Vayu Purana

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.

तत्स्थापयेदमावास्यां गर्त्ते भूचतुरङ्गुले । त्रिःसप्तसंज्ञास्ते यज्ञास्त्रैलोक्यं धार्य्यते तु वै ॥ १२.

On the new moon, one should place this in a pit four finger-breadths square; these rites, known as the thrice-seven, indeed uphold the three worlds.

तस्य पुष्टिरथैश्वर्य्यमायुः सन्ततिरेव च। विचित्रा भजते लक्ष्मीर्मोक्षं च लभते क्रमात् ॥ १२.

By this, one attains nourishment, wealth, long life, and progeny; diverse fortune comes, and ultimately liberation is attained.

पाप्मापहं पावनीयमश्वमेधफलं तथा। अश्वमेधफलं ह्येतद्द्विजैः सत्कृत्य पूजितम्। मन्त्रं वक्ष्याम्यहं तस्मादमृतं ब्रह्मनिर्मितम् ॥ १२.

This is purifying, removes sin, and yields the fruit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice; when honored and worshipped by twice-born men, I shall declare the mantra for it, which is immortal and created by Brahma.

देवताभ्यः पितृभ्यश्च महायोगिभ्य एव च। नमः स्वधायै स्वाहायै नित्यमेव भवन्त्युत ॥ १२.

Homage always to the deities, the ancestors, and the great yogis; to Svadhā and Svāhā as well.

आद्यावसाने श्राद्धस्य त्रिरावर्त्तं जपेत्सदा। पिण्डनिर्वपणे चैव जपेदेतत्समाहितः। पितरः क्षिप्रमायान्ति राक्षसाः प्रद्रवन्ति च ॥ १२.

At the beginning and end of the śrāddha, one should always recite this three times; and also at the offering of the piṇḍa, one should recite this with concentration. The ancestors quickly arrive, and the demons flee.

पितॄंस्तत्र्त्रिषु लोकेषु मन्त्रोऽयं तारयत्युत। पठ्यमानः सदा श्राद्धे नियतं ब्रह्‌मवादिभिः ॥ १२.

This mantra truly delivers the ancestors in the three worlds, when it is always recited at the śrāddha by those devoted to Brahman.

राज्यकामो जपेदेनं सदा मन्त्रमतन्द्रितः। वीर्य्यशौचार्थसत्त्वञ्च श्रीरायुर्बलवर्द्धनम् ॥ १२.

One who desires sovereignty should always recite this mantra with diligence; it increases strength, purity, wealth, virtue, glory, lifespan, and power.

प्रीयन्ते पितरो येन जप्येन नियमेन च। सप्तार्च्चिषं प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वकामप्रदं शुभम् ॥ १२.

By the recitation of which, with discipline, the ancestors are pleased—I will declare the Seven-flamed (Saptārciṣa), auspicious and bestower of all desires.

अमूर्तानां समूर्तानां पितॄणां दीप्त तेजसाम्। नमस्यामि सदा तेभ्यो ध्यानिभ्यो योगचक्षुषा ॥ १२.

To the formless and the formed ancestors, radiant in their brilliance, I always bow—those contemplative ones with the eye of yoga.

इन्द्रादीनां जनयितारो भृगुमारीचयोस्तथा। सप्तर्षीणां पितॄणाञ्च तान्नमस्यामि कामदान् ॥ १२.

To those who are the progenitors of Indra and the others, and of Bhṛgu and Marīci, and of the seven sages and the ancestors—I bow to those bestowers of desires.