Vayu Purana

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.

एकं विप्राः पुनः प्राहुः पिण्डोद्धरणमग्रतः। अनुज्ञाते तु तैर्विप्रैर्वानमुद्वियतामिति ।। १४.

The learned priests again declared that the offering of the rice ball should be performed first; and, when permitted by those priests, let the rice ball be raised.

पुष्पाणां चफलानां च भक्ष्याणामन्नतस्तथा। अग्रमुद्धृत्य सर्वेषां जुहुयाज्जातवेदसि ।। १४.

Of flowers, fruits, and edible foods, after taking the foremost portion of each, one should offer them all into the fire to Jātavedas.

भक्ष्यमन्नं तथा पेयमनुत्तमफलानि च। हुत्वा चाग्नौ ततः पिण्डान्निर्वपेद्दक्षिणामुखः ।। १४.

Edible food, cooked rice, drink, and excellent fruits—having offered these into the fire, then one should place the rice balls facing south.

स्निग्धैर्भक्ष्यैः सुगन्धैश्च तर्पयेत रसैस्तथा। एकाग्रः पर्युपासीत प्रयतः प्राञ्जलिः स्थितः। तत्परः श्रद्दधानश्च कामानाप्नोति मानवः ।। १४.

With rich, fragrant foods and flavorful liquids, one should satisfy (the ancestors); focused, seated with reverence, hands joined, devoted and faithful—such a person attains their desires.

अक्षुद्रत्वं कृतज्ञत्वं दाक्षिण्यं सत्कृतञ्च यत्। ततो यज्ञञ्च दानञ्च प्रयच्छन्ति पितामहाः ।। १४.

Freedom from meanness, gratitude, generosity, and respect—because of these, the ancestors grant sacrifice and charity.

अतः परं विधिं सौम्यं भुक्तवत्सु द्विजातिषु। आनुपूर्व्येण विधिना तन्मे निगदतः श्रृणु ।। १४.

Now, hear the gentle rite prescribed after the twice-born have eaten, as I declare it to you in proper sequence.

प्रोक्ष्य भूमिमथोद्धृत्य पूर्वं पितृपरायणः। ततोऽत्र विकिरं कुर्यात् विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा ।। १४.

Having sprinkled the ground and lifted it up first, devoted to the ancestors, then one should scatter (the offerings) here according to the prescribed rite.

स्वधां वाच्य ततो विप्रा विधिवद्भूरि दक्षिणान्। अन्नशेषमनुज्ञाप्य सत्कृत्य द्विजसत्तमान् । प्राञ्जलिः प्रयतश्चैव अनुगम्य विसर्जयेत् ।। १४.

Then, the priests should recite 'svadhā' according to the rite, giving abundant gifts; after honoring the excellent twice-born and obtaining their permission for the remaining food, one should, with joined hands and devotion, accompany and bid them farewell.

सकृदभ्यर्चिताः प्रीता भवन्ति पितरोऽन्ययाः। योगात्मानो महात्मानो विपाप्मानो महौजसः ।। १५.

The ancestors, once worshipped with devotion, become pleased; they are yogic, great-souled, free from sin, and possessed of great energy.

प्रेत्य च स्वर्गलाभाय कामैश्वर्यं सुविस्तरम् । येषां चाप्यनुगृह्णन्ति मोक्षप्राप्तिक्रमेण तु ।। १५.

After death, for the attainment of heaven, for desires and vast prosperity, those whom they favor also gain liberation in due course.