Vayu Purana

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.

हित्वा त्रैलोक्यसंसारं जरामृत्युभयं तथा। मोक्षं योगमयैश्वर्य्यं प्रयच्छन्ति पितामहाः ।। ११.

Having abandoned the cycle of the three worlds, as well as the fear of old age and death, the ancestors grant liberation and yogic sovereignty.

मोक्षोपायमथैश्वर्य्यं सूक्ष्मदेहाश्च देवताः। कृत्स्नं वैराग्यमानन्त्यं प्रयच्छन्ति पितामहाः ।। ११.

The ancestors grant the means to liberation, sovereignty, subtle bodies to the deities, complete dispassion, and infinity.

ऐश्वर्य्यं विहितं योगमैश्वर्य्यं वित्तमुत्तमम्। योगैश्वर्य्यदृते मोक्षः कथञ्चिन्नोपपद्यते ।। ११.

The sovereignty bestowed is yogic sovereignty, supreme wealth; apart from yogic sovereignty, liberation is by no means attained.

अपक्षस्यैव गमनं गगने पक्षिणो यथा । वरिष्ठः सर्वधर्म्माणां मोक्षो धर्म्मः सनातनः ।। ११.

Just as only the winged can move in the sky, so among all dharmas, liberation is the highest, the eternal dharma.

विमानानां सहस्राणि युक्तान्यप्सरसांगणैः। सर्वकामप्रसिद्धानि प्रयच्छन्ति पितामहाः ।। ११.

Thousands of celestial vehicles, adorned with groups of apsarases, famed for fulfilling all desires, are granted by the ancestors.

प्रज्ञा पुष्टिः स्मृतिर्मेधा राज्यमारोग्यमेव च। पितॄणां हि प्रसादेन प्राप्यते सुमहात्मना ।। ११.

Wisdom, nourishment, memory, intelligence, sovereignty, and health—all are obtained by the grace of the ancestors, who are of great soul.

मुक्तावैढूर्य्यवासांसि वाजिनागायुतानि च। कोटिशश्चापि रत्नानि प्रयच्छन्ति पितामहाः ।। ११.

Grandfathers bestow garments of pearls and cat's-eye gems, and teams of horses and elephants, as well as countless jewels.

हंसबर्हिणयुक्तानि मुक्तावैढूर्य्यवन्ति च। किङ्किणीजालनद्धानि सदा पुष्पफलानि च। प्रीत्या नित्यं प्रयच्छन्ति मनुष्याणां पितामहाः ।। ११.

Grandfathers always give, with affection, swans and peacocks yoked to vehicles adorned with pearls and cat's-eye gems, festooned with chains of bells, and ever bearing flowers and fruits, to human beings.

सौवर्णं राजतं ताम्रं पितॄणां पात्रमुच्यते। रजतं रजताक्तं वा पितॄणां पात्रमुच्यते ॥ १२.

A vessel of gold, silver, or copper is said to be fit for the ancestors; even a silver vessel, or one plated with silver, is considered suitable for the ancestors.

रजतस्य तथा चापि दर्शनं दानमेव च। अनन्तमक्षयं स्वर्ग्यं पितॄणां दानमुच्यते। पितॄनेतेन दानेन सत्पुत्रास्तारयन्त्युत ॥ १२.

The sight of silver, and likewise its gift, is declared to be endless, inexhaustible, and heavenly charity for the ancestors; by this gift, indeed, good sons deliver their ancestors.