The Necessity of Shraddha for the Ancestors

Verse 1 (skanda.6.215.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः सांप्रतं वद नः सूत श्राद्धकल्पस्य यो विधिः विस्तरेण महाभाग यथा तच्चाक्षयं भवेत्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ sāṁprataṁ vada naḥ sūta śrāddhakalpasya yo vidhiḥ vistareṇa mahābhāga yathā taccākṣayaṁ bhavet

The sages said: O Suta, O illustrious one, now tell us in full detail the procedure of the Shraddha-kalpa rite, so that it becomes an act of imperishable merit.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.215.2)

कस्मिन्काले प्रकर्तव्यं श्राद्धं पितृपरायणैः कीदृशैर्ब्राह्मणैस्तच्च तथा द्रव्यैर्महामते

kasminkāle prakartavyaṁ śrāddhaṁ pitṛparāyaṇaiḥ kīdṛśairbrāhmaṇaistacca tathā dravyairmahāmate

O wise one, at what time should Shraddha be performed by those devoted to their ancestors, and with what kind of brahmins, and what materials?

Verse 3 (skanda.6.215.3)

सूत उवाच एतदर्थं पुरा पृष्टो मार्कंडेयो महामुनिः रोहिताश्वेन विप्रेंद्रा हरिश्चन्द्रसुतेन सः

sūta uvāca etadarthaṁ purā pṛṣṭo mārkaṁḍeyo mahāmuniḥ rohitāśvena vipreṁdrā hariścandrasutena saḥ

Suta said: O foremost of brahmins, this very question was once put to the great sage Markandeya by Rohitashva, the son of Harishchandra.

Verse 4 (skanda.6.215.4)

हरिश्चन्द्रे गते स्वर्गं रोहिताश्वे नृपे स्थिते तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगेन मार्कण्डो मुनिसत्तमः

hariścandre gate svargaṁ rohitāśve nṛpe sthite tīrthayātrāprasaṁgena mārkaṇḍo munisattamaḥ

When Harishchandra had gone to heaven and Rohitashva had become king, the eminent sage Markandeya, in the course of a pilgrimage—

Verse 5 (skanda.6.215.5)

सरय्वाः संगमे पुण्ये स्नानार्थं समुपस्थितः तत्र स्नात्वा पितॄन्देवान्संतर्प्य विधिपूर्वकम्

sarayvāḥ saṁgame puṇye snānārthaṁ samupasthitaḥ tatra snātvā pitṝndevānsaṁtarpya vidhipūrvakam

—arrived at the sacred confluence of the Sarayu to bathe; bathing there, and duly offering libations to the ancestors and gods—

Verse 6 (skanda.6.215.6)

प्रविष्टस्तां पुरीं रम्यामयोध्यां सत्यनामिकाम् रोहिताश्वोऽपि तं श्रुत्वा समायातं मुनीश्वरम् पदातिः प्रययौ तूर्णं दूरदेशं तु सम्मुखम्

praviṣṭastāṁ purīṁ ramyāmayodhyāṁ satyanāmikām rohitāśvo'pi taṁ śrutvā samāyātaṁ munīśvaram padātiḥ prayayau tūrṇaṁ dūradeśaṁ tu sammukham

—he entered that delightful city of Ayodhya, true to its name. Rohitashva too, hearing of the sage's arrival, at once went out on foot, far along the road, to receive him.

