The Story of Svadha

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.9.44.1)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । शृणु नारद वक्ष्यामि स्वधोपाख्यानमुत्तमम् । पितॄणां च तृप्तिकरं श्राद्धान्तफलवर्धनम्

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca | śṛṇu nārada vakṣyāmi svadhopākhyānamuttamam | pitṝṇāṁ ca tṛptikaraṁ śrāddhāntaphalavardhanam

Shri Narayana said: Listen, Narada, I shall tell you the excellent story of Svadha, which brings satisfaction to the ancestors and increases the fruit of the shraddha rite.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.9.44.2)

सृष्टेरादौ पितृगणान्ससर्ज जगतां विधिः । चतुरश्च मूर्तिमतस्त्रींश्च तेजःस्वरूपिणः

sṛṣṭerādau pitṛgaṇānsasarja jagatāṁ vidhiḥ | caturaśca mūrtimatastrīṁśca tejaḥsvarūpiṇaḥ

At the beginning of creation, the Ordainer of the worlds created the hosts of ancestors — four embodied ones and three of the nature of pure radiance.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.9.44.3)

दृष्ट्वा सप्तपितृगणान् सुखरूपान्मनोहरान् । आहारं ससृजे तेषां श्राद्धं तर्पणपूर्वकम्

dṛṣṭvā saptapitṛgaṇān sukharūpānmanoharān | āhāraṁ sasṛje teṣāṁ śrāddhaṁ tarpaṇapūrvakam

Seeing the seven groups of ancestors, blissful and enchanting, he created their food — the shraddha rite, preceded by tarpana.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.9.44.4)

स्नानं तर्पणपर्यन्तं श्राद्धं तु देवपूजनम् । आह्निकं च त्रिसन्ध्यान्तं विप्राणां च श्रुतौ श्रुतम्

snānaṁ tarpaṇaparyantaṁ śrāddhaṁ tu devapūjanam | āhnikaṁ ca trisandhyāntaṁ viprāṇāṁ ca śrutau śrutam

The daily rite of the Brahmins, from bathing through tarpana, the shraddha, the worship of the gods, and the daily observance ending in the three twilight prayers, has thus been heard in the Veda.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.9.44.5)

नित्यं न कुर्याद्यो विप्रस्त्रिसन्ध्यं श्राद्धतर्पणम् । बलिं वेदध्वनिं सोऽपि विषहीनो यथोरगः

nityaṁ na kuryādyo viprastrisandhyaṁ śrāddhatarpaṇam | baliṁ vedadhvaniṁ so'pi viṣahīno yathoragaḥ

Whatever Brahmin does not daily perform the three twilight prayers, the shraddha and tarpana, the bali offering, and the recitation of the Veda, is like a snake without venom —

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.9.44.6)

देवीसेवाविहीनश्च श्रीहरेरनिवेद्यभुक् । भस्मान्तं सूतकं तस्य न कर्मार्हश्च नारद

devīsevāvihīnaśca śrīhareranivedyabhuk | bhasmāntaṁ sūtakaṁ tasya na karmārhaśca nārada

— devoid of service to the Devi, eating what has not been offered to Shri Hari; for him even ritual impurity would be a fitting end, O Narada, and he is unfit for any sacred rite.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.9.44.7)

ब्रह्मा श्राद्धादिकं सृष्ट्वा जगाम पितृहेतवे । न प्राप्नुवन्ति पितरो ददति ब्राह्मणादयः

brahmā śrāddhādikaṁ sṛṣṭvā jagāma pitṛhetave | na prāpnuvanti pitaro dadati brāhmaṇādayaḥ

Having created the shraddha and the rest, Brahma went away; but the ancestors were not receiving what the Brahmins and others offered.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.9.44.8)

सर्वे च जग्मुः क्षुधिताः खिन्नास्तु ब्रह्मणः सभाम् । सर्वं निवेदनं चक्रुस्तमेव जगतां विधिम्

sarve ca jagmuḥ kṣudhitāḥ khinnāstu brahmaṇaḥ sabhām | sarvaṁ nivedanaṁ cakrustameva jagatāṁ vidhim

Hungry and afflicted, all the ancestors went to Brahma's assembly, and made their whole petition to that very Ordainer of the worlds.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.9.44.9)

ब्रह्मा च मानसीं कन्यां ससृजे च मनोहराम् । रूपयौवनसम्पन्नां शतचन्द्रनिभाननाम्

brahmā ca mānasīṁ kanyāṁ sasṛje ca manoharām | rūpayauvanasampannāṁ śatacandranibhānanām

Then Brahma created a mind-born maiden, enchanting, endowed with beauty and youth, her face radiant as a hundred moons,

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.9.44.10)

