The Rite of Shraddha at Gaya

Verse 1 (skanda.5.58.1)

व्यास उवाच। विचित्रमिदमाख्यातं गयामाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्। भगवन्भवता सर्वं विदितं विश्वमूर्तिना

vyāsa uvāca| vicitramidamākhyātaṁ gayāmāhātmyamuttamam| bhagavanbhavatā sarvaṁ viditaṁ viśvamūrtinā

Vyasa said: This wondrous, supreme greatness of Gaya has now been told; O Lord of universal form, all things are known to you.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.58.2)

तत्सर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामि श्राद्धस्य फलमुत्तमम्। क्षेत्रस्य च द्विजश्रेष्ठ विस्तरेण तपोधन

tatsarvaṁ śrotumicchāmi śrāddhasya phalamuttamam| kṣetrasya ca dvijaśreṣṭha vistareṇa tapodhana

I wish to hear all of this in detail — the highest fruit of shraddha, and of this sacred field, O best of brahmins, rich in austerity.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.58.3)

कियंतः पितरो नित्यं तृप्ता यांति सुरालयम्। केषां के पितरः प्रोक्ताः किमुद्देश्याः पुराऽनघ

kiyaṁtaḥ pitaro nityaṁ tṛptā yāṁti surālayam| keṣāṁ ke pitaraḥ proktāḥ kimuddeśyāḥ purā'nagha

How many ancestors, once satisfied, go forever to the abode of the gods? Who, of old, were called ancestors of whom, O sinless one, and for what purpose?

Verse 4 (skanda.5.58.4)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। धन्योऽसि कृतकृत्योऽसि यस्य ते नैष्ठिकी मतिः। तथापि शृणु वै वत्स श्राद्धस्य विधिमुत्तमम्

sanatkumāra uvāca| dhanyo'si kṛtakṛtyo'si yasya te naiṣṭhikī matiḥ| tathāpi śṛṇu vai vatsa śrāddhasya vidhimuttamam

Sanatkumara said: Blessed are you, your purpose truly accomplished, whose mind is so firmly devoted; nevertheless, my child, listen to the supreme rule of shraddha.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.58.5)

श्राद्धे प्रकल्पिता लोकाः श्राद्धे धर्मः प्रतिष्ठितः। श्राद्धे यज्ञा हि तिष्ठंति सर्वकर्मफलप्रदाः

śrāddhe prakalpitā lokāḥ śrāddhe dharmaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ| śrāddhe yajñā hi tiṣṭhaṁti sarvakarmaphalapradāḥ

In shraddha the worlds are established; in shraddha dharma stands founded; in shraddha indeed abide the sacrifices, granting the fruit of every rite.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.58.6)

श्रद्धया दीयते किंचिद्दैवं ब्रह्माग्नितर्पणम्। श्राद्धं तु तद्विजानीयात्पुरा प्रोक्तं महर्षिणा

śraddhayā dīyate kiṁciddaivaṁ brahmāgnitarpaṇam| śrāddhaṁ tu tadvijānīyātpurā proktaṁ maharṣiṇā

Whatever is given with faith — the divine offering, the oblation to Brahma and to fire — that should be known as shraddha, as declared of old by the great sage.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.58.7)

मनुष्या ऋषयः सर्वे सुरसिद्धाश्च राक्षसाः। गंधर्वाः किन्नरा नागा ब्रह्मेशानसुरेश्वराः

manuṣyā ṛṣayaḥ sarve surasiddhāśca rākṣasāḥ| gaṁdharvāḥ kinnarā nāgā brahmeśānasureśvarāḥ

All men, sages, gods, siddhas, and rakshasas, gandharvas, kinnaras, nagas, and Brahma, Ishana, and the lords of the asuras...

Verse 8 (skanda.5.58.8)

त्रीन्पितॄंश्च समुद्दिश्य श्राद्धं दद्युः समाहिताः। प्राप्नुवन्त्यखिलान्कामान्सर्वान्व्यास मनोगतान्

trīnpitṝṁśca samuddiśya śrāddhaṁ dadyuḥ samāhitāḥ| prāpnuvantyakhilānkāmānsarvānvyāsa manogatān

...offer shraddha with focused mind, directed to the three ancestors; and, O Vyasa, they obtain all the desires of their heart.