Verse 7 (skanda.6.215.7)

ततः प्रणम्य तं मूर्ध्ना कृतांजलिपुटः स्थितः प्रोवाच मधुरं वाक्यं विनयेन समन्वितः

tataḥ praṇamya taṁ mūrdhnā kṛtāṁjalipuṭaḥ sthitaḥ provāca madhuraṁ vākyaṁ vinayena samanvitaḥ

Then, bowing his head to him and standing with folded hands, he spoke sweet words with the utmost humility.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.215.8)

स्वागतं ते मुनिश्रेष्ठ भूयः सुस्वागतं मुने धन्योऽहं कृतपुण्योऽहं संप्राप्तः परमां गतिम् यत्ते पादरजोभिर्मे मूर्द्धजा विमलीकृताः

svāgataṁ te muniśreṣṭha bhūyaḥ susvāgataṁ mune dhanyo'haṁ kṛtapuṇyo'haṁ saṁprāptaḥ paramāṁ gatim yatte pādarajobhirme mūrddhajā vimalīkṛtāḥ

He said: Welcome, O best of sages, welcome again and again; I am blessed, I am fortunate, I have attained the highest state, since my very hair has been purified by the dust of your feet.

Verse 9 (skanda.6.215.9)

एवमुक्त्वा गृहीत्वा तं स्वहस्तालंबनं तदा ययौ तत्र सभास्थानं बृहत्सिंहासनाश्रयम्

evamuktvā gṛhītvā taṁ svahastālaṁbanaṁ tadā yayau tatra sabhāsthānaṁ bṛhatsiṁhāsanāśrayam

Having said this, he took him by the hand and led him to the assembly hall, where a great throne stood.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.215.10)

सिंहासने निवेश्याथ तं मुनिं पार्थिवोत्तमः उपविष्टो धरापृष्ठे कृतांजलिपुटः स्थितः

siṁhāsane niveśyātha taṁ muniṁ pārthivottamaḥ upaviṣṭo dharāpṛṣṭhe kṛtāṁjalipuṭaḥ sthitaḥ

That best of kings, having seated the sage upon the throne, himself sat down upon the ground, remaining there with folded hands.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.215.11)

ततः प्रोवाच मधुरं विनयावनतः स्थितः निःस्पृहस्यापि विप्रेंद्र किं वाऽऽगमनकारणम्

tataḥ provāca madhuraṁ vinayāvanataḥ sthitaḥ niḥspṛhasyāpi vipreṁdra kiṁ vā''gamanakāraṇam

Then, bowing in humility, he sweetly asked: O foremost of brahmins, though you desire nothing at all, what reason has brought you here?

Verse 12 (skanda.6.215.12)

तद्ब्रवीहि यथातथ्यं करोमि तव सांप्रतम् अदेयमपि दास्यामि गृहायातस्य ते विभो

tadbravīhi yathātathyaṁ karomi tava sāṁpratam adeyamapi dāsyāmi gṛhāyātasya te vibho

Tell me truly what it is, and I shall fulfill it at once; O mighty one, since you have come to my house, I shall give you even what is otherwise ungivable.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.215.13)

मार्कंडेय उवाच तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगेन वयमत्र समागताः सरय्वाः संगमे पुण्ये कल्ये यास्याम्यहे पुनः

mārkaṁḍeya uvāca tīrthayātrāprasaṁgena vayamatra samāgatāḥ sarayvāḥ saṁgame puṇye kalye yāsyāmyahe punaḥ

Markandeya said: We have come here in the course of a pilgrimage; tomorrow we shall depart again for the sacred confluence of the Sarayu.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.215.14)

निःस्पृहैरपि द्रष्टव्या धर्मवन्तो द्विजोत्तमाः ततः प्रोक्तं पुराणज्ञैर्ब्राह्मणैः शास्त्रदृष्टिभिः

niḥspṛhairapi draṣṭavyā dharmavanto dvijottamāḥ tataḥ proktaṁ purāṇajñairbrāhmaṇaiḥ śāstradṛṣṭibhiḥ

Even those free of all desire should still visit righteous, foremost brahmins; for this reason it has been declared by brahmins learned in the puranas and versed in the scriptures.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.215.15)

धर्मवन्तं नृपं दृष्ट्वा लिंगं स्वायंभुवं तथा नदीं सागरगां चैव मुच्येत्पापाद्दिनोद्भवात्

dharmavantaṁ nṛpaṁ dṛṣṭvā liṁgaṁ svāyaṁbhuvaṁ tathā nadīṁ sāgaragāṁ caiva mucyetpāpāddinodbhavāt