विद्यावतीं गुणवतीमतिरूपवतीं सतीम् । श्वेतचम्पकवर्णाभां रत्नभूषणभूषिताम्

vidyāvatīṁ guṇavatīmatirūpavatīṁ satīm | śvetacampakavarṇābhāṁ ratnabhūṣaṇabhūṣitām

learned, virtuous, exceedingly beautiful, virtuous, radiant with the hue of the white champaka, adorned with jeweled ornaments,

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.9.44.11)

विशुद्धां प्रकृतेरंशां सस्मितां वरदां शुभाम् । स्वधाभिधां च सुदतीं लक्ष्मीलक्षणसंयुताम्

viśuddhāṁ prakṛteraṁśāṁ sasmitāṁ varadāṁ śubhām | svadhābhidhāṁ ca sudatīṁ lakṣmīlakṣaṇasaṁyutām

utterly pure, a portion of Prakriti, gently smiling, the boon-giver, auspicious, named Svadha, of beautiful teeth, endowed with the very marks of Lakshmi,

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.9.44.12)

शतपद्मपदन्यस्तपादपद्मं च बिभ्रतीम् । पत्नीं पितॄणां पद्मास्यां पद्मजां पद्मलोचनाम्

śatapadmapadanyastapādapadmaṁ ca bibhratīm | patnīṁ pitṝṇāṁ padmāsyāṁ padmajāṁ padmalocanām

her lotus feet set upon a hundred lotuses, bearing them thus; the wife of the ancestors, lotus-faced, lotus-born, lotus-eyed.

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.9.44.13)

पितृभ्यश्च ददौ ब्रह्मा तुष्टेभ्यस्तुष्टिरूपिणीम् । ब्राह्मणानां चोपदेशं चकार गोपनीयकम्

pitṛbhyaśca dadau brahmā tuṣṭebhyastuṣṭirūpiṇīm | brāhmaṇānāṁ copadeśaṁ cakāra gopanīyakam

Brahma gave her, the very form of satisfaction, to the ancestors, who became satisfied; and he gave secret instruction to the Brahmins,

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.9.44.14)

स्वधान्तं मन्त्रमुच्चार्य पितृभ्यो देयमित्यपि । क्रमेण तेन विप्राश्च पित्रे दानं ददुः पुरा

svadhāntaṁ mantramuccārya pitṛbhyo deyamityapi | krameṇa tena viprāśca pitre dānaṁ daduḥ purā

that offerings to the ancestors should be given by uttering the mantra ending in "svadhā". In due course, by this, the Brahmins of old made their offerings to the ancestors.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.9.44.15)

स्वाहा शस्ता देवदाने पितृदाने स्वधा स्मृता । सर्वत्र दक्षिणा शस्ता हतं यज्ञमदक्षिणम्

svāhā śastā devadāne pitṛdāne svadhā smṛtā | sarvatra dakṣiṇā śastā hataṁ yajñamadakṣiṇam

Svaha is praised in offerings to the gods; Svadha is remembered in offerings to the ancestors; Dakshina is praised everywhere — a sacrifice without dakshina is rendered void.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.9.44.16)

पितरो देवता विप्रा मुनयो मनवस्तथा । पूजां चक्रुः स्वधां शान्तां तुष्टुवुः परमादरात्

pitaro devatā viprā munayo manavastathā | pūjāṁ cakruḥ svadhāṁ śāntāṁ tuṣṭuvuḥ paramādarāt

The ancestors, the gods, the Brahmins, the sages, and the Manus performed worship of the peaceful Svadha, and praised her with the greatest reverence.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.9.44.17)

देवादयश्च सन्तुष्टाः परिपूर्णमनोरथाः । विप्रादयश्च पितरः स्वधादेवीवरेण च

devādayaśca santuṣṭāḥ paripūrṇamanorathāḥ | viprādayaśca pitaraḥ svadhādevīvareṇa ca

The gods and the rest became satisfied, their desires completely fulfilled; and the Brahmins and the ancestors too, through the boon of the goddess Svadha.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.9.44.18)

इत्येवं कथितं सर्वं स्वधोपाख्यानमेव च । सर्वेषां च तुष्टिकरं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि

ityevaṁ kathitaṁ sarvaṁ svadhopākhyānameva ca | sarveṣāṁ ca tuṣṭikaraṁ kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi

Thus has this whole story of Svadha been told, bringing satisfaction to all. What more do you wish to hear?

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.9.44.19)

नारद उवाच । स्वधापूजाविधानं च ध्यानं स्तोत्रं महामुने । श्रोतुमिच्छामि यत्नेन वद वेदविदांवर

nārada uvāca | svadhāpūjāvidhānaṁ ca dhyānaṁ stotraṁ mahāmune | śrotumicchāmi yatnena vada vedavidāṁvara

Narada said: "O great sage, I wish earnestly to hear the manner of worshipping Svadha, her meditation, and her hymn. Tell me, O best of the knowers of the Veda."