Verse 9 (skanda.5.58.9)

एवं परंपरामार्गं प्रवर्तंते सनातनम्। तथापि पितरो ह्येते समाख्याततमा भुवि

evaṁ paraṁparāmārgaṁ pravartaṁte sanātanam| tathāpi pitaro hyete samākhyātatamā bhuvi

Thus this eternal, traditional path proceeds; nevertheless these ancestors are the most celebrated of all on earth.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.58.10)

तत्सर्वं संप्रवक्ष्यामि यथा श्रुतं तथा शृणु। त एते पितरो देवा देवाश्च पितरस्तथा

tatsarvaṁ saṁpravakṣyāmi yathā śrutaṁ tathā śṛṇu| ta ete pitaro devā devāśca pitarastathā

I shall tell all this exactly as I have heard it — listen: these very gods are ancestors, and the ancestors likewise are gods.

Verse 11 (skanda.5.58.11)

अन्योन्यं पितरो ह्येते देवाः पितृगणैः सह। मार्कंडेन पुरा पृष्टं प्रश्नमेतद्द्विजोत्तम

anyonyaṁ pitaro hyete devāḥ pitṛgaṇaiḥ saha| mārkaṁḍena purā pṛṣṭaṁ praśnametaddvijottama

These ancestors and gods, together with the hosts of ancestors, are each other in turn; O best of brahmins, this very question was once asked by Markandeya.

Verse 12 (skanda.5.58.12)

निबोध त्वं मतं सर्वं यदुक्तं तत्समाहितः। यावंतस्ते पितृगणास्तस्मिँल्लोके च ये गताः

nibodha tvaṁ mataṁ sarvaṁ yaduktaṁ tatsamāhitaḥ| yāvaṁtaste pitṛgaṇāstasmiṁlloke ca ye gatāḥ

Understand with focused mind all that was declared — how many hosts of ancestors there are, and who they are that have gone to that world.

Verse 13 (skanda.5.58.13)

सनत्कुमार उवाच। सप्तैते यजतां श्रेष्ठाः सर्वे पितृगणाः स्मृताः। चत्वारो मूर्तिमंतो वै त्रयस्तेषां च मूर्तयः

sanatkumāra uvāca| saptaite yajatāṁ śreṣṭhāḥ sarve pitṛgaṇāḥ smṛtāḥ| catvāro mūrtimaṁto vai trayasteṣāṁ ca mūrtayaḥ

Sanatkumara said: These seven, foremost among the worshipped, are remembered as classes of ancestors; four of them possess form, and three are without form.

Verse 14 (skanda.5.58.14)

तेषां लोकं विसर्गं च कीर्तयिष्यामि तच्छृणु। प्रभावं त्वं महत्त्वं च विस्तरेण तपोधन

teṣāṁ lokaṁ visargaṁ ca kīrtayiṣyāmi tacchṛṇu| prabhāvaṁ tvaṁ mahattvaṁ ca vistareṇa tapodhana

I shall proclaim their worlds and their origin — listen to that; and their power and greatness too, in detail, O rich in austerity.

Verse 15 (skanda.5.58.15)

धर्ममूर्तिधरास्तेषां तपो ये परमं गताः। तेषां नामानि लोकांश्च कीर्तयिष्यामि तच्छृणु

dharmamūrtidharāsteṣāṁ tapo ye paramaṁ gatāḥ| teṣāṁ nāmāni lokāṁśca kīrtayiṣyāmi tacchṛṇu

Those who bear the form of dharma, who have attained the highest austerity — I shall proclaim their names and their worlds; listen to that.

Verse 16 (skanda.5.58.16)

लोकाः सनातना नाम यत्र तिष्ठंति भास्वराः। अमूर्तयः पितृगणास्ते वै पुत्राः प्रजापतेः

lokāḥ sanātanā nāma yatra tiṣṭhaṁti bhāsvarāḥ| amūrtayaḥ pitṛgaṇāste vai putrāḥ prajāpateḥ

There are worlds called Sanatana, where the radiant ones dwell; the formless hosts of ancestors are indeed the sons of Prajapati.

Verse 17 (skanda.5.58.17)

विराजस्य द्विजश्रेष्ठ वैराजा इति नः श्रुतम्। यजन्ते तान्देवगणा विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा

virājasya dvijaśreṣṭha vairājā iti naḥ śrutam| yajante tāndevagaṇā vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā

O best of brahmins, they are known to us, born of Viraj, by the name Vairaja; the hosts of gods worship them with rites seen in the scriptures.