—that by beholding a righteous king, a self-manifested linga, or a river flowing into the sea, a man is freed from that day's sins.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.215.16)

एवमुक्त्वा ततश्चक्रे पृच्छां स मुनिसत्तमः तं दृष्ट्वा नृपशार्दूलं पुरःस्थं विनयान्वितम्

evamuktvā tataścakre pṛcchāṁ sa munisattamaḥ taṁ dṛṣṭvā nṛpaśārdūlaṁ puraḥsthaṁ vinayānvitam

Having said this, that eminent sage, seeing that tiger among kings standing humbly before him, then put a question to him.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.215.17)

कच्चित्ते सफला वेदाः कच्चित्ते सफलं श्रुतम् कच्चित्ते सफला दाराः कच्चित्ते सफलं धनम्

kaccitte saphalā vedāḥ kaccitte saphalaṁ śrutam kaccitte saphalā dārāḥ kaccitte saphalaṁ dhanam

Have your Vedic studies borne fruit? Has your learning borne fruit? Has your wife borne fruit? Has your wealth borne fruit?

Verse 18 (skanda.6.215.18)

रोहिताश्व उवाच कथं स्युः सफला वेदाः कथं स्यात्सफलं श्रुतम् कथं स्युः सफला दाराः कथं स्यात्सफलं धनम्

rohitāśva uvāca kathaṁ syuḥ saphalā vedāḥ kathaṁ syātsaphalaṁ śrutam kathaṁ syuḥ saphalā dārāḥ kathaṁ syātsaphalaṁ dhanam

Rohitashva said: How do Vedic studies bear fruit? How does learning bear fruit? How does a wife bear fruit? How does wealth bear fruit?

Verse 19 (skanda.6.215.19)

मार्कंडेय उवाच अग्निहोत्रफला वेदाः शीलवृत्तफलं श्रुतम् रतिपुत्रफला दारा दत्तभुक्तफलं धनम्

mārkaṁḍeya uvāca agnihotraphalā vedāḥ śīlavṛttaphalaṁ śrutam ratiputraphalā dārā dattabhuktaphalaṁ dhanam

Markandeya said: The fruit of the Vedas is the fire-sacrifice; the fruit of learning is good conduct; the fruit of a wife is love and offspring; the fruit of wealth is giving and enjoying it.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.215.20)

एवं ज्ञात्वा महाराज नान्यथा कर्तुमर्हसि

evaṁ jñātvā mahārāja nānyathā kartumarhasi

Knowing this, O great king, you ought not to act otherwise.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.215.21)

चत्वार्येतानि कृत्यानि मयोक्तानि च तानि ते यथा तानि प्रकृत्यानि लोकद्वयमभीप्सता

catvāryetāni kṛtyāni mayoktāni ca tāni te yathā tāni prakṛtyāni lokadvayamabhīpsatā

I have told you these four duties; one who desires both this world and the next should perform them properly.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.215.22)

एवमुक्त्वा ततश्चक्रे कथाश्चित्राश्च तत्पुरः राजर्षीणां पुराणानां देवर्षीणां विशेषतः

evamuktvā tataścakre kathāścitrāśca tatpuraḥ rājarṣīṇāṁ purāṇānāṁ devarṣīṇāṁ viśeṣataḥ

Having said this, he then related before him many wondrous tales of ancient royal seers, and especially of the divine sages.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.215.23)

ततः कथावसाने च कस्मिंश्चिद्द्विजसत्तमाः पप्रच्छ तं मुनिश्रेष्ठं रोहिताश्वो महीपतिः

tataḥ kathāvasāne ca kasmiṁściddvijasattamāḥ papraccha taṁ muniśreṣṭhaṁ rohitāśvo mahīpatiḥ

