Vayu Purana

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.

सरलो देवदारुश्च शालश्च खदिरस्तथा। समिदर्थं प्रशस्ताः स्युरेते वृक्षा विशेषतः ।। १३.

Sarala, devadāru, śāla, and khadira—these trees are especially praised for use as fuel sticks.

ग्राम्याः कम्टकिनश्चैव यज्ञिया येन केन च। पूजिताः समिदर्थे तु पितॄणां वचनं तथा ।। १३.

Domestic and thorny trees, whatever is fit for sacrifice, and those worshipped as fuel for the ancestors, as declared.

समिद्भिः कल्कलेयाभिर्ज्जुहुयाद्यो हुताशनम् । फलं यत् कर्मणस्तस्य तन्मे निगदतः श्रृणु ।। १३.

Whoever offers to the fire with fuel sticks of kalkala, hear from me the fruit of that act.

आयसं सर्व्वकामीयमश्वमेधफलं हि तत्। श्लेष्मातको नक्तमालः कपित्थः शाल्मलिस्तथा ।। १३.

Ironwood, all-desired, yields the fruit of the horse sacrifice; śleṣmātaka, naktamāla, kapittha, and śālmalī likewise.

नीपो विभी तकश्चैव वल्लीभिश्च तथैव च। शकुनानां निवासश्च वर्जयेच्च महीरुहान्। अयज्ञीयाः स्मृता ये च वृक्षांश्चैव तु वर्जयेत् ।। १३.

One should avoid the nipa tree, vibhitaka, and creepers; likewise, one should avoid trees that are the dwelling places of birds, as well as those trees declared unfit for sacrifice.

स्वधेति चैव मन्त्रान्ते पितॄणां वचनं तथा। स्वाहेति चैव देवानां यज्ञकर्मण्युदाहृतम् ।। १३.

At the end of the mantra, 'svadha' is spoken for the ancestors, and 'svaha' is uttered for the gods during sacrificial rites.

सूत उवाच। देवाश्च पितरश्चैव तेभ्योऽन्ये पितरस्तथा। आथर्वणविधिर्ह्येष प्रत्युवाच बृहस्पतिः ।। १४.

Sūta said: The gods and the ancestors, and other ancestors besides them; this Atharvanic rite was explained by Bṛhaspati.

पूजयेच्च पितृन् पूर्व्वं देवाश्चापि विशेषतः। देवेभ्योऽपि पितृन् पूर्वमर्चयन्तीह यत्नतः ।। १४.

One should first honor the ancestors, and especially the gods; here, those who worship the ancestors before the gods do so with diligence.

दक्षस्य दुहिता ख्याता लोके विश्वेति नामतः। विधिना सा तु धर्म्मज्ञ दत्ता धर्म्माय धर्म्मतः। तस्याः पुत्रा महात्मानो विश्वेदेवा इति श्रुतिः ।। १४.

Dakṣa's daughter, renowned in the world as Viśvā, was given to Dharma by proper rite, knowing righteousness; her sons, of great soul, are known as the Viśvedevas.

प्रख्यातास्त्रिषु लोकेषु सर्व्वलोकनमस्कृताः। समस्तास्ते महात्मानश्वेरुरुग्रं महत्तपः ।। १४.

They are celebrated in the three worlds, revered by all beings; all those great souls possess vast ascetic power.

हिमवच्छिखरे रम्ये देवगन्धर्वसेविते। सर्व्वाप्सरोभिश्चरितं देवगन्धर्व्वसेवितम् ।। १४.

On the beautiful peak of the Himalayas, attended by gods and gandharvas, and traversed by all apsarases, served by gods and gandharvas.

शुद्धेन मनसा प्रीताः पितरस्तानथाब्रुवन्। वरं वृणीध्वं प्रीताःस्म कं कामं करवामहे ।। १४.

With pure minds, pleased, the ancestors spoke to them: 'Choose a boon; we are pleased. What desire shall we fulfill?'

एवमुक्ते तु पितृभिस्तदा त्रैलोक्यभावनः। प्रजानामधिपो ब्रह्मा विशवानितीदमब्रवीत् ।। १४.

When the ancestors had spoken thus, Brahmā, the creator of the three worlds and lord of beings, addressed the Viśvedevas as follows.

महातेजा महादेवस्तपसा तैस्तु तापितः। तपसा तेन सुप्रीतः कं कामं विदधामि वः ।। १४.

The great and radiant god, afflicted by their austerities, was greatly pleased by their penance and said: 'What desire shall I grant you?'

एवमुक्तास्तदा विश्वे ब्रह्मणा लोककर्तृणा। ऊचुस्ते सहिताः सर्व्वे ब्रह्माणं लोकभाविनम् ।। १४.

Thus addressed by Brahmā, the creator of the worlds, all the Viśvedevas together spoke to him, the sustainer of the worlds.

श्राद्धेऽस्माकं भवेदंशो ह्येष नः कांक्षितो वरः । प्रत्युवाच ततो ब्रह्मा तान्वै त्रिदिवपूजितान् ।। १४.

'May we have a share in the śrāddha; this is the boon we desire.' Then Brahmā replied to them, who are honored in heaven.

भविष्यत्येवमेवेति कांक्षितो वो वरस्तु यः। पितृभिस्तु तथेत्युक्त्वा एवमेतन्न संशयः ।। १४.

'So it shall be; the boon you desire will indeed come to pass.' The ancestors, having spoken thus, affirmed: 'There is no doubt about this.'

सहास्माभिस्तु वो भाव्यं यत्किञ्चित् क्रियते त्विह। अस्माकं कल्पिते श्राद्धे युष्मानग्रासनं ह वै ।। १४.

'Whatever is performed here, you shall be associated with us; in the śrāddha dedicated to us, you will receive the first portion.'

भविष्यति मनुष्येषु सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते। माल्यैर्गन्धैस्तथान्नेन युष्मानग्रेर्जयिष्यति ।। १४.

'This will happen among humans; I speak the truth to you. With garlands, fragrances, and food, you will receive the foremost offering.'

प्रदाता चेति युष्माकमस्माकं दास्यते ततः। विसर्जनमथास्माकं पूर्व्वं पश्चात्तु देवताः ।। १४.

'The giver will offer to you, and then to us; first comes our dismissal, and afterwards the gods.'