The Rules of Shraddha

Verse 1 (markandeya.32.1)

मदालसोवाच अतः परं शृणुष्वेमं पुत्र ! भक्त्या यदाहृतम् । पितॄणां प्रीतये यद्वा वर्ज्यं वा प्रीतिकारकम् ॥ ३२.१ ॥

madālasovāca ataḥ paraṃ śṛṇuṣvemaṃ putra ! bhaktyā yadāhṛtam pitṝṇāṃ prītaye yadvā varjyaṃ vā prītikārakam

Madalasa said: O son, hear now this further teaching, offered with devotion — what is to be avoided, and what brings pleasure, for the satisfaction of the ancestors.

Verse 2 (markandeya.32.2)

मासं पितॄणां तृप्तिश्च हविष्यान्नेन जायते । मासद्वयं मत्स्यमांसैस्तृप्तिं यान्ति पितामहाः ॥ ३२.२ ॥

māsaṃ pitṝṇāṃ tṛptiśca haviṣyānnena jāyate māsadvayaṃ matsyamāṃsaistṛptiṃ yānti pitāmahāḥ

Satisfaction for the ancestors arising from sacrificial food lasts a month; from fish-meat the grandfathers attain satisfaction for two months.

Verse 3 (markandeya.32.3)

त्रीन् मासान् हारिणां मांसं विज्ञेयं पितृतृप्तये । चतुर्मासांस्तु पुष्णाति शशस्य पिशितं पितॄन् ॥ ३२.३ ॥

trīn māsān hāriṇāṃ māṃsaṃ vijñeyaṃ pitṛtṛptaye caturmāsāṃstu puṣṇāti śaśasya piśitaṃ pitṝn

Deer-meat is known to give the ancestors' satisfaction for three months; hare-meat nourishes the ancestors for four months.

Verse 4 (markandeya.32.4)

शाकुनं पञ्च वै मासान् षण्मासान् शूकरामिषम् । छागलं सप्त वै मासानैणेयञ्चाष्टमासिकीम् ॥ ३२.४ ॥

śākunaṃ pañca vai māsān ṣaṇmāsān śūkarāmiṣam chāgalaṃ sapta vai māsānaiṇeyañcāṣṭamāsikīm

Bird-meat gives satisfaction for five months, boar-meat for six months, goat-meat for seven months, and the meat of the spotted deer for eight months.

Verse 5 (markandeya.32.5)

करोति तृप्तिं नव वै रुरोर्मांसं न संशयः । गवयस्यामिषं तृप्तिं करोति दशमासिकीम् ॥ ३२.५ ॥

karoti tṛptiṃ nava vai rurormāṃsaṃ na saṃśayaḥ gavayasyāmiṣaṃ tṛptiṃ karoti daśamāsikīm

The flesh of the ruru deer gives satisfaction for nine months, without doubt; the meat of the gavaya, the wild ox, gives satisfaction lasting ten months.

Verse 6 (markandeya.32.6)

तथैकादशमासंस्तु औरभ्रं पितृतृप्तिदम् । संवत्सरं तथा गव्यं पयः पायसमेव वा ॥ ३२.६ ॥

tathaikādaśamāsaṃstu aurabhraṃ pitṛtṛptidam saṃvatsaraṃ tathā gavyaṃ payaḥ pāyasameva vā

Likewise mutton gives satisfaction to the ancestors for eleven months; and cow's milk, or rice-pudding, gives satisfaction for a full year.

Verse 7 (markandeya.32.7)

वाध्रीणसामिषं लौहं कालशाकन्तथा मधु । दौहित्रामिषमन्यच्च यच्चान्यत् स्वकुलोद्भवैः ॥ ३२.७ ॥

vādhrīṇasāmiṣaṃ lauhaṃ kālaśākantathā madhu dauhitrāmiṣamanyacca yaccānyat svakulodbhavaiḥ

The reddish flesh of the vadhrinasa goat, together with kalashaka greens and honey, meat offered by a daughter's son, and other things similarly produced within one's own family —

Verse 8 (markandeya.32.8)

अनन्तां वै प्रयच्छन्ति तृप्तिं गौरीसुतस्तथा । पितॄणां नात्र सन्देहो गायाश्राद्धञ्च पुत्रक ॥ ३२.८ ॥

anantāṃ vai prayacchanti tṛptiṃ gaurīsutastathā pitṝṇāṃ nātra sandeho gāyāśrāddhañca putraka

O child, these — and likewise the offspring of the gauri — grant the ancestors unending satisfaction, there is no doubt of this; so too does a shraddha performed at Gaya.