O foremost of brahmins, then, at the end of one such tale, King Rohitashva asked that eminent sage.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.215.24)

भगवञ्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि श्राद्धकल्पमहं यतः दृश्यंते बहवो भेदा द्विजानां श्राद्धकर्मणि

bhagavañchrotumicchāmi śrāddhakalpamahaṁ yataḥ dṛśyaṁte bahavo bhedā dvijānāṁ śrāddhakarmaṇi

He said: O lord, I wish to hear the Shraddha-kalpa, for I see many variations in the way brahmins perform the Shraddha rite.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.215.25)

मार्कंडेय उवाच सत्यमेतन्महाभाग यत्पृष्टोऽस्मि नृपोत्तम श्राद्धस्य बहवो भेदाः शाखाभेदैर्व्यवस्थिताः

mārkaṁḍeya uvāca satyametanmahābhāga yatpṛṣṭo'smi nṛpottama śrāddhasya bahavo bhedāḥ śākhābhedairvyavasthitāḥ

Markandeya said: O illustrious one, O best of kings, what you ask is true; the many variations in Shraddha are established according to the differing Vedic branches.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.215.26)

तस्मात्ते निर्णयं वच्मि भर्तृयज्ञेन यत्पुरा आनर्त्ताधिपतेः प्रोक्तं सम्यक्छ्राद्धस्य लक्षणम्

tasmātte nirṇayaṁ vacmi bhartṛyajñena yatpurā ānarttādhipateḥ proktaṁ samyakchrāddhasya lakṣaṇam

Therefore I shall tell you that definitive teaching which Bhartriyajna once gave to the king of Anarta, the proper defining features of Shraddha.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.215.27)

भर्तृयज्ञं सुखासीनं निजाश्रमपदे नृपः आनर्ताधिपतिर्गत्वा प्रणिपत्य ततोऽब्रवीत्

bhartṛyajñaṁ sukhāsīnaṁ nijāśramapade nṛpaḥ ānartādhipatirgatvā praṇipatya tato'bravīt

The king of Anarta went to Bhartriyajna, who sat at ease in his own hermitage, bowed before him, and then spoke.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.215.28)

आनर्त उवाच सांप्रतं वद मे ब्रह्मञ्छ्राद्धकल्पं पित्रीप्सितम् येन मे तुष्टिमायांति पितरः श्राद्धतर्पिताः

ānarta uvāca sāṁprataṁ vada me brahmañchrāddhakalpaṁ pitrīpsitam yena me tuṣṭimāyāṁti pitaraḥ śrāddhatarpitāḥ

Anarta said: O brahmin, now tell me that Shraddha rite desired by the ancestors, by which my forefathers, satisfied through the Shraddha, may attain contentment.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.215.29)

कः कालो विहितः श्राद्धे कानि द्रव्याणि मे वद श्राद्धार्हाणि तथान्यानि मेध्यानि द्विजसत्तम यानि योज्यानि वांछद्भिः पितृणां तृप्तिमुत्तमाम्

kaḥ kālo vihitaḥ śrāddhe kāni dravyāṇi me vada śrāddhārhāṇi tathānyāni medhyāni dvijasattama yāni yojyāni vāṁchadbhiḥ pitṛṇāṁ tṛptimuttamām

What time is prescribed for the Shraddha? Tell me. And, O foremost of brahmins, what are the substances fit and pure for Shraddha, which those desiring the ancestors' supreme satisfaction should employ?

