Vayu Purana

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.'

रक्षणञ्चैव श्राद्धस्य आतिथ्यञ्च विधिद्वयम्। भूतानां देवतानाञ्च पितॄणां श्राद्ध कर्मणि। एवं विधिकृतः सम्यक् सर्व्वमेतद्भविष्यति ।। १४.

Protection and hospitality, both prescribed rites, for beings, gods, and ancestors in the śrāddha ceremony; thus, everything will be properly accomplished according to the prescribed method.

एवं दत्त्वा वरं तेषां ब्रह्मा पितृगणैः सह १४.

Thus, having granted the boon to them, Brahmā, together with the hosts of ancestors...

वेदे पञ्च महायज्ञा नराणां समुदाहृताः । एतान्पञ्च महायज्ञान्निर्वपेत्सततं नरः ।। १४.

In the Veda, five great sacrifices are declared for men; a man should always perform these five great sacrifices.

यत्र यास्यन्ति दातारः संस्थानं वै निभोधत। निर्भयं निरहङ्कारं निःशोकं निर्व्यथक्लमम्। ब्रह्मस्थानमवाप्नोति सर्वकामपुरस्कृतम् ।। १४.

Understand where the givers will go after their departure: fearless, free of pride, without sorrow, and without pain or fatigue, they attain the abode of Brahman, endowed with all desired things.

शूद्रेणापि प्रकर्त्तव्याः पञ्चैते मन्त्रवर्जिताः। अतोऽन्यथा तु यो भुङ्क्ते स ऋणं नित्यमश्नुते ।। १४.

Even a Śūdra should perform these five (sacrifices), though without mantras; otherwise, whoever partakes (of food) without doing so continually incurs debt.

ऋणञ्च भुङ्क्ते पापात्मा यः पचेदात्मकारणात्। तस्मान्निर्वर्त्तयेत्पञ्च महायज्ञान्सदा बुधः ।। १४.

The sinful soul who cooks for himself alone also partakes of debt; therefore, the wise should always perform the five great sacrifices.

नैवेद्यं केचिदिच्छन्ति जीवत्यपि प्रयत्नतः। उदक्पूर्व्वं बलिं कुर्यादुदकुम्भं तथैव च ।। १४.

Some do not desire offerings even while alive, despite effort; one should offer the bali with water first, and likewise a water-pot.

बलिं सुविदितं कुर्यादुच्चादुच्चतरं क्षिपेत् । परश्रृङ्गगवां पूर्व्व बलिं सूक्ष्मं समुत्क्षिपेत् ।। १४.

One should make the well-known bali offering, placing it at a higher or lower spot; for cows with others' horns, the bali should be placed in a subtle manner in front.

न विनेद्यो भवेत् पिण्डः पितॄणां यस्तु जीवति। इष्टेनान्नेन भक्ष्यैश्च भोजयेत यथाविधि। विधानं वेदविहितमेतद्वक्ष्यामि यत्नतः ।। १४.

A rice-ball should not be offered to the ancestors while they are still alive; rather, one should feed them with proper food and delicacies as prescribed; I will carefully explain this procedure as enjoined by the Veda.

देवदेवा महात्मानो ह्येतेपि पितरो ह्युत। इच्छन्ति किञ्चिदाचार्य्याः पश्चात् पिण्डनिवेदनम् ।। १४.

These ancestors, who are also the great-souled gods of the gods, and even teachers, desire something after the offering of the rice-ball.