Verse 9 (markandeya.32.9)

श्यामाकराजश्यामाकौ तद्वच्चैव प्रसातिकाः । नीवाराः पौष्कलाश्चैव धान्यानां पितृतृप्तये ॥ ३२.९ ॥

śyāmākarājaśyāmākau tadvaccaiva prasātikāḥ nīvārāḥ pauṣkalāścaiva dhānyānāṃ pitṛtṛptaye

Shyamaka and rajashyamaka millet, and likewise prasatika, wild nivara rice, and pushkala grain — among grains, these serve for the satisfaction of the ancestors.

Verse 10 (markandeya.32.10)

यवव्रीहिसगोधूमतिला मुद्गाः ससर्षपाः । प्रियङ्गवः कोविदारा निष्पावाश्चातिशोभनाः ॥ ३२.१० ॥

yavavrīhisagodhūmatilā mudgāḥ sasarṣapāḥ priyaṅgavaḥ kovidārā niṣpāvāścātiśobhanāḥ

Barley, rice together with wheat and sesame, mung beans together with mustard, priyangu millet, kovidara, and nishpava beans are especially excellent.

Verse 11 (markandeya.32.11)

वर्ज्या मर्कटकाः श्राद्धे राजमाषास्तथाणवः । विप्राषिका मसूराश्च श्राद्धकर्मणि गर्हिताः ॥ ३२.११ ॥

varjyā markaṭakāḥ śrāddhe rājamāṣāstathāṇavaḥ viprāṣikā masūrāśca śrāddhakarmaṇi garhitāḥ

Markataka beans are to be avoided in shraddha, as are rajamasha and anu grains; vipraashika and lentils too are condemned in the shraddha rite.

Verse 12 (markandeya.32.12)

लशुनं गृञ्जनञ्चैव पलाण्डं,पिण्डमूलकम् । करम्भं यानि चान्यानि हीनानि रसवर्णतः ॥ ३२.१२ ॥

laśunaṃ gṛñjanañcaiva palāṇḍaṃ,piṇḍamūlakam karambhaṃ yāni cānyāni hīnāni rasavarṇataḥ

Garlic, gṛñjana onion, common onion, radish-bulb, the curd-preparation karambha, and whatever else is deficient in taste or in color —

Verse 13 (markandeya.32.13)

गान्धारिकामलाबूनि लवणान्यूषराणि च । आरक्ता ये च निर्यासाः प्रत्यक्षलवणानि च ॥ ३२.१३ ॥

gāndhārikāmalābūni lavaṇānyūṣarāṇi ca āraktā ye ca niryāsāḥ pratyakṣalavaṇāni ca

Gandharika gourds and bottle-gourds, salts and produce from saline ground, reddish resins, and salt obtained directly, unrefined —

Verse 14 (markandeya.32.14)

वर्ज्यान्येतानि वै श्राद्धे यच्च वाचा न शस्यते । यच्चोत्कोचादिना प्राप्तं पतिताद्यदुपार्जितम् ॥ ३२.१४ ॥

varjyānyetāni vai śrāddhe yacca vācā na śasyate yaccotkocādinā prāptaṃ patitādyadupārjitam

All these are to be avoided in shraddha, as is whatever scripture does not commend; and whatever is obtained through bribery and the like, or earned from a degraded person —

Verse 15 (markandeya.32.15)

अन्यायकन्याशुल्कोत्थं द्रव्यञ्चात्र विगर्हितम् । दुर्गन्धि फेनिलञ्चाम्बु तथैवाल्पतरोदकम् ॥ ३२.१५ ॥

anyāyakanyāśulkotthaṃ dravyañcātra vigarhitam durgandhi phenilañcāmbu tathaivālpatarodakam

Wealth arising from an unjust bride-price for a daughter is likewise condemned here; foul-smelling or frothy water, and likewise water that is too scant —

Verse 16 (markandeya.32.16)

न लभेद्यत्र गौस्तृप्तिं नक्तं यच्चाप्युपाहृतम् । यन्न सर्वापचोत्सृष्टं यच्चाभोज्यं निपानजम् ॥ ३२.१६ ॥

na labhedyatra gaustṛptiṃ naktaṃ yaccāpyupāhṛtam yanna sarvāpacotsṛṣṭaṃ yaccābhojyaṃ nipānajam