Verse 18 (skanda.5.58.18)

एते वै योगविभ्रष्टा लोकान्प्राप्य सनातनान्। पुनर्युगसहस्रांते जायंते ब्रह्मवादिनः

ete vai yogavibhraṣṭā lokānprāpya sanātanān| punaryugasahasrāṁte jāyaṁte brahmavādinaḥ

These, having fallen from yoga and attained the eternal worlds, are born again at the end of a thousand yugas as speakers of Brahman.

Verse 19 (skanda.5.58.19)

ते प्राप्य तां स्मृतिं भूयः सांख्ययोगमनुत्तमम्। यांति योगगतिं सिद्धाः पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभाम्

te prāpya tāṁ smṛtiṁ bhūyaḥ sāṁkhyayogamanuttamam| yāṁti yogagatiṁ siddhāḥ punarāvṛttidurlabhām

Regaining that memory, they attain once more the unsurpassed Sankhya-yoga, and, perfected, proceed on the path of yoga from which return is rare.

Verse 20 (skanda.5.58.20)

एते स्युः पितरस्तात योगिनां योगवर्धनाः। आप्याययन्ति ये पूर्वं सोमं योगबलेन वै

ete syuḥ pitarastāta yogināṁ yogavardhanāḥ| āpyāyayanti ye pūrvaṁ somaṁ yogabalena vai

My child, these are the ancestors who increase the yoga of yogis; of old they satisfied the Soma through the power of yoga.

Verse 21 (skanda.5.58.21)

तस्माच्छ्राद्धानि देयानि योगिनां द्विजसत्तम। एष वै प्रथमः कल्पः सोमपानामनुत्तमः

tasmācchrāddhāni deyāni yogināṁ dvijasattama| eṣa vai prathamaḥ kalpaḥ somapānāmanuttamaḥ

Therefore, O best of brahmins, shraddha should be given to yogis; this indeed is the first and unsurpassed order of the Soma-drinkers.

Verse 22 (skanda.5.58.22)

एतेषां मानसी कन्या मेना नाम महागिरेः। पत्नी हिमवतः श्रेष्ठा यस्यां मैनाक उच्यते

eteṣāṁ mānasī kanyā menā nāma mahāgireḥ| patnī himavataḥ śreṣṭhā yasyāṁ maināka ucyate

Their mind-born daughter, named Mena, became the foremost wife of the great mountain Himavat, in whom Mainaka is said to have been born.

Verse 23 (skanda.5.58.23)

मैनाकस्य सुतः श्रीमान्क्रौंचो नाम महागिरिः। अग्निष्वात्ताः पितृगणास्तत्र तिष्ठंति भास्वराः

mainākasya sutaḥ śrīmānkrauṁco nāma mahāgiriḥ| agniṣvāttāḥ pitṛgaṇāstatra tiṣṭhaṁti bhāsvarāḥ

The glorious son of Mainaka was the great mountain named Krauncha; there dwell the radiant ancestors called Agnishvatta.

Verse 24 (skanda.5.58.24)

याम्यां बर्हिषदश्चासन्यमाश्च पश्चिमां दिशम्। सोमपाश्चोत्तरां प्राप्ता दिशं धनदपालिताम्

yāmyāṁ barhiṣadaścāsanyamāśca paścimāṁ diśam| somapāścottarāṁ prāptā diśaṁ dhanadapālitām

In the southern direction dwell the Barhishads, in the western the Yamas; the Somapas reach the northern direction, protected by the lord of wealth.

Verse 25 (skanda.5.58.25)

अमूर्तिमंतावाकाशे कव्यवाडनलौ क्षितौ

amūrtimaṁtāvākāśe kavyavāḍanalau kṣitau

Formless in the sky are Kavyavat, and Anala upon the earth, likewise formless.

Verse 26 (skanda.5.58.26)

यक्षरक्षःपिशाचाश्च यजंते भावितात्मनः। साध्या देवान्यजन्ति स्म विश्वेदेवा ऋषींस्तथा

yakṣarakṣaḥpiśācāśca yajaṁte bhāvitātmanaḥ| sādhyā devānyajanti sma viśvedevā ṛṣīṁstathā

Yakshas, rakshasas and pishachas, of purified soul, worship them; the Sadhyas worship the gods, and the Vishvedevas worship the sages.

