Vayu Purana

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.

एकं पवित्रं हस्तेन पितॄन्सर्वान्सकृत्सकृत्। चैलमन्त्रेण पिण्डेभ्यो दत्त्वा दर्शनजं हितम् ।। १३.

With one pure cloth in hand, let one offer to all the ancestors, again and again, the beneficial sight-born gift to the rice-balls, accompanied by the prescribed mantra.

सदा सर्पिस्तिलैर्युक्तां स्त्रीन् पिण्डान्निर्वपेद्भुवि। जानुं कृत्वा तथा सव्यं भूमौ पितृपरायणः ।। १३.

Always, one devoted to the ancestors should offer three rice-balls mixed with clarified butter and sesame seeds upon the ground, placing the left knee down as prescribed.

पितॄन् पितामहांश्चैव तथैव प्रपितामहान्। आहूय च पितॄन् प्राञ्चान् पितृतीर्थेन यत्नतः। पिण्डान्परिक्षिपेत्सम्यगपसव्यमतन्द्रितः ।। १३.

Having duly invoked the ancestors, the grandfathers, and the great-grandfathers, and facing east, let one carefully encircle the rice-balls with water from the ancestral side, without negligence.

अन्नेनाद्भिश्च पुष्पैश्च भक्ष्यैश्चैव पृथग्विधैः। पृथग् मातामहानान्तु केचिदिच्छन्ति मानवाः ।। १३.

With food, water, flowers, and various kinds of edibles, some people wish to separately honor the maternal ancestors.

त्रीन् पिण्डानानुपूर्व्व्येण साङ्गुष्ठान्पुष्टिवर्द्धनान् । जान्वन्तराभ्यां यत्नेन पिण्डान् दद्याद्यथाक्रमम् ।। १३.

Let one offer the three nourishing rice-balls in order, using the thumb, between the knees, with care, according to the proper sequence.

सव्योत्तराभ्यां पाणिभ्यां धर्मे मन्त्रे च पर्य्ययः। नमो वः पितरः सूक्ष्मैः सदा ह्येवमतन्द्रितः ।। १३.

With the left and upper hands, with the dharma mantra in turn, always and without fatigue, let one say: 'Homage to you, O subtle ancestors.'

दक्षिणस्यान्तु पाणिभ्यां प्रथमं पिण्डमुत्सृजेत्। नमो वः पितरः सौम्याः पठन्नित्यमतन्द्रितः ।। १३.

With the right hand, let one first release the rice-ball, always reciting without fatigue: 'Homage to you, O gentle ancestors.'

सव्योत्तराभ्यां पाणिभ्यां धर्मे सर्व्वमतन्द्रितः। उलूखलस्य लेखाया मुदपात्राच्च सेवनम् ।। १३.

With the left and upper hands, always attentive to dharma, let one serve at the line of the mortar and the vessel for water.

क्षौमसूत्रं नवं दद्याच्छोणं कार्पासिकं तथा। पत्रोर्णं पितृसूत्रञ्च कौशेयं परिवर्जयेत् ।। १३.

One should give new linen thread, red cotton cloth, woolen or bark cloth, and the ancestral thread, but silk should be avoided.

वर्जयेत्तद्दशां यज्ञे यदप्यहतवस्त्रजाम्। न प्रीणन्ति तथैतानि दातुराप्यायतो भवेत् ।। १३.

One should avoid, in the sacrifice, any cloth that is torn or soiled; the ancestors are not pleased by such, and the giver does not gain prosperity.