गीतं सनत्कुमारेण यथैलाय महात्मने । पृच्छते पितृभक्ताय प्रश्रयावनताय च
This was sung by Sanatkumara to the great-souled Ila, who asked with devotion to the ancestors and with humility.
श्रीसनत्कुमार उवाच वैशाखमासस्य च या तृतीया नवम्यसौ कार्त्तिकशुक्लपक्षे । नभस्य मासस्य च कृष्णपक्षे त्रयोदशी पञ्चदशी च माघे
Sanatkumara said: The third day of the bright half of the month of Vaishakha, the ninth of the bright half of Karttika, the thirteenth and fifteenth days of the dark half of Nabhasya, and in Magha—
एता युगाद्याः कथिताः पुराणेष्वनन्तपुण्यास्तिथयश्चतस्रः । उपप्लवे चन्द्रमसो रवेश्च त्रिष्वष्टकास्वप्ययनद्वये च
These four days, declared in the Puranas as the beginning of the ages, are of endless merit; also during the lunar and solar eclipses, the three Ashtakas, and the two solstices.
पानीयमप्यत्र तिलैर्विमिश्रं दद्यात्पितृभ्यः प्रयतो मनुष्यः । श्राद्धं कृते तेन समासहस्रं रहस्यमेतत्पितरो वदन्ति
On these occasions, a person should offer water mixed with sesame seeds to the ancestors with devotion; by performing the rite, it is as if a thousand years have been completed—this is a secret the ancestors declare.
माघेऽसिते पञ्चदशी कदाचिदुपैति योगं यदि वारुणेन । ऋक्षेण कालस्स परः पितॄणां न ह्यल्पपुण्यैर्नृप लभ्यतेऽसौ
If, in the dark half of Magha, the fifteenth day coincides with the constellation Varuna, that time is supreme for the ancestors and is not attained by those of little merit, O king.
काले धनिष्ठा यदि नाम तस्मिन्भवेत्तु भूपाल तदा पितृभ्यः । दत्तं जलान्नं प्रददाति तृप्तिं वर्षायुतं तत्कुलजैर्मनुष्यैः
If at that time the constellation Dhanishtha is present, O ruler, then water and food offered to the ancestors by the family brings satisfaction for ten thousand years.
तत्रैव चेद्भाद्रपदा नु पूर्वाः काले यथावत्क्रियते पितृभ्यः । श्राद्धं परां तृप्तिमुपेत्य तेन युगं सहस्रं पितरस्स्वपन्ति
If, at that very time, the early Bhadrapada constellation is present and the rites are performed properly for the ancestors, they attain supreme satisfaction and sleep for a thousand ages.
गंगां शतद्रूं यमुनां विपाशां सरस्वतीं नैमिशगोमतीं वा । तत्रावगाह्यार्चनमादरेण कृत्वा पितॄणां दुरितानि हन्ति
By bathing in the Ganga, Shatadru, Yamuna, Vipasha, Sarasvati, or Naimisha Gomati, and then worshipping the ancestors with reverence, one destroys their misfortunes.
गायन्ति चैतत्पितरः कदानु हर्षादमी तृप्तिमवाप्य भूयः । माघासितांते शुभतीर्थतोयैर्यास्याम तृप्तिं तनयादिदत्तैः
The ancestors sing: 'When shall we, having again attained satisfaction with the pure waters of holy fords at the end of the dark half of Magha, receive offerings given by our children and others?'
चित्तं च वित्तं च नृणां विशुद्धं शस्तश्च कालः कथितो विधिश्च । पात्रं यथोक्तं परमा च भक्तिर्नृणां प्रयच्छन्त्यभिवाञ्छितानि
A person's mind and wealth, when pure, the proper time, the prescribed procedure, the appropriate vessel, and supreme devotion—all these grant the desired results.
पितृगीतान्तथैवात्र श्लोकांस्ताञ्छृणु पार्थिव । श्रुत्वा तथैव भवता भाव्यं तत्रादृतात्मना
Now hear, O king, those verses sung by the ancestors; having heard them, you should act with a devoted heart.
अपि धन्यः कुले जायादस्माकं मतिमान्नरः । अकुर्वन्वित्तशाठ्यं यः पिण्डान्नो निर्वपिष्यति
Blessed is the wise man born in our lineage who, without deceit regarding wealth, will offer rice-balls and food.
रत्नं वस्त्रं महायानं सर्वभोगादिकं वसु । विभवे सति विप्रेभ्यो योऽस्मानुद्दिश्य दास्यति
Whoever, possessing riches, gives gems, garments, vehicles, and all enjoyments to Brahmins on our behalf—
अन्नेन वा यथाशक्त्या कालेऽस्मिन्भक्तिनम्रधीः । भोजयिष्यति विप्राग्र्यांस्तन्मात्रविभवो नरः
Or, according to his ability, feeds excellent Brahmins with devotion and humility at this time, even if he has only that much wealth—
असमर्थोऽन्नदानस्य धान्यमामं स्वशक्तितः । प्रदास्यति द्विजाग्रेभ्यः स्वल्पाल्पां वापि दक्षिणाम्
If one is unable to give food, he shall offer uncooked grain according to his capacity, or even a small token as a gift to the foremost of the twice-born.