Verse 30 (skanda.6.215.30)

कीदृशा ब्राह्मणा ब्रह्मञ्छ्राद्धार्हाः परिकीर्तिताः कीदृशा वर्जनीयाश्च सर्वं मे विस्तराद्वद

kīdṛśā brāhmaṇā brahmañchrāddhārhāḥ parikīrtitāḥ kīdṛśā varjanīyāśca sarvaṁ me vistarādvada

O brahmin, what kind of brahmins are declared fit for Shraddha, and what kind are to be avoided? Tell me all this in full detail.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.215.31)

भर्तृयज्ञ उवाच अहं ते कीर्तयिष्यामि श्राद्धकल्पमनुत्तमम् यं श्रुत्वाऽपि महाराज लभेच्छ्राद्धफलं नरः

bhartṛyajña uvāca ahaṁ te kīrtayiṣyāmi śrāddhakalpamanuttamam yaṁ śrutvā'pi mahārāja labhecchrāddhaphalaṁ naraḥ

Bhartriyajna said: O great king, I shall now relate to you that unsurpassed Shraddha-kalpa, by merely hearing which a man obtains the fruit of the Shraddha rite.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.215.32)

श्राद्धमिदुक्षयेऽवश्यं सदा कार्यं विपश्चिता यदि ज्येष्ठतमः सर्गः सन्तानं च तथा नृप

śrāddhamidukṣaye'vaśyaṁ sadā kāryaṁ vipaścitā yadi jyeṣṭhatamaḥ sargaḥ santānaṁ ca tathā nṛpa

O king, a wise man, if he is the eldest offspring and has descendants of his own, should always without fail perform the Shraddha on the day of the moon's waning, the new moon.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.215.33)

शीतार्ता यद्वदिच्छंति वह्निं प्रावरणानि च पितरस्तद्वदिच्छंति क्षुत्सामाश्चन्द्रसंक्षयम्

śītārtā yadvadicchaṁti vahniṁ prāvaraṇāni ca pitarastadvadicchaṁti kṣutsāmāścandrasaṁkṣayam

Just as those afflicted by cold long for fire and warm coverings, so too do the ancestors, worn thin by hunger, long for the waning of the moon.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.215.34)

दरिद्रोपहता यद्वद्धनं वांछंति मानवाः पितरस्तद्वदिच्छंति क्षुत्क्षामाश्चन्द्रसंक्षयम्

daridropahatā yadvaddhanaṁ vāṁchaṁti mānavāḥ pitarastadvadicchaṁti kṣutkṣāmāścandrasaṁkṣayam

Just as men afflicted by poverty long for wealth, so too do the ancestors, emaciated by hunger, long for the waning of the moon.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.215.35)

यथा वृष्टिं प्रवांछन्ति कर्षुकाः सस्यवृद्धये तथात्मप्रीतये तेऽपि प्रवांछन्तींदुसंक्षयम्

yathā vṛṣṭiṁ pravāṁchanti karṣukāḥ sasyavṛddhaye tathātmaprītaye te'pi pravāṁchantīṁdusaṁkṣayam

Just as farmers long for rain for the growth of their crops, so too do they long for the waning of the moon for their own contentment.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.215.36)

यथोषश्चक्रवाक्यश्च वांछन्ति रविदर्शनम् पितरस्तद्वदिच्छंति श्राद्धं दर्शसमुद्भवम्

yathoṣaścakravākyaśca vāṁchanti ravidarśanam pitarastadvadicchaṁti śrāddhaṁ darśasamudbhavam

Just as the female chakravaka bird, at dawn, longs for the sight of the sun, so too do the ancestors long for the Shraddha performed on the new-moon day.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.215.37)

जलेनापि च यः श्राद्धं शाकेनापि करोति वा दर्शस्य पितरस्तृप्तिं यांति पापं प्रणश्यति

jalenāpi ca yaḥ śrāddhaṁ śākenāpi karoti vā darśasya pitarastṛptiṁ yāṁti pāpaṁ praṇaśyati

Whoever performs the Shraddha on the new-moon day even with mere water or with a vegetable offering, by that too the ancestors attain satisfaction, and his sin is destroyed.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.215.38)