Verse 27 (skanda.5.58.27)

मानवाः श्राद्धदेवं च ऋषयो ब्रह्म सनातनम्। एवं परंपराप्राप्तः श्राद्धधर्मः सनातनः

mānavāḥ śrāddhadevaṁ ca ṛṣayo brahma sanātanam| evaṁ paraṁparāprāptaḥ śrāddhadharmaḥ sanātanaḥ

Men worship the god of shraddha, and sages worship the eternal Brahman; thus this eternal dharma of shraddha, received through succession...

Verse 28 (skanda.5.58.28)

देवकार्यात्परं कार्यं पितृकार्यं विशिष्यते। भरद्वाजात्मजाः सप्त श्राद्धधर्मपरायणाः

devakāryātparaṁ kāryaṁ pitṛkāryaṁ viśiṣyate| bharadvājātmajāḥ sapta śrāddhadharmaparāyaṇāḥ

...the rite for the ancestors is held even superior to the rite for the gods. The seven sons of Bharadvaja, devoted to the dharma of shraddha...

Verse 29 (skanda.5.58.29)

जातिस्मरत्वमापन्ना निर्वाणपदवीं गताः। गुरोश्च दोग्ध्रीं गां हत्वा सप्तैते वै द्विजाधमाः

jātismaratvamāpannā nirvāṇapadavīṁ gatāḥ| gurośca dogdhrīṁ gāṁ hatvā saptaite vai dvijādhamāḥ

...attained remembrance of their former births and reached the state of liberation. Having killed their guru's milk-giving cow, these seven, the basest of brahmins...

Verse 30 (skanda.5.58.30)

पितॄनुद्दिश्य ते सर्वे भक्षयंतः क्षुधार्दिताः। तेन पुण्यप्रभावेन योगभ्रष्टा दिवं गताः

pitṝnuddiśya te sarve bhakṣayaṁtaḥ kṣudhārditāḥ| tena puṇyaprabhāvena yogabhraṣṭā divaṁ gatāḥ

...consumed it, tormented by hunger, offering it to the ancestors; and by the power of that very merit, though fallen from yoga, they went to heaven.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.58.31)

सप्त जातिस्मरास्ते वै योगयुक्ता बभूविरे। तस्माच्छ्राद्धं परं प्रोक्तं सूरिभिः परमात्मभिः

sapta jātismarāste vai yogayuktā babhūvire| tasmācchrāddhaṁ paraṁ proktaṁ sūribhiḥ paramātmabhiḥ

Those seven, remembering their past births, became joined again to yoga; therefore the wise, knowers of the Supreme Self, have declared shraddha to be supreme.

Verse 32 (skanda.5.58.32)

श्राद्धे प्रतिष्ठिता लोकाः श्राद्धे योगः परंतप। एवं ते पितरः प्रोक्ताः श्राद्धस्य च विधिं शृणु

śrāddhe pratiṣṭhitā lokāḥ śrāddhe yogaḥ paraṁtapa| evaṁ te pitaraḥ proktāḥ śrāddhasya ca vidhiṁ śṛṇu

O scorcher of foes, in shraddha the worlds are established, in shraddha is yoga. Thus have the ancestors been described; now hear the rule of shraddha.

Verse 33 (skanda.5.58.33)

ब्रह्मचर्यरतो दांतो न क्रोधी न च मत्सरी। शौचाचारपरो धीरः शास्त्रदृष्टिर्जितेंद्रियः

brahmacaryarato dāṁto na krodhī na ca matsarī| śaucācāraparo dhīraḥ śāstradṛṣṭirjiteṁdriyaḥ

One devoted to celibacy, master of the senses, free from anger and envy, intent on purity and good conduct, steadfast, guided by scripture...

Verse 34 (skanda.5.58.34)

एवं यः कुरुते श्राद्धं तीर्थे चैव विशेषतः। ततोऽधिकतरा प्रोक्ता तृप्तिर्व्यास क्षयेऽहनि

evaṁ yaḥ kurute śrāddhaṁ tīrthe caiva viśeṣataḥ| tato'dhikatarā proktā tṛptirvyāsa kṣaye'hani

...whoever performs shraddha thus, and especially at a tirtha — O Vyasa, the satisfaction thereby gained is declared even greater than that from shraddha on the death-anniversary day.