Water in which even a cow cannot find satisfaction, whatever is fetched at night, whatever is not freely open to all, and whatever undrinkable water comes from a trough —

Verse 17 (markandeya.32.17)

तद्वर्ज्यं सलिलं तात ! सदैव पितृकर्मणि । मार्गमाविकमौष्ट्रञ्च सर्वमैकशफञ्च यत् ॥ ३२.१७ ॥

tadvarjyaṃ salilaṃ tāta ! sadaiva pitṛkarmaṇi mārgamāvikamauṣṭrañca sarvamaikaśaphañca yat

O dear child, such water is always to be avoided in the ancestral rite. So too the milk of a sheep, of a female camel, and of every single-hoofed animal —

Verse 18 (markandeya.32.18)

माहिषञ्चामरञ्चैव धेन्वा गोश्चाप्यनिर्दशम् । पित्रर्थं मे प्रयच्छस्वेत्युक्त्वा यच्चाप्युपाहृतम् ॥ ३२.१८ ॥

māhiṣañcāmarañcaiva dhenvā goścāpyanirdaśam pitrarthaṃ me prayacchasvetyuktvā yaccāpyupāhṛtam

and the milk of a buffalo, of a yak, and of a cow within ten days of calving; and whatever milk is offered when solicited with the words 'give this for my ancestor's sake.'

Verse 19 (markandeya.32.19)

वर्जनीयं सदा सदिभस्तत्पयः श्राद्धकर्मणि । वर्ज्या जन्तुमती रूक्षा क्षितिः प्लुष्टा तथाग्निना ॥ ३२.१९ ॥

varjanīyaṃ sadā sadibhastatpayaḥ śrāddhakarmaṇi varjyā jantumatī rūkṣā kṣitiḥ pluṣṭā tathāgninā

Such milk should always be avoided by the wise in the shraddha rite; ground infested with insects, barren ground, and ground scorched by fire are likewise to be avoided.

Verse 20 (markandeya.32.20)

अनिष्टदुष्टशब्दोग्रदुर्गन्धा चात्र कर्मणि । कुलापमानकाः श्राद्धे व्यायुज्य कुलहिंसकाः ॥ ३२.२० ॥

aniṣṭaduṣṭaśabdogradurgandhā cātra karmaṇi kulāpamānakāḥ śrāddhe vyāyujya kulahiṃsakāḥ

A place of ill-omened, harsh sound or of pungent foul smell is likewise to be avoided in this rite; those who disgrace the family and those who do it harm should be kept away from the shraddha.

Verse 21 (markandeya.32.21)

नग्नाः पातकिनश्चैव हन्युर्दृष्ट्या पितृक्रियाम् । अपुमानपविद्धश्च कुक्कुटो ग्रामशूकरः ॥ ३२.२१ ॥

nagnāḥ pātakinaścaiva hanyurdṛṣṭyā pitṛkriyām apumānapaviddhaśca kukkuṭo grāmaśūkaraḥ

Naked men and sinners destroy the ancestral rite by their very glance; so too a eunuch, an outcast man, a domestic cock, and a village pig.

Verse 22 (markandeya.32.22)

श्वा चैव हन्ति श्राद्धानि यातुधानाश्च दर्शनात् । तस्मात् सुसंवृतो दद्यात्तिलैश्चावकिरन्महीम् ॥ ३२.२२ ॥

śvā caiva hanti śrāddhāni yātudhānāśca darśanāt tasmāt susaṃvṛto dadyāttilaiścāvakiranmahīm

A dog, and demons too, destroy the shraddha merely by being seen; therefore one should perform it in a well-enclosed place, scattering sesame seeds about.

Verse 23 (markandeya.32.23)

एवं रक्षा भवेच्छ्राद्धे कृता तातोभयोरपि । शावसूतकसंस्पृष्टं दीर्घरोगिभिरेव च ॥ ३२.२३ ॥

evaṃ rakṣā bhavecchrāddhe kṛtā tātobhayorapi śāvasūtakasaṃspṛṣṭaṃ dīrgharogibhireva ca

Thus, dear child, protection against both these causes should be secured in the shraddha. Food touched by one under birth- or death-impurity, or by the chronically ill —

Verse 24 (markandeya.32.24)

पतितैर्मलिनैश्चैव न पुष्णाति पितामहान् । वर्जनीयं तथा श्राद्धे तथोदक्याश्च दर्शनम् ॥ ३२.२४ ॥

patitairmalinaiścaiva na puṣṇāti pitāmahān varjanīyaṃ tathā śrāddhe tathodakyāśca darśanam

or by outcastes and unclean persons — such food does not nourish the ancestors; likewise, the sight of a menstruating woman is to be avoided at the shraddha.

Verse 25 (markandeya.32.25)

मुण्डशौण्डसमाभ्यासो यजमानेन यादरात् । केशकीटावपन्नञ्च तथाश्वभिरवेक्षितम् ॥ ३२.२५ ॥

muṇḍaśauṇḍasamābhyāso yajamānena yādarāt keśakīṭāvapannañca tathāśvabhiravekṣitam

The sacrificer's careless close contact with a shaven-headed man or a drunkard, food into which hair or insects have fallen, and food that dogs have looked upon —

Verse 26 (markandeya.32.26)

पूति पर्युषितञ्चैव वार्ताक्यभिषवांस्तथा । वर्जनीयानि वै श्राद्धे यच्च वस्त्रानिलाहतम् ॥ ३२.२६ ॥

pūti paryuṣitañcaiva vārtākyabhiṣavāṃstathā varjanīyāni vai śrāddhe yacca vastrānilāhatam

putrid or stale food, brinjal, and fermented liquids — all these are to be avoided in the shraddha, as is whatever has been exposed to wind through a cloth.

Verse 27 (markandeya.32.27)

श्रद्धया परया दत्तं पितॄणां नामगोत्रतः । यदाहारास्तु ते जातास्तदाहारत्वमेति तत् ॥ ३२.२७ ॥

śraddhayā parayā dattaṃ pitṝṇāṃ nāmagotrataḥ yadāhārāstu te jātāstadāhāratvameti tat

Whatever is given with the highest faith, in the ancestors' name and lineage, becomes food for them in the very form fitting whatever birth they have since assumed.

Verse 28 (markandeya.32.28)

तस्मात् श्रद्धावता पात्रे यच्छस्तं पितृकर्मणि । यथावच्चैव दातव्यं पितॄणां तृप्तिमिच्छता ॥ ३२.२८ ॥

tasmāt śraddhāvatā pātre yacchastaṃ pitṛkarmaṇi yathāvaccaiva dātavyaṃ pitṝṇāṃ tṛptimicchatā

Therefore one who desires the ancestors' satisfaction should, with faith, give whatever is praised for the ancestral rite duly into a worthy vessel.

Verse 29 (markandeya.32.29)

योगिनश्च सदा श्राद्धे भोजनीया विपश्चिता । योगाधारा हि पिररस्तस्मात् तान् पूजयेत् सदा ॥ ३२.२९ ॥

yoginaśca sadā śrāddhe bhojanīyā vipaścitā yogādhārā hi pirarastasmāt tān pūjayet sadā

Yogis, being wise, should always be fed at the shraddha; for the ancestors rest upon yoga as their support, and one should therefore always honor them.

Verse 30 (markandeya.32.30)

ब्राह्मणानां सहस्रेभ्यो योगी त्वग्राशनी यदि । यजमानञ्च भोक्तॄंश्च नौरिवाम्भसि तारयेत् ॥ ३२.३० ॥

brāhmaṇānāṃ sahasrebhyo yogī tvagrāśanī yadi yajamānañca bhoktṝṃśca naurivāmbhasi tārayet

If even a single yogi who eats only the first offering is present, he is worth more than a thousand brahmins; he ferries the sacrificer and the other diners across, like a boat upon the water.

Verse 31 (markandeya.32.31)

पितृगाथास्तथवात्र गीयन्ते ब्रह्मवादिभिः । या गीताः पितृभिः पूर्वमैलस्यासीन्महीपतेः ॥ ३२.३१ ॥

pitṛgāthāstathavātra gīyante brahmavādibhiḥ yā gītāḥ pitṛbhiḥ pūrvamailasyāsīnmahīpateḥ

Here, too, the 'Pitri-gathas' — verses of the ancestors — are sung by the reciters of Brahman, verses that were once sung by the ancestors of King Aila.

Verse 32 (markandeya.32.32)

कदा नः सन्ततावग्र्यः कस्यचिद् भविता सुतः । यो योगिभुक्तशोषान्नो भुवि पिण्डं प्रदास्यति ॥ ३२.३२ ॥

kadā naḥ santatāvagryaḥ kasyacid bhavitā sutaḥ yo yogibhuktaśoṣānno bhuvi piṇḍaṃ pradāsyati

"When, in our line, will there be born to someone a foremost son who, content even with the meagre remains left over from a yogi's meal, will offer us a rice-ball upon the earth?"