अमावास्यादिने प्राप्ते गृहद्वारं समाश्रिता वायुभूताः प्रवांछन्ति श्राद्धं पितृगणा नृणाम् यावदस्तमयं भानोः क्षुत्पिपासासमाकुलाः

amāvāsyādine prāpte gṛhadvāraṁ samāśritā vāyubhūtāḥ pravāṁchanti śrāddhaṁ pitṛgaṇā nṛṇām yāvadastamayaṁ bhānoḥ kṣutpipāsāsamākulāḥ

When the new-moon day arrives, the ancestors of men, taking on an airy form, station themselves at the doors of their houses, and, tormented by hunger and thirst, long for the Shraddha until sunset.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.215.39)

ततश्चास्तं गते भानौ निराशा दुःखसंयुताः निःश्वस्य सुचिरं यांति गर्हयंति स्ववंशजम्

tataścāstaṁ gate bhānau nirāśā duḥkhasaṁyutāḥ niḥśvasya suciraṁ yāṁti garhayaṁti svavaṁśajam

Then, when the sun has set, disappointed and grieving, sighing at length, they depart, cursing their own descendants.

Verse 40 (skanda.6.215.40)

आनर्त उवाच किमर्थं क्रियते श्राद्धममावास्यादिने द्विज विशेषेण ममाचक्ष्य विस्तरेण यथातथम्

ānarta uvāca kimarthaṁ kriyate śrāddhamamāvāsyādine dvija viśeṣeṇa mamācakṣya vistareṇa yathātatham

Anarta said: O brahmin, for what reason is the Shraddha performed on the new-moon day specifically? Explain this to me in full and accurate detail.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.215.41)

मृताश्च पुरुषा विप्र स्वकर्मजनितां गतिम् गच्छन्ति ते कथं तस्य सुतस्याश्रयमाययुः

mṛtāśca puruṣā vipra svakarmajanitāṁ gatim gacchanti te kathaṁ tasya sutasyāśrayamāyayuḥ

O brahmin, the dead attain a state born of their own deeds; how, then, do they come to partake of the refuge offered by their own son's rite?

Verse 42 (skanda.6.215.42)

एष नः संशयो विप्र सुमहान्हृदि संस्थितः

eṣa naḥ saṁśayo vipra sumahānhṛdi saṁsthitaḥ

O brahmin, this is a very great doubt of ours, lodged deep in our hearts.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.215.43)

भर्तृयज्ञ उवाच सत्यमेतन्महाभाग यत्त्वया व्याहृतं वचः स्वकर्मार्हां गतिं यांति मृताः सर्वत्र मानवाः

bhartṛyajña uvāca satyametanmahābhāga yattvayā vyāhṛtaṁ vacaḥ svakarmārhāṁ gatiṁ yāṁti mṛtāḥ sarvatra mānavāḥ

Bhartriyajna said: O illustrious one, what you have said is true; the dead everywhere attain a state fitting to their own deeds.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.215.44)

परं यथा समायांति वंशजस्याश्रयं प्रति तथा तेऽहं प्रवक्ष्यामि न तथा संशयो भवेत्

paraṁ yathā samāyāṁti vaṁśajasyāśrayaṁ prati tathā te'haṁ pravakṣyāmi na tathā saṁśayo bhavet

But how they come to partake of the refuge offered by their descendant — that I shall now explain to you, so that your doubt may be resolved.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.215.45)

मृता यांति तथा राजन्येऽत्र केचिन्महीतले ते जायंते न मर्त्येऽत्र यावद्वंशस्य संस्थितिः

mṛtā yāṁti tathā rājanye'tra kecinmahītale te jāyaṁte na martye'tra yāvadvaṁśasya saṁsthitiḥ

O king, whoever among these dies and attains that state does not take birth again in this mortal world so long as his lineage continues.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.215.46)

परं शुभात्मका ये च ते तिष्ठंति सुरालये पापात्मानो नरा ये च वैवस्वतनिवासिनः

paraṁ śubhātmakā ye ca te tiṣṭhaṁti surālaye pāpātmāno narā ye ca vaivasvatanivāsinaḥ