Verse 35 (skanda.5.58.35)

वृद्धिश्राद्धे तथा प्रोक्ता महालये शताधिका। ततो दशगुणा प्रोक्ता प्रयागे द्विजसत्तम

vṛddhiśrāddhe tathā proktā mahālaye śatādhikā| tato daśaguṇā proktā prayāge dvijasattama

The vriddhi-shraddha performed at Mahalaya is declared a hundredfold more fruitful; tenfold greater than that, O best of brahmins, is declared at Prayaga.

Verse 36 (skanda.5.58.36)

प्रयागाद्दशगुणा तृप्तिः कुरुक्षेत्रे च सत्तम। कुरुक्षेत्रात्ततो व्यास दशाधिका गया स्मृता

prayāgāddaśaguṇā tṛptiḥ kurukṣetre ca sattama| kurukṣetrāttato vyāsa daśādhikā gayā smṛtā

Tenfold greater satisfaction than at Prayaga is found at Kurukshetra, O worthy one; and tenfold greater than Kurukshetra, O Vyasa, is Gaya remembered to be.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.58.37)

ततो दशाधिका व्यास महाकालवने शुभे। अवंत्यां सर्वतः पुण्यं गयातीर्थे च सर्वदा

tato daśādhikā vyāsa mahākālavane śubhe| avaṁtyāṁ sarvataḥ puṇyaṁ gayātīrthe ca sarvadā

Tenfold greater than that, O Vyasa, is the auspicious Mahakala forest; in Avanti all is sacred, and ever so at the Gaya-tirtha there.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.58.38)

येषां निरयमापन्नाः पितरो जन्मजन्मनि। तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय तीर्थमेतत्सुदुर्लभम्

yeṣāṁ nirayamāpannāḥ pitaro janmajanmani| teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya tīrthametatsudurlabham

For those whose ancestors, birth after birth, have fallen into hell, this most rare tirtha exists for their deliverance.

Verse 39 (skanda.5.58.39)

सकृत्स्मरणमात्रेण पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम्। ये नरा रणमध्यस्थाः पितृवंशविवर्जिताः

sakṛtsmaraṇamātreṇa pitṝṇāṁ dattamakṣayam| ye narā raṇamadhyasthāḥ pitṛvaṁśavivarjitāḥ

By mere remembrance of it just once, an imperishable offering reaches the ancestors. As for men slain in the midst of battle, cut off from their ancestral line...

Verse 40 (skanda.5.58.40)

गर्भपाते मृता ये च नामगोत्रच्युतास्तथा। स्वगोत्रे परगोत्रे वा आत्मघातमृताः परे

garbhapāte mṛtā ye ca nāmagotracyutāstathā| svagotre paragotre vā ātmaghātamṛtāḥ pare

...those who died by miscarriage, those fallen from name and lineage, and others who died by their own hand, whether in their own gotra or another's...

Verse 41 (skanda.5.58.41)

तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय तत्र श्राद्धं विधीयताम्। उद्बंधनमृता ये च विषशस्त्रैर्मृताश्च ये

teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya tatra śrāddhaṁ vidhīyatām| udbaṁdhanamṛtā ye ca viṣaśastrairmṛtāśca ye

...for their deliverance, shraddha should be duly performed there. And those who died by hanging, and those who died by poison or by weapons...

Verse 42 (skanda.5.58.42)

दष्ट्रिभिर्व्यंगतो वापि दौर्ब्राह्मण्ये मृताश्च ये। तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय अत्र श्राद्धं विधीयते

daṣṭribhirvyaṁgato vāpi daurbrāhmaṇye mṛtāśca ye| teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya atra śrāddhaṁ vidhīyate

...those maimed by fangs, or who died in disgrace to their brahminhood — for their deliverance, shraddha is prescribed here.

Verse 43 (skanda.5.58.43)

अग्निदग्धाश्च ये जीवा नाग्निदग्धास्तथा परे

agnidagdhāśca ye jīvā nāgnidagdhāstathā pare

Those living beings who died burned by fire, and likewise others not burned by fire...

Verse 44 (skanda.5.58.44)

विद्युद्धातेन ये केचिन्मुद्गराभिहताः परे। तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय अत्र श्राद्धं विधीयते

vidyuddhātena ye kecinmudgarābhihatāḥ pare| teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya atra śrāddhaṁ vidhīyate

...some struck down by lightning, others slain by a club — for their deliverance, shraddha is prescribed here.

