Vayu Purana

पर्व्वतो हिमवान्नाम नानाधातुविभूषितः। योजनानां सहस्राणि आयतोऽशीतिरुच्यते ।। १५.

The mountain named Himavat, adorned with various minerals, is said to extend for eighty thousand yojanas.

सिद्धचारणसङ्कीर्णः सिद्धचारणसेवितः। तत्र पुष्करिणी रम्या सुषुम्ना नाम विश्रुता ।। १५.

Crowded and attended by perfected beings and celestial bards, there is a delightful lake called Suṣumnā, famed among all.

दशवर्षसहस्राणि तत्र जातस्तु जीवति। श्राद्धं भवति चानन्त्यं तस्यां दत्तं महोदयम्। तारयेच्च यदा श्राद्धं दशपूर्व्वान्दशापरान् ।। १५.

One born there lives for ten thousand years; a śrāddha performed there brings endless benefit, and such a śrāddha saves ten ancestors before and ten after.

सर्व्वं पुण्यं हिमवतो गङ्गा पुण्या च सर्व्वतः। समुद्रगाः समुद्राश्च सर्व्वे पुण्याः समन्ततः ।। १५.

All the merit of Himavat, and the sanctity of Gaṅgā in every part, and all the rivers flowing to the ocean, all are holy everywhere.

एवमादिषु सर्व्वेषु श्राद्धं निर्वर्त्तयेद्बुधः । पूतो भवति स्नात्वा नु दत्त्वा दत्त्वा तथैव च ।। १५.

Thus, in all such places, the wise should perform śrāddha; having bathed and given offerings, one becomes purified.

शैलसानुषु तुङ्गेषु कन्दरेषु गुहासु च। उपह्वरनितम्बेषु तथा प्रस्रवणेषु च ।। १५.

On the lofty mountain slopes, in ravines and caves, on the flanks of valleys, and at springs.

पुलिनेष्वापगानां च तथैव प्रभवे युगे। महोदधौ गवां गोष्ठे सङ्गमेषु वनेषु च ।। १५.

On the banks of rivers, at their sources, in the great ocean, in cow pens, at confluences, and in forests.

असंसृष्टोपलिप्तासु हृद्यासु सुरभीषु च। गोमयेनोपलिप्तेषु विविक्तेषु गृहेषु च ।। १५.

In places unsullied and pleasing, fragrant, smeared with cow dung, and in secluded houses.

कुर्य्याच्छ्राद्धमथैतेषु नित्यमेव यथाविधि। प्रदक्षिणं दिशं गत्वा सर्व्वकामचिकीर्षवः ।। १५.

One should perform the śrāddha in these places, always according to prescribed rules, having circumambulated the direction, desiring all wishes.

एवमेतेषु सर्व्वेषु श्राद्धं कुर्य्यादतन्द्रितः। एवमेव तु मेधावी ब्राह्मीं सिद्धिमवाप्नुयात् ।। १५.

Thus, in all these places, one should diligently perform śrāddha; in this way, the wise attains the Brahmanical accomplishment.

त्रैवर्ण्ये विहिते स्थाने धर्म्मवर्णाश्रमे तथा। कोपस्थानस्य संत्यागात्प्राप्यते पितृपूजनम् ।। १५.

In the places prescribed for the three castes, in the dharma of varṇa and āśrama, by renouncing anger, one attains the worship of ancestors.

तीर्थान्यनुसरन् धीरः श्रद्दधानो जितेन्द्रियः। कृतपापश्च शुद्ध्येत किं पुनः शुभकर्म्मकृत् ।। १५.

A steadfast, faithful, self-controlled person, following the sacred places, is purified even if sinful; how much more so one who performs virtuous deeds.

तिर्यग्योनिं न गच्छेच्च कुदेशे न च जायते। स्वर्गी भवति वै विप्रो मोक्षोपायं च विन्दति ।। १५.

He does not enter a lower birth, nor is born in an unworthy place; the Brāhmaṇa becomes heavenly and finds the means to liberation.

अश्रद्दधानाः पाप्मानो नास्तिकाः स्थितसंशयाः। हेतुद्रष्टा च पञ्चैते न तीर्थफलमश्र्नुते ।। १५.

Those without faith, sinful, atheists, those fixed in doubt, and seekers of mere causes—these five do not obtain the fruit of the sacred places.

गुरुतीर्थे परा सिद्धिस्तीर्थानां परमं पदम् । ध्यानं तीर्थपरं तस्माद्ब्रह्मतीर्थं सनातनम् ।। १५.

