The Fruits of the Optional Shraddha

Verse 1 (markandeya.33.1)

मदालसोवाच प्रतिपद्धनलाभाय द्वितीया द्विपदप्रदा । वरार्थिनी तृतीया तु चतुर्थो शत्रुनाशिनी ॥ ३३.१ ॥

madālasovāca pratipaddhanalābhāya dvitīyā dvipadapradā varārthinī tṛtīyā tu caturtho śatrunāśinī

Madalasa said: the first lunar day is for gaining wealth; the second grants good progeny; the third grants the fulfilment of a boon; and the fourth destroys enemies.

Verse 2 (markandeya.33.2)

श्रियं प्राप्रोति पञ्चम्यां षष्ठ्यां पूज्यो भवेन्नरः । गणाधिपत्यं सप्तम्यामष्टम्यां वृद्धिमुत्तमाम् ॥ ३३.२ ॥

śriyaṃ prāproti pañcamyāṃ ṣaṣṭhyāṃ pūjyo bhavennaraḥ gaṇādhipatyaṃ saptamyāmaṣṭamyāṃ vṛddhimuttamām

On the fifth, one attains prosperity; on the sixth, a man becomes worthy of honor; on the seventh, lordship over troops; on the eighth, supreme increase.

Verse 3 (markandeya.33.3)

स्त्रियो नवम्यां प्राप्रोति दशम्यां पूर्णकामताम् । वेदांस्तथाप्नुयात् सर्वानेकादश्यां क्रियापरः ॥ ३३.३ ॥

striyo navamyāṃ prāproti daśamyāṃ pūrṇakāmatām vedāṃstathāpnuyāt sarvānekādaśyāṃ kriyāparaḥ

On the ninth, one obtains good wives; on the tenth, the fulfilment of all desires; and on the eleventh, one devoted to the rite attains all the Vedas.

Verse 4 (markandeya.33.4)

द्वादश्यां जयलाभञ्च प्राप्रोति पितृपूजकः । प्रजां मेधां पशुं वृद्धिं स्वतन्त्र्यं पुष्टमुत्तमाम् ॥ ३३.४ ॥

dvādaśyāṃ jayalābhañca prāproti pitṛpūjakaḥ prajāṃ medhāṃ paśuṃ vṛddhiṃ svatantryaṃ puṣṭamuttamām

On the twelfth, the worshipper of the ancestors attains victory, along with progeny, intelligence, cattle, increase, independence, and supreme nourishment.

Verse 5 (markandeya.33.5)

दीर्घमायुरथैश्वर्यं कुर्वाणस्तु त्रयोदशीम् । अवाप्नोति न सन्देहः श्राद्धं श्रद्धापरो नरः ॥ ३३.५ ॥

dīrghamāyurathaiśvaryaṃ kurvāṇastu trayodaśīm avāproti na sandehaḥ śrāddhaṃ śraddhāparo naraḥ

Performing shraddha on the thirteenth, a man of faith attains long life and lordship — there is no doubt of this.

Verse 6 (markandeya.33.6)

यथासम्भावितान्नेन श्राद्धसम्पत्समन्वितः । युवानः पितरो यस्य मृताः शस्त्रेण वा हताः ॥ ३३.६ ॥

yathāsambhāvitānnena śrāddhasampatsamanvitaḥ yuvānaḥ pitaro yasya mṛtāḥ śastreṇa vā hatāḥ

He whose ancestors died young, or were slain by a weapon, should — with whatever food is available, together with the full observance of the shraddha rite —

Verse 7 (markandeya.33.7)

तेन कार्यं चतुर्दश्यां तेषां प्रीतिमभीप्सता । श्राद्धं कुर्वन्नमावास्यां यत्नेन पुरुषः शुचिः ॥ ३३.७ ॥

tena kāryaṃ caturdaśyāṃ teṣāṃ prītimabhīpsatā śrāddhaṃ kurvannamāvāsyāṃ yatnena puruṣaḥ śuciḥ

perform this rite on the fourteenth, desiring their pleasure; and a pure man should diligently perform the shraddha on the new-moon day.

Verse 8 (markandeya.33.8)

सर्वान् कामानवाप्रोति स्वर्गञ्चानन्तमश्नुते । कृत्तिकासु पितॄनर्च्य स्वर्गमाप्नोति मानवः ॥ ३३.८ ॥

sarvān kāmānavāproti svargañcānantamaśnute kuttikāsu pitṝnarcya svargamāproti mānavaḥ

By this, all desires are attained and endless heaven is enjoyed. By honoring the ancestors under the Krittika constellation, a man attains heaven.

Verse 9 (markandeya.33.9)

अपत्यकामो रोहिण्यां सौम्ये चौजस्वितां लभेत् । शौर्यमार्द्रासु चाप्नोति क्षेत्रादि च पुनर्वसौ ॥ ३३.९ ॥

apatyakāmo rohiṇyāṃ saumye caujasvitāṃ labhet śauryamārdrāsu cāproti kṣetrādi ca punarvasau

One desiring offspring should perform it under Rohini; under Mrigashira one obtains vigor; under Ardra one attains valor; and under Punarvasu, land and the like.

Verse 10 (markandeya.33.10)

पुष्टिं पुष्ये सदाभ्यर्च्य आश्लेषासु वरान् सुतान् । मघासु स्वजनश्रैष्ठ्यं सौभाग्यं फाल्गुनीषु च ॥ ३३.१० ॥

puṣṭiṃ puṣye sadābhyarcya āśleṣāsu varān sutān maghāsu svajanaśraiṣṭhyaṃ saubhāgyaṃ phālgunīṣu ca

By always duly worshipping under Pushya, one gains prosperity; under Ashlesha, excellent sons; under Magha, pre-eminence among one's kin; and under the Phalgunis, good fortune.

Verse 11 (markandeya.33.11)

प्रदानशीलो भवति सापत्यश्चोत्तरासु च । प्रयाति श्रेष्ठतां सत्यं हस्ते श्राद्धप्रदो नरः ॥ ३३.११ ॥

pradānaśīlo bhavati sāpatyaścottarāsu ca prayāti śreṣṭhatāṃ satyaṃ haste śrāddhaprado naraḥ

Under the Uttara Phalguni, one becomes generous and blessed with offspring; a man who gives the shraddha under Hasta truly attains excellence.

Verse 12 (markandeya.33.12)

रूपयुक्तश्च चित्रासु तथापत्यान्यवाप्नुयात् । वाणिज्यलाभदा स्वातिर्विशाखा पुत्रकामदा ॥ ३३.१२ ॥

rūpayuktaśca citrāsu tathāpatyānyavāpnuyāt vāṇijyalābhadā svātirviśākhā putrakāmadā

Under Chitra, one becomes endowed with beauty and likewise obtains offspring; Svati grants gain in trade, and Vishakha fulfils the desire for sons.

Verse 13 (markandeya.33.13)

कुर्वन्तश्चानुराधासु लभन्ते चक्रवर्तिताम् । आधिपत्यञ्च ज्येष्ठासु मूले चारोग्यमुत्तमम् ॥ ३३.१३ ॥

kurvantaścānurādhāsu labhante cakrāvartitām ādhipatyañca jyeṣṭhāsu mūle cārogyamuttamam

Those who perform it under Anuradha attain sovereignty; under Jyeshtha, lordship; and under Mula, supreme freedom from disease.

Verse 14 (markandeya.33.14)

आषाढासु यशः प्राप्तिरुत्तरासु विशोकता । श्रवणे च शुभान् लोकान् धनिष्ठासु धनं महत् ॥ ३३.१४ ॥

āṣāḍhāsu yaśaḥ prāptiruttarāsu viśokatā śravaṇe ca śubhān lokān dhaniṣṭhāsu dhanaṃ mahat

Under the Ashadhas, one attains fame; under the Uttara Ashadha, freedom from sorrow; under Shravana, auspicious worlds; under Dhanishtha, great wealth.

Verse 15 (markandeya.33.15)

वेदवित्त्वमभिजिति भिषक्सिद्धन्तु वारुणे । अजाविकं प्रौष्ठपदे विन्देद् गास्तु तथोत्तरे ॥ ३३.१५ ॥

vedavittvamabhijiti bhiṣaksiddhantu vāruṇe ajāvikaṃ prauṣṭhapade vinded gāstu tathottare

Under Abhijit, knowledge of the Veda; under Varuna (Shatabhisha), success as a physician; under Purva Bhadrapada, goats and sheep; and under Uttara Bhadrapada, cattle.

Verse 16 (markandeya.33.16)

रेवतीषु तथा कुप्यमश्विनीषु तुरङ्गमान् । श्राद्धं कुर्वंस्तथाप्नोति भरणीष्वायुरुत्तमम् । तस्मात् काम्यानि कुर्वीत ऋक्षेष्वेतेषु तत्त्ववित् ॥ ३३.१६ ॥

revatīṣu tathā kupyamaśvinīṣu turaṅgamān śrāddhaṃ kurvaṃstathāproti bharaṇīṣvāyuruttamam tasmāt kāmyāni kurvota ṛkṣeṣveteṣu tattvavit

Likewise, under Revati, minor metals; under Ashvini, horses; and performing shraddha under Bharani, one attains supreme longevity. Therefore one who knows the truth should perform the optional shraddhas under these constellations.