Verse 45 (skanda.5.58.45)

रौरवे चांधतामिस्रे कालसूत्रे च ये गताः। अनेकयातनासंस्थाः प्रेतलोके च ये गताः

raurave cāṁdhatāmisre kālasūtre ca ye gatāḥ| anekayātanāsaṁsthāḥ pretaloke ca ye gatāḥ

Those who went to the hells of Raurava, Andhatamisra, and Kalasutra, established in manifold torments, who have gone to the world of pretas...

Verse 46 (skanda.5.58.46)

असिपत्रवने घोरे कुंभीपाके च ये गताः। पशुयोनिगता ये च पक्षिकीटसरीसृपाः। तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय अत्र श्राद्धं विधीयते

asipatravane ghore kuṁbhīpāke ca ye gatāḥ| paśuyonigatā ye ca pakṣikīṭasarīsṛpāḥ| teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya atra śrāddhaṁ vidhīyate

...those who went to the dreadful forest of sword-leaves or to Kumbhipaka, and those who attained the wombs of beasts, birds, insects, and reptiles — for their deliverance, shraddha is prescribed here.

Verse 47 (skanda.5.58.47)

उदकेषु मृता ये च नारीसूतीमृतास्तथा

udakeṣu mṛtā ye ca nārīsūtīmṛtāstathā

Those who died in water, and likewise women who died in childbirth...

Verse 48 (skanda.5.58.48)

अश्वसूकरकृमिदंष्ट्रिश्वशृंगिशकटाहताः। तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय अत्र श्राद्धं विधीयते

aśvasūkarakṛmidaṁṣṭriśvaśṛṁgiśakaṭāhatāḥ| teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya atra śrāddhaṁ vidhīyate

...those struck down by horse, boar, worm, tusked beast, dog, horned animal, or cart — for their deliverance, shraddha is prescribed here.

Verse 49 (skanda.5.58.49)

भग्नदंष्ट्राश्च शस्त्रास्त्रैर्व्याघ्राहिगजभूमिपैः। शलभैर्वृश्चिकैर्दंष्ट्रिचोरैर्ये चापि घातिताः। तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय अत्र श्राद्धं विधीयते

bhagnadaṁṣṭrāśca śastrāstrairvyāghrāhigajabhūmipaiḥ| śalabhairvṛścikairdaṁṣṭricorairye cāpi ghātitāḥ| teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya atra śrāddhaṁ vidhīyate

Those mauled by tiger, serpent, elephant, or the weapons of kings, and those also slain by locusts, scorpions, fanged creatures, or thieves — for their deliverance, shraddha is prescribed here.

Verse 50 (skanda.5.58.50)

अष्टशल्यैर्मृता ये च शौचाचारविवर्जिताः। विषूचिकामृता ये च ये चातीसारतो मृताः। तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय अत्र श्राद्धं विधीयते

aṣṭaśalyairmṛtā ye ca śaucācāravivarjitāḥ| viṣūcikāmṛtā ye ca ye cātīsārato mṛtāḥ| teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya atra śrāddhaṁ vidhīyate

Those who died of the eight kinds of internal ailments, devoid of purity and good conduct, those who died of cholera, and those who died of dysentery — for their deliverance, shraddha is prescribed here.

Verse 51 (skanda.5.58.51)

शाकिन्यादिग्रहग्रस्त जलमध्ये च ये मृताः। अस्पृश्यस्पर्शसंस्पृष्टाः पापा अपत्यवर्जिताः। तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय अत्र श्राद्धं विधीयते

śākinyādigrahagrasta jalamadhye ca ye mṛtāḥ| aspṛśyasparśasaṁspṛṣṭāḥ pāpā apatyavarjitāḥ| teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya atra śrāddhaṁ vidhīyate

Those seized by witches and similar spirits, or who died in the midst of water, those tainted by the touch of the untouchable, sinners, and those without offspring — for their deliverance, shraddha is prescribed here.

Verse 52 (skanda.5.58.52)

जन्मांतरसहस्राणि भ्रमंति स्वेन कर्मणा। मानुषं दुर्लभं येषां तेभ्यः श्राद्धं विधीयताम्

janmāṁtarasahasrāṇi bhramaṁti svena karmaṇā| mānuṣaṁ durlabhaṁ yeṣāṁ tebhyaḥ śrāddhaṁ vidhīyatām

Those who, by their own karma, wander through thousands of other births, for whom a human birth is rare — for them shraddha should be performed.

Verse 53 (skanda.5.58.53)

येऽन्यजन्मन्यबांधवा येऽन्यजन्मनि बांधवाः। येऽन्यजन्मनि संबद्धा मित्रामित्रे तथा परे। तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय अत्र श्राद्धं विधीयते

ye'nyajanmanyabāṁdhavā ye'nyajanmani bāṁdhavāḥ| ye'nyajanmani saṁbaddhā mitrāmitre tathā pare| teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya atra śrāddhaṁ vidhīyate

Those who in another birth were without kin, those who in another birth were kin, and those bound to us in another birth as friend or as foe — for their deliverance, shraddha is prescribed here.

Verse 54 (skanda.5.58.54)

पितृवंशे मृता ये च मातृवंशे तथैव च। गुरुश्वशुरबंधूनां ये चान्ये बांधवा मृताः। तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय अत्र श्राद्धं विधीयते

pitṛvaṁśe mṛtā ye ca mātṛvaṁśe tathaiva ca| guruśvaśurabaṁdhūnāṁ ye cānye bāṁdhavā mṛtāḥ| teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya atra śrāddhaṁ vidhīyate

Those who died in the paternal line and likewise in the maternal line, and other relations among gurus, fathers-in-law, and kinsmen who have died — for their deliverance, shraddha is prescribed here.

Verse 55 (skanda.5.58.55)

ये मे कुले लुप्तपिंडाः पुत्रदारादिवर्जिताः। क्रियालोपगता ये च तेभ्यः श्राद्धं विधीयते

ye me kule luptapiṁḍāḥ putradārādivarjitāḥ| kriyālopagatā ye ca tebhyaḥ śrāddhaṁ vidhīyate

Those in my family whose offerings have lapsed, who are without son, wife, and the like, and who have fallen from the due rites — for them shraddha is prescribed.

Verse 56 (skanda.5.58.56)

पंगुकुब्जा विरूपाश्च आमगर्भाश्च ये मृताः। ज्ञाताऽज्ञाताः कुले ये च तेभ्यः श्राद्धं विधीयते

paṁgukubjā virūpāśca āmagarbhāśca ye mṛtāḥ| jñātā'jñātāḥ kule ye ca tebhyaḥ śrāddhaṁ vidhīyate

The lame, the hunchbacked, the deformed, and those who died as unformed embryos, known or unknown in the family — for them shraddha is prescribed.

Verse 57 (skanda.5.58.57)

आब्रह्मभुवनाद्ये च अन्यैर्दुर्मरणैर्मृताः। तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय अत्र श्राद्धं विधीयते

ābrahmabhuvanādye ca anyairdurmaraṇairmṛtāḥ| teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya atra śrāddhaṁ vidhīyate

From the world of Brahma down to the lowest, whoever died by other evil deaths — for their deliverance, shraddha is prescribed here.

Verse 58 (skanda.5.58.58)

तृषार्ताः क्षुधिताश्चैव हापिताश्चैव ये मृताः। प्रेतयोनिं गताश्चैव म्लेच्छयोनिं गताश्च ये। तेषामुद्धरणार्थाय अत्र श्राद्धं विधीयते

tṛṣārtāḥ kṣudhitāścaiva hāpitāścaiva ye mṛtāḥ| pretayoniṁ gatāścaiva mlecchayoniṁ gatāśca ye| teṣāmuddharaṇārthāya atra śrāddhaṁ vidhīyate

Those who died tormented by thirst, by hunger, or through abandonment, and those who attained the state of pretas or of mlecchas — for their deliverance, shraddha is prescribed here.

Verse 59 (skanda.5.58.59)

एवं श्राद्धविधिं व्यास तस्मिंस्तीर्थे समाचरेत्। ऋणत्रयविनिर्मुक्तो वांछितार्थं लभेत सः। गयायां च समासाद्य सुरा इंद्रपुरोगमाः। चक्रुश्च विधिवत्सर्वे यदुक्तं देवभाषया

evaṁ śrāddhavidhiṁ vyāsa tasmiṁstīrthe samācaret| ṛṇatrayavinirmukto vāṁchitārthaṁ labheta saḥ| gayāyāṁ ca samāsādya surā iṁdrapurogamāḥ| cakruśca vidhivatsarve yaduktaṁ devabhāṣayā

Thus, O Vyasa, one should perform the rite of shraddha at that tirtha; freed from the three debts, one obtains the fruit desired. And the gods headed by Indra, having likewise gone to Gaya, duly performed all these rites as declared in the language of the gods.