Vayu Purana

नक्षत्राणां चरादीनां पितॄनथ पितामहान्। द्यावापृथिव्योश्च तथा नमस्यामि कृताञ्जलिः ॥ १२.

To the ancestors of the stars, of the moving and unmoving, and to the grandfathers, and likewise to Heaven and Earth, I bow with joined palms.

देवर्षीणाञ्जनयितॄंश्च सर्वलोकनमस्कृतान्। अभयस्य सदा दातॄन्नमस्येऽहं कृताञ्जलिः ॥ १२.

To the progenitors of the divine sages, honored by all the worlds, and ever bestowers of fearlessness, I bow with joined palms.

प्रजा पतेः कश्यपाय सोमाय वरुणाय च। योगयोगेश्वरेभ्यश्च नमस्यामि कृताञ्जलिः ॥ १२.

To Prajāpati, Kaśyapa, Soma, Varuṇa, and to the lords of yoga and union, I bow with joined palms.

पितृगणेभ्यः सप्तभ्यो नमो लोकेषु सप्तसु। स्वयम्भुवे नमश्चैव ब्रह्मणे योगचक्षुषे ॥ १२.

Salutation to the seven groups of ancestors in the seven worlds; and salutation to the self-born Brahmā, the seer through yoga.

एतदुक्तं ससप्तर्षिब्रह्मर्षिगणपूजितम् । पवित्रं परमं ह्येतच्छ्रीमद्रक्षोविनाशनम् ॥ १२.

This has been declared, honored by the groups of seven sages and brahmarṣis; this is supremely pure, and indeed destroys great sins.

अनेन विधिना युक्तस्त्रीन्वरान् लभते नरः। अन्नमायुः सुतांश्चैव ददते पितरो भुवि ॥ १२.

A man who is endowed with this method obtains three boons: the ancestors grant him food, long life, and sons on earth.

भक्त्या परमया युक्तः श्रद्दधानो जितेन्द्रियः। सप्तार्च्चिषं जपेद्यस्तु नित्यमेव समाहितः। सप्तद्वीपसमुद्रायां पृथिव्यामेकराड्भवेत् ॥ १२.

He who, endowed with supreme devotion, faith, and self-control, recites the Seven-flamed always with concentration, becomes the sole ruler of the earth with its seven continents and oceans.

यत्किंचित्पच्यते गेहे भक्ष्यं वा भोज्यमेव च। अनिवेद्य न भोक्तव्यं तस्मिन्नायतने सदा ॥ १२.

Whatever is cooked in the house, whether to be eaten or enjoyed, should never be consumed there without first offering it.

क्रमशः कीर्त्तयिष्यामि बलिपात्राण्यतः परम्। येषु यच्च फलं प्रोक्तं तन्मे निगदतः श्रृणु ॥ १२.

I will now describe in order the bali vessels, and the fruit that is declared for each; listen as I tell you.

बृहस्पतिरुवाच।। पालाशं ब्रह्मवर्चस्यमश्वत्थे राज्यभावना। सर्वभूताधिपत्यं च प्लक्षे नित्यमुदाहृतम् ।। १३.

Bṛhaspati said: The palāśa is for brahmic splendor; the aśvattha is for the attainment of sovereignty; the plakṣa is always declared for lordship over all beings.

पुष्टिकामं च न्यग्रोधं बुद्धिं प्रज्ञां धृतिं स्मृतिम्। रक्षोघ्नं च यशस्यं च काश्मर्य्यं पात्रमुच्यते ।। १३.

For one desiring nourishment, the nyagrodha is prescribed; for intellect, wisdom, fortitude, and memory, the kāśmarya vessel is said to be protective, famed, and a destroyer of demons.

सौभाग्यमुत्तमं लोके मधुके समुदाहृतम्। फल्गुपात्रे च कुर्वाणः सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात् ।। १३.

In this world, supreme good fortune is declared to arise from the offering of honey; whoever performs it in a vessel of phalgu attains all desires.

परा द्युतिरथो कर्त्तुः प्राकाश्यं च विशेषतः । बिल्वे लक्ष्मीस्तथा मेधा नित्यमायुष्यमेव च ।। १३.

Great radiance and special brilliance accrue to the performer; in a vessel of bilva, one gains prosperity, intelligence, and perpetual longevity.

क्षेत्रारामतडागेषु सर्वसस्येषु चैव हि। वर्षेदजस्रं पर्जन्यो वेणुपात्रेषु कुर्व्वतः ।। १३.

In fields, gardens, and ponds, and for all crops, unceasing rain is bestowed by the cloud for those who perform offerings in vessels of bamboo.

एतेष्वेव सुपात्रेषु ये चैवाग्रयणं ददुः। सकृदप्यत्र यज्ञानां सर्वेषां फलमुच्यते ।। १३.