Verse 33 (markandeya.32.33)

गयायामथवा पिण्डं खड्गमांसं महाहविः । कालशाकं तिलाढ्यं वा कृसरं मासतृप्तये ॥ ३२.३३ ॥

gayāyāmathavā piṇḍaṃ khaḍgamāṃsaṃ mahāhaviḥ kālaśākaṃ tilāḍhyaṃ vā kṛsaraṃ māsatṛptaye

Or, offering a rice-ball at Gaya, or rhinoceros meat — a supreme oblation — or kalashaka greens, or food rich in sesame, or krisara, the sesame-rice dish, for a month's satisfaction —

Verse 34 (markandeya.32.34)

वैश्वदेवञ्च सौम्यञ्च खड्गमांसं परं हविः । विषाणवर्ज्यखड्गाप्त्या आसूर्यञ्चाश्नुवामहे ॥ ३२.३४ ॥

vaiśvadevañca saumyañca khaḍgamāṃsaṃ paraṃ haviḥ viṣāṇavarjyakhaḍgāptyā āsūryañcāśnuvāmahe

Rhinoceros meat is the supreme oblation for both the Vishvadeva and Saumya portions; by obtaining the rhinoceros meat, free of its horn, we partake of a satisfaction reaching even to the sun.

Verse 35 (markandeya.32.35)

दद्यात् श्राद्धं त्रयोदश्यां मघासु च यथाविधि । मधुसर्पिः समायुक्तं पायसं दक्षिणायने ॥ ३२.३५ ॥

dadyāt śrāddhaṃ trayodaśyāṃ maghāsu ca yathāvidhi madhusarpiḥ samāyuktaṃ pāyasaṃ dakṣiṇāyane

One should duly perform a shraddha on the thirteenth lunar day and under the Magha constellation, offering rice-pudding mixed with honey and ghee during the sun's southward course.

Verse 36 (markandeya.32.36)

तस्मात् सम्पूजयेत् भक्त्या स्वपितॄन् पुत्र मानवः । कामानभीप्सन् सकलान् पापाच्चात्मविमोचनम् ॥ ३२.३६ ॥

tasmāt sampūjayet bhaktyā svapitṝn putra mānavaḥ kāmānabhīpsan sakalān pāpāccātmavimocanam

Therefore, O son, a man who desires the fulfilment of all his wishes and the release of his soul from sin should devotedly worship his own ancestors.

Verse 37 (markandeya.32.37)

वसून् रुद्रांस्तथादित्यान्नक्षत्रग्रहतारकाः । प्रीणयन्ति मनुष्याणां पितरः श्राद्धतर्पिताः ॥ ३२.३७ ॥

vasūn rudrāṃstathādityānnakṣatragrahatārakāḥ prīṇayanti manuṣyāṇāṃ pitaraḥ śrāddhatarpitāḥ

The ancestors, satisfied through shraddha, please the Vasus, the Rudras, and the Adityas, as well as the constellations, planets, and stars, on behalf of men.

Verse 38 (markandeya.32.38)

आयुः प्रज्ञां धनं विद्यां स्वर्गं मोक्षं सुखानि च । प्रयच्छन्ति तथा राज्यं पितरः श्राद्धतर्पिताः ॥ ३२.३८ ॥

āyuḥ prajñāṃ dhanaṃ vidyāṃ svargaṃ mokṣaṃ sukhāni ca prayacchanti tathā rājyaṃ pitaraḥ śrāddhatarpitāḥ

The ancestors, satisfied through shraddha, bestow long life, wisdom, wealth, learning, heaven, liberation, happiness, and sovereignty as well.

Verse 39 (markandeya.32.39)

एतत् ते पुत्र ! कथितं श्राद्धकर्म यथोदितम् । काम्यानां श्रूयतां वत्स ! श्राद्धानां तिथिकीर्तनम् ॥ ३२.३९ ॥

etat te putra ! kathitaṃ śrāddhakarma yathoditam kāmyānāṃ śrūyatāṃ vatsa ! śrāddhānāṃ tithikīrtanam

O son, this shraddha-rite has been told to you just as it has been declared. Now, O child, hear the enumeration of the lunar days for the optional shraddhas.