the śrāddha, grant all desires by the hundreds and thousands.