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.9.44.20)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । ध्यानं च स्तवनं ब्रह्मन् वेदोक्तं सर्वमङ्गलम् । सर्वं जानासि च कथं ज्ञातुमिच्छसि वृद्धये

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca | dhyānaṁ ca stavanaṁ brahman vedoktaṁ sarvamaṅgalam | sarvaṁ jānāsi ca kathaṁ jñātumicchasi vṛddhaye

Shri Narayana said: "O Brahmin, the meditation and hymn taught in the Veda, all-auspicious — you already know all this; how is it you wish to know it, for the growth of your merit?

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.9.44.21)

शरत्कृष्णत्रयोदश्यां मघायां श्राद्धवासरे । स्वधां सम्पूज्य यत्नेन ततः श्राद्धं समाचरेत्

śaratkṛṣṇatrayodaśyāṁ maghāyāṁ śrāddhavāsare | svadhāṁ sampūjya yatnena tataḥ śrāddhaṁ samācaret

"On the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight of autumn, on the day of the Magha nakshatra, the day for the shraddha rite, one should carefully worship Svadha, and then perform the shraddha.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.9.44.22)

स्वधां नाभ्यर्च्य यो विप्रः श्राद्धं कुर्यादहम्मतिः । न भवेत्फलभाक्सत्यं श्राद्धस्य तर्पणस्य च

svadhāṁ nābhyarcya yo vipraḥ śrāddhaṁ kuryādahammatiḥ | na bhavetphalabhāksatyaṁ śrāddhasya tarpaṇasya ca

"The Brahmin who, without worshipping Svadha, performs the shraddha out of self-conceit, truly does not obtain the fruit of the shraddha and the tarpana.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.9.44.23)

ब्रह्मणो मानसीं कन्यां शश्वत्सुस्थिरयौवनाम् । पूज्यां वै पितृदेवानां श्राद्धानां फलदां भजे

brahmaṇo mānasīṁ kanyāṁ śaśvatsusthirayauvanām | pūjyāṁ vai pitṛdevānāṁ śrāddhānāṁ phaladāṁ bhaje

"One should meditate: 'I worship the mind-born daughter of Brahma, ever fixed in unfading youth, worshipped indeed by the ancestor-gods, the giver of the fruit of the shraddha rites.'

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.9.44.24)

इति ध्यात्वा शिलायां वा ह्यथवा मङ्गले घटे । दद्यात्पाद्यादिकं तस्यै मूलेनेति श्रुतौ श्रुतम्

iti dhyātvā śilāyāṁ vā hyathavā maṅgale ghaṭe | dadyātpādyādikaṁ tasyai mūleneti śrutau śrutam

"Meditating thus, upon a shalagrama stone or in an auspicious water-pot, one should offer to her the water for the feet and the rest, with the root-mantra — thus has it been heard in the Veda.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.9.44.25)

ॐ ह्रीं श्रीं क्लीं स्वधादेव्यै स्वाहेति च महामुने । समुच्चार्य तु सम्पूज्य स्तुत्वा तां प्रणमेद् द्विजः

oṁ hrīṁ śrīṁ klīṁ svadhādevyai svāheti ca mahāmune | samuccārya tu sampūjya stutvā tāṁ praṇamed dvijaḥ

" 'Oṁ hrīṁ śrīṁ klīṁ svadhādevyai svāhā' — O great sage, uttering this, having worshipped her and praised her, the Brahmin should bow to her.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.9.44.26)

स्तोत्रं शृणु मुनिश्रेष्ठ ब्रह्मपुत्र विशारद । सर्ववाञ्छाप्रदं नॄणां ब्रह्मणा यत्कृतं पुरा

stotraṁ śṛṇu muniśreṣṭha brahmaputra viśārada | sarvavāñchāpradaṁ nṝṇāṁ brahmaṇā yatkṛtaṁ purā

"Hear now the hymn, O foremost of sages, O learned son of Brahma — the hymn composed by Brahma of old, which grants every wish of men."

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.9.44.27)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । स्वधोच्चारणमात्रेण तीर्थस्नायी भवेन्नरः । मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो वाजपेयफलं लभेत्

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca | svadhoccāraṇamātreṇa tīrthasnāyī bhavennaraḥ | mucyate sarvapāpebhyo vājapeyaphalaṁ labhet

Shri Narayana said: "By the mere utterance of 'Svadha', a man becomes as one who has bathed at every sacred ford; he is freed from all sins and obtains the fruit of the Vajapeya sacrifice.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.9.44.28)

स्वधा स्वधा स्वधेत्येवं यदि वारत्रयं स्मरेत् । श्राद्धस्य फलमाप्नोति बलेश्च तर्पणस्य च

svadhā svadhā svadhetyevaṁ yadi vāratrayaṁ smaret | śrāddhasya phalamāpnoti baleśca tarpaṇasya ca

