Vayu Purana

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.

राजते हि स्वधा दुग्धा पात्रेऽस्मिन्पितृभिः पुरा। स्वधादायार्थिभिस्तात तस्मिन्दत्ते तदक्षयम् ॥ १२.

In former times, O dear one, the ancestors drank the svadhā offering of milk in a silver vessel; for those who desire the svadhā offering, when it is given in this, it is inexhaustible.

कृष्णाजिनस्य सान्निध्यं दर्शनं दानमेव वा। रक्षोघ्नं ब्रह्मवर्च्चस्यं पितॄंस्तत्तद्वितारयेत् ॥ १२.

The presence, sight, or gift of a black antelope skin is said to ward off evil, to increase Brahmanic splendor, and to benefit the ancestors in various ways.

काञ्चनं राजतं ताम्रं दौहित्रं कुतपस्तिलाः। वस्त्रञ्च पावनीयानि त्रिदण्डो योगमेव च ॥ १२.

Gold, silver, copper, a daughter's son, a kutapa vessel, sesame seeds, pure garments, and a triple staff, as well as yoga practice—

श्राद्धकर्मण्ययं श्रेष्ठो विधिर्ब्राह्यः सनातनः। आयुः कीर्त्तिः प्रजाश्चैव प्रज्ञासन्ततिवर्द्धनः ॥ १२.

This is the best and eternal rule for the śrāddha ritual; it increases lifespan, fame, offspring, and the growth of wisdom and lineage.

दिशि दक्षिणपूर्वस्यां विदिकूस्थानं विशेषतः। सर्वतोरत्निमात्रन्तु चतुरस्रं सुसंहितम् ॥ १२.

In the southeast direction, especially at the prescribed site, a perfectly square area, measuring one ratni on each side, should be prepared.

वक्ष्यामि विधिवत्स्थानं पितॄणामनुशासनात्। धन्यमारोग्यमायुष्यं बलवर्णविवर्द्धनम् ॥ १२.

I shall describe, according to rule and instruction, the place for the ancestors, which brings prosperity, health, long life, strength, and enhancement of complexion.

तत्र गर्त्तास्त्रयः कार्य्यास्त्रयो दण्डाश्च खादिराः। रत्निमात्रास्तु ते कार्य्या रजतेन विभूषिताः। तेवितस्त्यायताः कार्य्याः सर्व्वतश्चतुरङ्गुलाः ॥ १२.

There, three pits should be made, and three khadira sticks, each a ratni in length and adorned with silver; they should be placed lengthwise, each four finger-breadths thick on all sides.

प्राग्दक्षिणमुखान्भूमौ स्थितानसुषिरंस्तथा। अद्भिः पवित्रपूताभिः प्लावयेत्सततं शुचिः ॥ १२.

They should be set on the ground facing east and south, without holes; and the pure person should always wash them with water purified by darbha grass.

पयसा ह्याजगव्येन शोधनं वाग्भिरेव तु। तर्पणात्सततं ह्येवं तृप्तिर्भवति शाश्वती ॥ १२.

Purification is to be done with cow's milk or goat's milk, and with sacred words; by such constant offering, satisfaction is eternally attained.

इह चामुत्र च श्रीमान्सर्वकर्मसमन्वितः। एवं त्रिषवणस्नातो योऽर्चयेत पितॄन्सदा । मन्त्रेण विधिवत्सम्यगश्वमेधफलं लभेत् ॥ १२.

Here and hereafter, one who is endowed with all duties, who always worships the ancestors after bathing thrice daily, with proper mantra and procedure, obtains the fruit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice.