द्वितीयो देवतानां तु तृतीयो देवताऽरिणाम्। शेषास्तु वर्णिनां ज्ञेया इति सर्वे प्रकीर्तिताः ।। २१.
The second group is of the gods, the third of the enemies of the gods; the rest are to be known as belonging to the classes of men—thus all have been described.
देवास्त्वेतान् यजन्ते वै सर्वेष्वेतेष्ववस्थिताः। आश्रमास्तु यजन्त्येतांश्चत्वारस्तु यथाक्रमम् ।। २१.
The gods worship these (ancestors), all being established in them; and the four orders of life worship these, each in their own order.
वर्णाश्चापि यजन्त्येतांश्चत्वारस्तु यथाविधि। तथा सङ्करजाताश्च म्लेच्छाश्चैव यजन्ति वै ।। २१.
The four classes also worship these, each according to the proper method; likewise, those born of mixed castes and even foreigners worship them.
पितॄंश्च यो यजेद्भक्त्या पितरः पूजयन्ति तम्। पितरः पुष्ठिकामस्य प्रजाकामस्य वा पुनः। पुष्ठिं प्रजाश्च स्वर्गं च प्रयच्छन्ति पितामहाः ।। २१.
Whoever worships the ancestors with devotion, the ancestors honor him; and for one desiring prosperity or offspring, the grandfathers grant prosperity, offspring, and heaven.
देवकार्यादपि सूनोः पितृकार्यं विशिष्यते। देवतानां हि पितरः पूर्वमाप्यायनं स्वयम् ।। २१.
The duty owed by a son to his father surpasses even the duty owed to the gods; for the ancestors are themselves the original source of nourishment for the gods.
न हि योगगतिः सूक्ष्मा पितॄणां च परा गतिः। तपसा विप्रकृष्टेन दृश्यते मांसचक्षुषा ।। २१.
Neither the subtle path of yoga nor the supreme path of the ancestors can be perceived by the physical eye, even through intense austerity.
सर्वेषां राजतं पात्रमथवा रजतान्वितम्। पावनं ह्युत्तमं प्रोक्तं देवानां पितृभिः सह ।। २१.
A vessel made entirely of silver, or one adorned with silver, is declared to be the most purifying and excellent for offerings to the gods together with the ancestors.
येषां दास्यन्ति पिण्डांस्त्रीन् बान्धवा नामगोत्रतः। भूमौ कुशोत्तरायाञ्च अपसव्यविधानतः ।। २१.
Those whose relatives, identified by name and lineage, offer them three balls of food on earth, placed upon sacred grass and in the prescribed manner, receive benefit.
सर्वत्र वर्त्तमानास्ते पिण्डाः प्रीणन्ति वै पितॄन्। यदाहारो भवेज्जन्तुराहारः सोऽस्य जायते ।। २१.
Wherever those balls of food are present, they truly satisfy the ancestors; whatever nourishment a creature receives, that becomes its sustenance.
यथा गोष्ठे प्रनष्टां वै वत्सो विन्दति मातरम् । तथा तं नयते मन्त्रो जन्तुर्यत्रावतिष्ठते ।। २१.
Just as a calf finds its lost mother in the cowshed, so the mantra guides the creature to the place where it resides.
मान गोत्रं च मन्त्रश्च दत्तमन्नं नयन्ति तम्। अपि योनिशतं प्राप्तां स्तृप्तिस्ताननुगच्छति ।। २१.
The respect, lineage, and mantra, along with the offered food, lead to satisfaction; even if one attains a hundred births, that fulfillment follows them.
एवमेषा स्थिता संस्था ब्रह्मणा परमेष्ठिना । पितॄणामादिसर्गस्तु लोकानामक्षयार्थिनाम् ।। २१.
Thus this arrangement was established by Brahmā, the supreme lord: the original creation of the ancestors, for those worlds seeking imperishability.
इत्येते पितरो देवा देवाश्च पितरः पुनः। दौहित्रा यजमानाश्च प्रोक्ताश्चैव मयाऽनघाः ।। २१.
Thus, these ancestors are gods, and the gods are again ancestors; the sacrificers and their descendants have also been described by me, O sinless ones.
लोका दुहितरश्चैव दौहित्राश्च सुतास्तथा। दानानि सह शौचेन तीर्थानि च फलानि च ।। २१.
The worlds, daughters, grandsons, and sons, as well as gifts, purity, sacred places, and their fruits, have all been explained.
अक्षयत्वं द्विजाश्चैव यायावरविधिस्तथा । प्रोक्तं सर्वं यथान्यायं यथा ब्रह्माऽब्रवीत् पुरा ।। २१.
Imperishability, the twice-born, and the wandering ascetic tradition have all been stated according to proper order, as Brahmā once spoke.
बृहस्पतिरुवाच।। इत्येतदङ्गिराः प्राह ऋषीणां श्रृण्वतां तदा। पृष्टस्तु संशयं सर्वं पितॄणां प्राह संसदि ।। २१.
