Vayu Purana

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.

पूजनञ्चैव विप्राणां सर्व्वमेव हि नित्यशः। तद्धि धर्मार्थकुशलानित्युवाच बृहस्पतिः ।। १४.

The worship of Brāhmaṇas, indeed, should always be performed in every way; for this, Brihaspati declared, is the means to righteousness, wealth, and skill.

पूर्व्वं निवेदयेत्पिण्डं पश्चाद्विप्रांश्च भोजयेत्। योगात्मानो महात्मानः पितरो योग सम्भवाः। सोममाप्याययन्त्येते पितरो योगमास्थिताः ।। १४.

First, one should offer the rice-ball, and then feed the Brāhmaṇas; the ancestors, who are great souls and established in yoga, are nourished by Soma, having attained yoga.

तस्माद्दद्याच्‌छुचिः पिण्डान् योगिभ्यस्तत्परायणः । पितॄणां हि भवेदेतत्साक्षादिव हुतं हविः ।। १४.

Therefore, one devoted to this should, with purity, offer rice-balls to yogis; for this is, for the ancestors, just as if an oblation were offered directly.

ब्राह्मणानां सहस्रेभ्यो योगी चाग्रासने यदि। यजमानञ्च भोक्तॄंश्च नौरिवाम्भसि तारयेत् ।। १४.

If among a thousand Brāhmaṇas there is a yogi in the foremost seat, he, like a boat in water, carries the sacrificer and the eaters across.

असतां प्रग्रहो यत्र सताञ्चैव विमानना। दण्डो देवकृतस्तत्र सद्यः पतति तारुणः ।। १४.

Where there is acceptance by the unworthy and disrespect for the worthy, there the divine punishment, swift as youth, immediately falls.

हित्वागमं सधर्माणं बालिशं यत्र भोजयेत्। आदिकर्म समुत्सृज्य दाता तत्र विनश्यति ।। १४.

Where, abandoning the proper tradition, one feeds an ignorant person, neglecting the primary rite, there the giver is destroyed.

पिण्डमग्नौ सदा दद्याद्भोगार्थी तु प्रयत्नतः । प्रजार्थी पत (त्न)ये दद्यान्मध्यमं तत्र पूर्वकम् ।। १४.

One who desires enjoyment should always carefully offer the rice-ball into the fire; one who desires progeny should give the middle one for a son, as prescribed.

उत्तमां द्युतिमन्विच्छन् गोषु नित्यं प्रयच्छति। प्रज्ञां पूजां यशः कीर्त्तिं गोषु नित्यं प्रयच्छति ।। १४.

One who seeks supreme brilliance should always give the best to cows; wisdom, honor, fame, and glory are always given to cows.

प्रार्थयन्दीर्घमायुश्च वायसेभ्यः प्रयच्छति। सौकुमार्यमथान्विच्छन् कुक्कुटेभ्यः प्रयच्छति ।। १४.

Desiring long life, one should give to crows; seeking delicacy, one should give to chickens.

एवमेतत्समुद्दिष्टं पिण्डनिर्वपणात् फलम्। आकाशं शमयेद्वापि स्थितौ सुदक्षिणामुखः। पितॄणां स्थानमाकाशं दक्षिणा चैव दिग्भवेत् ।। १४.

Thus the result of offering the rice-ball has been described; one should face the south or a well-aligned southern direction while standing, for the place of the ancestors is the sky, and the south is indeed their direction.