"If one recites 'Svadha, Svadha, Svadha' thus three times, he obtains the fruit of the shraddha, of the bali offering, and of the tarpana.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.9.44.29)

श्राद्धकाले स्वधास्तोत्रं यः शृणोति समाहितः । स लभेच्छ्राद्धसम्भूतं फलमेव न संशयः

śrāddhakāle svadhāstotraṁ yaḥ śṛṇoti samāhitaḥ | sa labhecchrāddhasambhūtaṁ phalameva na saṁśayaḥ

"Whoever, with a composed mind, listens to this hymn of Svadha at the time of the shraddha, certainly obtains the very fruit born of the shraddha; of this there is no doubt.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.9.44.30)

स्वधा स्वधा स्वधेत्येवं त्रिसन्ध्यं यः पठेन्नरः । प्रियां विनीतां स लभेत्साध्वीं पुत्रगुणान्विताम्

svadhā svadhā svadhetyevaṁ trisandhyaṁ yaḥ paṭhennaraḥ | priyāṁ vinītāṁ sa labhetsādhvīṁ putraguṇānvitām

"Whatever man recites 'Svadha, Svadha, Svadha' thus at the three junctures of the day obtains a beloved, humble, virtuous wife, blessed with worthy sons.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.9.44.31)

पितॄणां प्राणतुल्या त्वं द्विजजीवनरूपिणी । श्राद्धाधिष्ठातृदेवी च श्राद्धादीनां फलप्रदा

pitṝṇāṁ prāṇatulyā tvaṁ dvijajīvanarūpiṇī | śrāddhādhiṣṭhātṛdevī ca śrāddhādīnāṁ phalapradā

The hymn: "You are equal to the very life-breath of the ancestors, the very life of the Brahmins; the presiding deity of the shraddha rite, the bestower of the fruit of the shraddha and the rest.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.9.44.32)

नित्या त्वं सत्यरूपासि पुण्यरूपासि सुव्रते । आविर्भावतिरोभावौ सृष्टौ च प्रलये तव

nityā tvaṁ satyarūpāsi puṇyarūpāsi suvrate | āvirbhāvatirobhāvau sṛṣṭau ca pralaye tava

"You are eternal, of the very nature of truth, of the very nature of merit, O one of virtuous vows; your appearance and disappearance occur at creation and at dissolution.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.9.44.33)

ॐ स्वस्तिश्च नमः स्वाहा स्वधा त्वं दक्षिणा तथा । निरूपिताश्चतुर्वेदैः प्रशस्ताः कर्मिणां पुनः

oṁ svastiśca namaḥ svāhā svadhā tvaṁ dakṣiṇā tathā | nirūpitāścaturvedaiḥ praśastāḥ karmiṇāṁ punaḥ

"Om, Svasti, Namah, Svaha, Svadha, and likewise Dakshina — you, in these forms, have been established by the four Vedas, and are praised again by those who perform rites.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.9.44.34)

कर्मपूर्त्यर्थमेवैता ईश्वरेण विनिर्मिताः । इत्येवमुक्त्वा स ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मलोके स्वसंसदि

karmapūrtyarthamevaitā īśvareṇa vinirmitāḥ | ityevamuktvā sa brahmā brahmaloke svasaṁsadi

"These forms were fashioned by the Lord precisely for the completion of ritual acts." Having spoken thus, Brahma, in his own assembly in Brahmaloka,

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.9.44.35)

तस्थौ च सहसा सद्यः स्वधा साऽऽविर्बभूव ह । तदा पितृभ्यः प्रददौ तामेव कमलाननाम्

tasthau ca sahasā sadyaḥ svadhā sā''virbabhūva ha | tadā pitṛbhyaḥ pradadau tāmeva kamalānanām

remained still; and suddenly, at that very moment, Svadha appeared. Then he gave her, the lotus-faced one, to the ancestors.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.9.44.36)

तां सम्प्राप्य ययुस्ते च पितरश्च प्रहर्षिताः । स्वधास्तोत्रमिदं पुण्यं यः शृणोति समाहितः । स स्नातः सर्वतीर्थेषु वाञ्छितं फलमाप्नुयात्

tāṁ samprāpya yayuste ca pitaraśca praharṣitāḥ | svadhāstotramidaṁ puṇyaṁ yaḥ śṛṇoti samāhitaḥ | sa snātaḥ sarvatīrtheṣu vāñchitaṁ phalamāpnuyāt

Having obtained her, the ancestors, greatly delighted, departed. Whoever, with a composed mind, listens to this sacred hymn of Svadha shall be as one bathed in all the sacred fords, and shall obtain his desired fruit.