Those who make offerings in these excellent vessels, and who give the first portion, even once, are said to obtain the fruit of all sacrifices.

पितृभ्यो यस्तु माल्यानि सुगन्धीनि च सर्वशः । सदा दद्याच्छ्रिया युक्तः स विभाति दिवाकरः ।। १३.

Whoever always gives garlands and fragrant items to the ancestors, endowed with prosperity, shines like the sun.

गुग्गुलादींस्तथा धूपान् पितृभ्यो यः प्रयच्छति। संयुक्तान्मधुसर्पिर्भ्यां सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत् ।। १३.

Whoever offers incense such as guggulu to the ancestors, combined with honey and clarified butter, obtains the fruit of the horse sacrifice.

धूपं गन्धगुणोपेतं कान्तं पितृपरायणम्। लभते स्त्रीष्वपत्यानि इह चामुत्र चोभयोः। दद्यादेव पितृभ्यस्तु नित्यमेव ह्यतन्द्रितः ।। १३.

One who offers incense, endowed with fragrance and pleasing qualities, devoted to the ancestors, obtains offspring among women both here and hereafter; one should always give to the ancestors, ever attentive.

दीपं पितृभ्यः प्रयतः सदा यस्तु प्रयच्छति। स लोकेऽप्रतिमं चक्षुः सदा च लभते शूभम् ।। १३.

Whoever always offers a lamp to the ancestors with devotion, attains incomparable vision in the world and always receives auspiciousness.

तेजसा यशमा चैव कान्त्या चैव बलेन च। भुवि प्रकाशो भवति भ्राजते च त्रिविष्टपे। अप्सरोभिः परिवृतो विमानाग्रे स मोदते ।। १३.

Through brilliance, fame, beauty, and strength, one becomes radiant on earth and shines in heaven; surrounded by apsaras, one delights at the forefront of celestial vehicles.

गन्धान्पुष्पाणि धूपांश्च दद्यादाज्यादुतीश्च वै। फलमूलनमस्कारैः पिदॄणां प्रयतः शुचिः। पूर्व कृत्वा द्विजान्पश्वात्पूजयेदन्नसम्पदा ।। १३.

One should offer fragrances, flowers, incense, clarified butter, and grains, with fruit, roots, and respectful salutations, to the ancestors, with devotion and purity; after honoring the Brahmins and animals, one should worship them with food.

श्राद्धकाले तु सततं वायुभूताः पितामहाः। आविशन्ति द्विजान्दृष्ट्वा तस्मादेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ।। १३.

At the time of the śrāddha, the ancestors, having become like wind, always enter upon seeing the Brahmins; therefore, I declare this to you.

वस्त्रैरन्नैः प्रदानैस्तैर्भक्ष्यपेयैस्तथैव च। गोभिरश्वैस्तथा ग्रामैः पूजयित्वा द्विजोत्तमान् ।। १३.

By honoring the foremost Brahmins with gifts of clothes, food, offerings, eatables and drinks, as well as cows, horses, and villages,

भवन्ति पितरः प्रीताः पूजितेषु द्विजातिषु। तस्मादन्नेन विधिवत् पूजयेद्द्विजसत्तमान् ।। १३.

The ancestors become pleased when the Brahmins are honored; therefore, one should properly worship the best Brahmins with food.

सव्योत्तराभ्यां पाणिभ्यां कुर्य्यादुल्लेखनं द्विजः। प्रोक्षणञ्च तथा कुर्याच्छ्राद्धकर्म्मण्यतन्द्रितः ।। १३.

A Brahmin should perform the marking with both right and left hands, and likewise the sprinkling, being diligent in the śrāddha ritual.

दर्भान्पिण्डांस्तथा भक्ष्यान्पुष्पाणि विविधानि च। गन्धदानमलङ्कारमेकैकं निर्वपेद्वुधः ।। १३.

One should offer darbha grass, rice balls, various foods, flowers, fragrance, and ornaments, each separately, as prescribed.

पोषयित्वा जनं सम्यग्वैश्वः स्यादुत्तरो द्विजः। अभ्यङ्ग दर्भपिञ्जालैस्त्रिभिः कुर्याद्यथाविधि ।। १३.

After properly nourishing the people, the Brahmin becomes superior; he should perform the anointing with three bundles of darbha grass, as prescribed.

अपसव्यं पितृभ्यश्च दद्यादन्नमनुत्तमम्। तमुच्चार्य्याथ सर्वेषां वस्त्रार्थं सूत्रमेव च ।। १३.

One should give excellent food to the ancestors with the left hand; after uttering their names, one should also give cloth and thread for all.

खण्डनं पोषणं चैव तथैवोल्लेखनं तथा। सकृदेव हि देवानां पितॄणां त्रिभिरुच्यते ।। १३.

Cutting, nourishing, and marking, as well as the same marking, are said to be performed once for the gods and three times for the ancestors.