Bṛhaspati said: Thus Aṅgiras spoke this to the listening sages; when questioned, he explained all doubts concerning the ancestors in the assembly.
सत्रे वै वितते पूर्वं तदा वर्षसहस्रिके । यस्मिन् गृहपतिर्ह्यासीद्ब्रह्मा वै देवता प्रभुः ।। २१.
In the ancient sacrifice, lasting a thousand years, where the householder was present, Brahmā, the lord of the gods, presided.
संवत्सरशतान्यं च तत्रोपेता इति श्रुतिः। श्लोकाश्चात्र पुरा गीता ऋषिभिर्ब्रह्मवादिभिः ।। २१.
It is heard that hundreds of years were spent there; and verses were sung by the sages, those who speak of Brahman, in that place.
दीक्षितस्य तदा सत्रे ब्रह्मणः परमात्मनः। तत्रैव जातमत्युग्रं पितॄणामक्षयार्थिना। लोकानां च हितार्थाय ब्रह्मणा परमेष्टिना ।। २१.
At that sacrifice, the supreme soul, Brahmā, was initiated; there, the fierce desire for imperishability arose among the ancestors, for the welfare of the worlds, by Brahmā, the supreme lord.
सूत उवाच।। एवं बृहस्पतिः पूर्वं पृष्टः पुत्र्त्रेण धीमता। प्रोवाच पितृवंशन्तु यत्तद्वैसमुदाहृतम् । अत ऊर्द्ध्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि वरुणस्य निबोधत ।। २१.
Sūta said: Thus, Bṛhaspati, when questioned by his wise son, spoke of the lineage of the ancestors as it was recounted; now I shall speak further—listen to the account of Varuṇa.
ऋषयश्चैवमुक्तास्तु परं हर्षमुपागताः। परं शुश्रूषवो भूयः पप्रच्छुस्तदनन्तरम् ।। २२.
When the sages had been addressed in this way, they became exceedingly joyful; eager to listen further, they questioned again immediately.
ऋषय ऊचुः ।। वंशानामानुपूर्व्येण राज्ञाञ्चामिततेजसाम्। स्थितिञ्चैषां प्रभावञ्च ब्रूहि नः परिपृच्छताम् ।। २२.
The sages said: Tell us, in proper sequence, about the dynasties and the kings of immeasurable energy, their existence and their greatness, as we inquire.
एवमुक्तस्ततः सूतस्तथाऽसौ लोमहर्षणः। शुश्रूषामुत्तराख्याने ऋषीणां वाक्यकोविदः ।। २२.
Thus addressed, the charioteer Lomaharṣaṇa, skilled in the words of the sages, prepared himself to listen to the subsequent narration.
आख्यानकुशलो भूयः परं वाक्यमुवाच ह । ब्रुवतो मे निबोधस्व ऋषिराह यथा मम ।। २२.
Expert in storytelling, he spoke further, saying: 'Hear what the sage told me, just as it was spoken to me.'
वंशानामानुपूर्व्येण राज्ञाञ्चामिततेजसाम्। स्थितिं चैषां प्रभावञ्च ब्रुवतो मे निबेधत ।। २२.
Listen as I recount, in order, the lineages and the status and power of the kings of boundless energy.
वरुणस्य पत्नी सामुद्री शुनोदेवीत्युदाहृता । तस्याः पुत्रौ कलिर्वैद्यः सुता च सुरसुन्दरी ।। २२.
Varuṇa's wife, called Sāmudrī and also known as Śunodevī, bore two sons, Kali and Vaidya, and a daughter, Surasundarī.
कलि पुत्रौ महावीर्यौ जयश्च विजयश्च ह। वैद्यपुत्रौ घृणिश्चैव मुनिश्चैव महाबलौ ।। २२.
Kali's sons, Jay and Vijaya, were of great strength; Vaidya's sons, Ghṛṇi and Muni, were also mighty.
प्रजानामत्तुकामानामन्योन्यस्य प्रभक्षिणौ। भक्षयित्वा तावन्योन्यं विनाशं समवापतुः ।। २२.
Desiring to consume the creatures, those two devoured each other and thus met their destruction.
कलिः सुरायां सञ्जज्ञे तस्य पुत्रो मदः स्मृतः । त्वाष्ट्री हिंसा कलेर्भार्य्या ज्येष्ठा या निकृतिः स्मृता ।। २२.
Kali was born among the gods; his son is known as Mada. Kali's wife was Tvāṣṭrī, whose elder sister, Nikṛti, is remembered as Himsā.
असूतान्यान् कलेः पुत्रांश्चतुरः पुरुषादकान्। नाकं विघ्नं च विख्यातं सद्रमं विधमन्तथा ।। २२.
She gave birth to four other sons of Kali, all man-eaters: Nāka, Vighna, Sadrama, and Vidhama, as they are known.