तत्राप्यसामर्थ्ययुतः कराग्राग्रस्थितांस्तिलान् । प्रणम्य द्विजमुख्याय कस्मैचिद्भूप दास्यति
If even that is not possible, he shall, after bowing to a distinguished Brahmin, give him a few sesame seeds held at the tips of his fingers.
तिलैस्सप्ताष्टभिर्वापि समवेतं जलाञ्जलिम् । भक्तिनम्रस्स्मुद्दिश्य भुव्यस्माकं प्रदास्यति
With seven or eight sesame seeds, or with a handful of water, offered with devotion and humility, he shall dedicate it on earth for us.
यतः कुतश्चित्सम्प्राप्य गोभ्यो वापि गवाह्निकम् । अभावे प्रीणयन्नस्माञ्च्छ्रद्धायुक्तः प्रदास्यति
Whatever he obtains from anywhere, or even the daily yield from cows, in their absence, with faith he shall offer it to please us.
सर्वाभावे वनं गत्वा कक्षमूलप्रदर्शकः । सूर्यादिलोकपालानामिदमुच्चैर्वदिष्यति
If he has nothing at all, going to the forest and pointing to the roots of trees, he shall loudly declare this to the Sun and the other guardians of the worlds.
न मेऽस्ति वित्तं न धनं च नान्यच्छ्राद्धोपयोग्यं स्वपितॄन्नतोऽस्मि । तृप्यन्तु भक्त्या पितरो मयैतौ कृतौ भुजौ वर्त्मनि मारुतस्य
"I have no wealth, no riches, nor anything suitable for the śrāddha; I bow to my ancestors. May my forefathers be satisfied with devotion by these two arms raised on the path of the wind."
और्व उवाच इत्येतत् पितृभिर्गीतं भावाभावप्रयोजनम् । यः करोति कृतं तेन श्राद्धं भवति पार्थिव
Aurva said: Thus, this has been sung by the ancestors, concerning what is to be done in prosperity and adversity; whoever does this, his śrāddha is accomplished, O King.
विष्णुपुराणम्/तृतीयांशः/अध्यायः १५ औव उवाच । ब्राह्मणान् भोजयेच्छ्राद्धे यद्गुणांस्तान्निबोध मे
Aurva said: One should feed Brahmins at the śrāddha; listen to the qualities they should possess.
त्रिणाचिकेतस्त्रिमधुस्त्रिसुपर्णष्षडङ्गवित् । वेदविच्छ्रोत्रियो योगी तथा वै ज्येष्ठसामगः
One who knows the three fires, the threefold honey, the three Suparṇas, who is learned in the six limbs of the Veda, a knower of the Veda, a Śrotriya, a yogin, and also the eldest Sāmagā.
ऋत्विक् स्वस्रेयदौहित्रजामातृश्वशुरास्तथा । मातुलोऽथ तपोनिष्ठः पञ्चाग्न्यभिरतस्तथा । शिष्याः सम्बन्धिनश्चैव मातापितृरतश्च यः
A priest, a maternal uncle, a daughter's son, a son-in-law, a father-in-law, a maternal uncle, one devoted to austerity, one engaged in the five fires, disciples, relatives, and one devoted to mother and father.
एतान्नियोजयेच्छ्राद्धे पूर्वोक्तान् प्रथमे नृप । ब्राह्मणान् पितृतुष्ट्यर्थमनुकल्पेष्वनन्तरान्
These, previously mentioned, should be engaged in the śrāddha first, O King, and other Brahmins in the proper order for the satisfaction of the ancestors.
मित्रध्रुक्कुनखी क्लीबः श्यावदन्तस्तथा द्विजः । कन्यादूषयिता वह्निवेदोज्झः सोमविक्रयी
One who is hostile to friends, has deformed nails, is impotent, has black teeth, a Brahmin who has violated a maiden, one who has abandoned the sacred fire, or who sells Soma,
अभिशस्तस्तथा स्तेनः पिशुनो ग्रामयाजकः । भृतकाध्यापकस्तद्वद् भृतकाध्यापितश्च यः
One who is cursed, a thief, a slanderer, a village priest, one who teaches for hire, and likewise one who is taught for hire,
परपूर्वापतिश्चैव मातापित्रोस्तथोज्झकः । वृषलीसूतिपोष्टा च वृषलीपतिरवे च
One who has married another's former wife, one who has abandoned his mother or father, one who supports or marries a Śūdra woman, and one who is her husband,
तथा देवलकश्चैव श्राद्धे नार्हति केतनम्
And likewise a temple priest—such a one is not fit to be invited to a śrāddha.
प्रथमेऽह्नि बुधः शस्ताञ्छोत्रियादीन् निमन्त्रयेत् । कथयेच्च तथैवैषां नियोगान् पितृदैविकान्
On the first day, the wise should invite those who are praiseworthy, such as Śrotriyas, and inform them of the duties to be performed for the ancestors and the gods.