The highest accomplishment at the teacher's sacred place is the supreme state of the sacred places; meditation on the sacred place is therefore the eternal Brahmanical sacred place.

उपवासात्परं ध्यानमिन्द्रियाणां निवर्त्तनम्। उपवासनिबद्धा हि प्राणैरिह पुनः पुनः ।। १५.

Beyond fasting is meditation, the restraint of the senses; fasting binds the vital breaths here again and again.

प्राणापानौ समौ कृत्वा विषयाणीन्द्रियाणि च । बुद्धिं मनसि संयम्य सर्व्वेषां तु निवर्त्तनम् ।। १५.

Having made the inhalation and exhalation equal, and the senses withdrawn from objects, restraining the intellect in the mind, there is withdrawal of all.

प्रत्याहारं पुनर्विद्धि मोक्षोपायमसंशयम्। इन्द्रियाणां मनो घोरं बुद्ध्यादीनां प्रवर्त्तनम् ।। १५.

Know withdrawal as the means to liberation, without doubt; the mind of the senses is fierce, and the activity of intellect and others.

अनाहारात्क्षयं याति विद्यादनशनं तपः। निग्रहाद्बुद्धिमनसो रम्या बुद्धिस्तु जायते ।। १५.

Through abstaining from food, one attains reduction; know fasting as austerity; through restraint of intellect and mind, delightful intellect arises.

क्षीणेषु सर्व्वपापेषु क्षीणेष्वेवेन्द्रियेषु च। परिनिर्वाति शुद्धात्मा यथा वह्निर्निरिन्धनः ।। १५.

When all sins are exhausted, and the senses are subdued, the pure self attains complete quiescence, like fire without fuel.

कारणेभ्यो गुणेभ्योऽथ व्यक्ताव्यक्तस्य कृत्स्नशः। वियोजयति क्षेत्रज्ञं तेभ्यो योगेन योगवित् ।। १५.

From causes and qualities, from manifest and unmanifest, entirely, the knower of yoga separates the field-knower from them by yoga.

तस्य नास्ति गतिस्थानं व्यक्ताव्यक्तं न संशयः। आसन्नः सदसन्नैव नैव किञ्चित् स्थित इति ।। १५.

For him, there is no movement or place; manifest and unmanifest, there is no doubt; he is near, both existent and non-existent, nothing remains fixed.

अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि दानानि च फलानि च। श्राद्धकर्म्माणि मेध्यानि वर्जनीयानि यानि च ।। १६.

Now I shall declare the gifts and their fruits, the śrāddha rites that are pure, and those that should be avoided.

हिमप्रपतने कुर्य्यादाहरेद्वा हिमन्ततः। अग्निहोत्रमतः पुण्यं परमं हि ततः स्मृतम् ।। १६.

One should perform or bring the Agnihotra at the time of snowfall or from the winter season; for the merit from this is considered supreme.

नक्तन्तु वर्जयेच्छ्राद्धं राहोरन्यत्र दर्शनात्। सर्व्वस्वेनापि कर्त्तव्यं क्षिप्रं वै राहुदर्शने ।। १६.

One should avoid performing Śrāddha at night, except during the sighting of Rāhu; even if using all one's wealth, it must be done swiftly when Rāhu is seen.

उपरागे न कुर्य्याद्यः पङ्के गौरिव सीदति। कुर्वाणस्तूद्धरेत्पापान्मग्नान्नौरिव सागरे ।। १६.

One should not perform rites during an eclipse, as one sinks like a cow in mud; but performing them rescues the fallen from sin, like a boat in the ocean.

विश्वदेवञ्च सौम्यञ्च बहुमांसपरं हविः । विषाणं वर्जयेत्खाड्गमसूयानाशनाय वै ।। १६.

Offerings for Viśvadeva and Soma should be abundant in meat; but one should avoid horned animals and sword-bearing creatures, as they are meant for the jealous and the destructive.

त्वष्टा वै वार्य्यमाणस्तु देवेशेन महात्मना। पिबञ्छचीपतेः सोमं पृथिव्यामपतत्पुरा ।। १६.

Tvaṣṭṛ, restrained by the great lord of the gods, once drank the Soma of Śacī's husband and fell to earth.

श्यामाकास्तु तथोत्पन्नाः पित्रर्थमपि पूजिताः। विप्रुषस्तस्य नासाभ्यामसक्ताभ्यां तथैव च ।। १६.

Śyāmāka grains likewise appeared and were honored for the sake of the ancestors; the drops from his nostrils, attached in the same way.