Vayu Purana

प्रजापुष्टिर्द्युतिः कीर्त्तिः प्रजाकान्तिसमन्विता। भवन्ति रुचिरा नित्यं विपाप्मानोऽघवर्जिताः ।। १३.

Fertility of offspring, radiance, fame, and beauty endowed with charm for descendants—these always arise, shining, for those pure of sin and free from evil.

सकृदेवास्तरेद्दर्भान् पिण्डार्थं दक्षिणामुखः। प्राग्दक्षिणाग्रनियतो विधिञ्चाप्यनुवक्ष्यति ।। १३.

One should spread darbha grass once, facing south, for the sake of the piṇḍa offering; with the tips pointing southeast, as prescribed, the rite will be explained.

न दीनो वापि वा क्रुद्धो न चैवान्यमना नरः। एकाग्रमाधाय मनः श्राद्धं कुर्य्यात्सदा बुधः ।। १३.

A wise man should always perform śrāddha with a focused mind, not being dejected, angry, or distracted in thought.

निहन्मि सर्व्वं यदमेध्यवद्भवेद् हताश्च सर्व्वे सुरदानवा मया। रक्षांसि यक्षाश्च पिशाचसङ्घा हता मया यातुधानाश्च सर्व्वे ।। १३.

Whatever is impure, I destroy entirely; all the gods and demons hostile to the rite are slain by me, as are the rakṣasas, yakṣas, hosts of piśācas, and all yātudhānas.

एवं पित्रे दृष्टमन्नं हि यस्य तस्यासुरा वर्जयन्तीह सर्व्वे। यस्मिन्देशे पठ्यते एष मन्त्रस्तं वै देशं राक्षसा वर्जयन्ति ।। १३.

For one whose food is seen by the father in this way, all asuras avoid it here; in whatever place this mantra is recited, the rākṣasas indeed avoid that place.

अनेन विधिना नित्यं श्राद्धं कुर्य्याद्द्विजः सदा। मनसा काङ्क्षितं यद्यत्तत्तद्दद्युः पितामहाः ।। १३.

A twice-born should always perform śrāddha according to this procedure; whatever is desired in the mind, the ancestors grant that.

पितरो हृष्टमनसो रक्षांसि विमनांसि च। भवन्त्येव कृते श्राद्धे नित्यमेव प्रयत्नतः ।। १३.

The ancestors become joyful in heart, and the demons become dispirited, whenever śrāddha is performed with constant effort.

शूद्राः श्राद्धे क्षीरवाशु बल्वजास्तरवस्तथा। वारणाश्च लवाश्चैव लववर्षाश्च नित्यशः। एवमादीन्यथान्यानि तृणानि परिवर्जयेत् ।। १३.

At śrāddha, one should always avoid grasses such as śūdra, śrāddha, kṣīrava, balvaja, tarava, vāraṇa, lavā, and lavavarṣa, as well as others of similar kind.

अञ्जनाभ्यञ्जनागन्धामानुप्रलयनं तथा । काशैः पुनर्भवैः कार्य्यं सर्व्वमेव फलं भवेत् ।। १३.

The application of ointments, perfumes, and anointing, as well as the use of kāśa and punarbhava grasses, should be performed; all the desired results will be obtained.

काशाः पुनर्भवा ये च बर्हणा उपबर्हणाः। अथ ते पितरो देवा देवाश्च पितरः पुनः ।। १३.

The kāśa, punarbhava, barhaṇa, and upabarhaṇa grasses—these are the ancestors who are gods, and the gods are again the ancestors.

पुष्पगन्धादिधूपानामेष मन्त्र उदाहृतः। आहृत्य दक्षिणायान्तु होमार्थे विप्रयत्नतः ।। १३.

This mantra is prescribed for offerings of flowers, incense, and the like; having gathered them, one should offer with care on the southern side for the purpose of the homa.

सोमाय वै पितृमते स्वधा अङ्गिरसे नमः। अस्वर्ग्यं लौकिकं वापि जुहुयात्कर्म्मसिद्धये ।। १३.

To Soma, who is the lord of the ancestors, svadhā; to Aṅgiras, homage. Whether not leading to heaven or worldly, one should offer for the accomplishment of the rite.

अन्तराधाय समिधं तथा होमो विधीयते १३.

Having placed the kindling in between, thus the homa is prescribed.

अग्नये कव्यवाहाय स्वधा अङ्गिरसे नमः। यमाय चैवाङ्गिरसे स्वधा नम इति ब्रुवन् ।। १३.

To Agni, the carrier of oblations to the ancestors, svadhā; to Aṅgiras, homage. To Yama, also to Aṅgiras, svadhā, thus one should recite.

इत्येते वै होममन्त्रा मन्त्राणामनु पूर्व्वशः। दक्षिणातोऽग्नये नित्यं सोमायान्तरतस्तथा ।। १३.

Thus these are the homa mantras, in the order of the mantras; always to Agni on the southern side, and then to Soma in the middle.

एतयोरन्तरं नित्यं जुहुयाद्वै विवस्वते। उपचारं स्वधाकारं तथैवोल्लेखनञ्च यत् ।। १३.

Between these two, one should always offer to Vivasvat, performing the rites of svadha, the prescribed procedures, and the marking as appropriate.

होमजप्ये नमस्कारः प्रोक्षणञ्च विशेषतः। अञ्जनाभ्यञ्जने चैव पिण्डसंवपनं तथा ।। १३.

In the fire ritual and recitation, one should especially perform salutation, sprinkling, application of collyrium and ointment, and the offering of balls of food.

अश्वमेधफलेनैव तत्स्मृतं मन्त्रपूर्व्वकम्। क्रियाः सर्व्वा यथो द्दिष्टाः प्रयत्नेन समाचरेत् ।। १३.

With the fruit of the horse sacrifice, accompanied by mantra, all prescribed rites should be performed with diligence as instructed.

बहुहव्यत्वमेवाग्नौ सुसमिद्धे विशेषतः। विधूमे लेलिहाने च होतव्यं कर्मसिद्धये ।। १३.

In the well-kindled fire, especially when there is much offering, and when the flame flickers without smoke, one should offer for the accomplishment of the rite.

अप्रबुद्धे सधूमे च जुहुयाद्यो हुताशने। यजमानो भवेदन्धः सोऽपुत्र इति नः श्रुतम् ।। १३.

If one offers in the fire when it is not fully awakened and is smoky, the sacrificer becomes blind and childless, as we have heard.

अल्पेन्धनो वा रूक्षो वा विस्फुलिङ्गश्च सर्व्वशः । ज्वाला धूमोपसेव्यश्च स तु वह्निर्न सिद्धये ।। १३.

If the fire is weak, dry, or full of sparks, or its flame is attended by smoke, such a fire is not suitable for accomplishment.

दुर्गन्धश्चैव नीलश्च कृष्णश्चैव विशेषतः। भूमिं विगाहते यत्र तत्र विद्यात्पराभवम् ।। १३.

If the fire is foul-smelling, blue, or especially black, and penetrates the earth, one should know that there is defeat there.

अर्चिष्मान् पिण्डितशिखः सर्पिःकाञ्चनसम्भवः। स्निग्धः प्रदक्षिणश्चैव वह्निः स्यात्कार्य्यसिद्धये ।। १३.

A fire with flames, a clustered top, arising from clarified butter and gold, smooth and moving clockwise, is fit for the accomplishment of the rite.

नरनारीगणेभ्यश्च पूजां प्राप्नोति शाश्वतीम्। अक्षयाः पूजितास्तेन भवन्ति पितरोऽव्ययाः ।। १३.

From the groups of men and women, eternal worship is obtained; by being worshipped thus, the ancestors become imperishable.

स्थाल्युदुम्बरपात्राणि फलानि समिधस्तथा। श्राद्धे चातिपवित्राणि मेध्यानीति विशेषतः ।। १३.

Pots of earthenware and udumbara wood, fruits, and fuel sticks are especially pure and fit for the śrāddha ceremony.

पवित्रं वा द्विजश्रेष्ठ शुद्धये जन्मकर्म्मसु। पात्रेषु फलमुद्दिष्टं यन्मया श्राद्धकर्मणि ।। १३.

O best of twice-born, for purification in birth and deeds, the fruit specified by me for the śrāddha rite is to be placed in the vessels.

तदेव कृत्स्नं विज्ञेयं समित्सु च यथाक्रमम्। कृत्वा समाहितं चित्तमग्रये वै करोम्यहम् ।। १३.

That alone should be understood as complete, and in the proper order of the rites; having composed the mind, I perform it first.

अनुज्ञातः कुरुष्वेति तथैव द्विजसत्तमैः। पत्नीमादाय पुत्रांश्च जुहुयाद्धव्यवाहनम् ।। १३.

Having been permitted by the best of twice-born, one should take wife and sons and offer oblations to the fire.

समानप्लक्षन्यग्रोधप्लक्षाश्वत्थविकङ्कताः। उदुम्बरास्तथा बिल्वचन्दना यज्ञियाश्च ते ।। १३.

Plakṣa, nyagrodha, aśvattha, vikaṅkata, udumbara, bilva, and sandalwood—these are fit for sacrifice.