Those of virtuous soul dwell in the abode of the gods, while sinful men dwell in the realm of Vaivasvata, Yama.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.215.47)

अन्यदेहं समाश्रित्य भुंजानाः कर्मणः फलम् शुभं वा यदि वा पापं स्वयं विहितमात्मनः

anyadehaṁ samāśritya bhuṁjānāḥ karmaṇaḥ phalam śubhaṁ vā yadi vā pāpaṁ svayaṁ vihitamātmanaḥ

Taking on some other body, they continue to experience the fruit of the deeds — whether good or evil — that they themselves performed.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.215.48)

यमलोके स्थितानां हि स्वर्गस्थानामपि क्षुधा पिपासा च तथा राजंस्तेषां संजायतेऽधिका

yamaloke sthitānāṁ hi svargasthānāmapi kṣudhā pipāsā ca tathā rājaṁsteṣāṁ saṁjāyate'dhikā

O king, both those dwelling in the realm of Yama and even those dwelling in heaven experience an intense hunger and thirst.

Verse 49 (skanda.6.215.49)

यावन्नरत्रयं राजन्मातृतः पितृतस्तथा तेषां च परतो ये च ते स्वकर्म शुभाशुभम् भुंजते क्षुत्पिपासा च न तेषां जायते क्वचित्

yāvannaratrayaṁ rājanmātṛtaḥ pitṛtastathā teṣāṁ ca parato ye ca te svakarma śubhāśubham bhuṁjate kṣutpipāsā ca na teṣāṁ jāyate kvacit

O king, for three generations on the mother's side and three on the father's, and those beyond them as well — they experience the fruit of their own good and evil deeds, but hunger and thirst never arise in them.

Verse 50 (skanda.6.215.50)

तत्रापि पतनं तस्मात्स्थानाद्भवति भूमिप वंशोच्छेदान्पुनः सर्वे निपतंति महीतले त्रुटद्रज्जुनिबद्धं हि भांडं यद्वन्निराश्रयम्

tatrāpi patanaṁ tasmātsthānādbhavati bhūmipa vaṁśocchedānpunaḥ sarve nipataṁti mahītale truṭadrajjunibaddhaṁ hi bhāṁḍaṁ yadvannirāśrayam

O lord of the earth, from that station too a fall occurs; and when the lineage is cut off, all of them fall back down to the earth once more, just as a vessel tied by a fraying cord, once cut loose, falls to the ground.

Verse 51 (skanda.6.215.51)

एतस्मात्कारणाद्यत्नः सन्तानाय विचक्षणैः प्रकर्तव्यो मनुष्येंद्र वंशस्य स्थितये सदा

etasmātkāraṇādyatnaḥ santānāya vicakṣaṇaiḥ prakartavyo manuṣyeṁdra vaṁśasya sthitaye sadā

For this very reason, O lord of men, the wise must always strive to obtain offspring, for the continuity of their lineage.

Verse 52 (skanda.6.215.52)

अपि द्वादशधा राजन्नौरसादिसमुद्भवाः तेषामेकतमोऽप्यत्र न दैवाज्जायते सुतः

api dvādaśadhā rājannaurasādisamudbhavāḥ teṣāmekatamo'pyatra na daivājjāyate sutaḥ

O king, though sons are of twelve kinds, beginning with the natural-born, yet through misfortune not even one of these may be obtained by a man.

Verse 53 (skanda.6.215.53)

पितॄणां गुप्तये तेन स्थाप्योऽश्वत्थः समाधिना पुत्रवत्परिपाल्यश्च निर्विशेषं नराधिप

pitṝṇāṁ guptaye tena sthāpyo'śvatthaḥ samādhinā putravatparipālyaśca nirviśeṣaṁ narādhipa

Therefore, O king, for the protection of one's ancestors, one should duly plant an ashvattha, a sacred fig tree, and tend it, without any distinction, exactly as one would a son.

Verse 54 (skanda.6.215.54)

यावत्संधारयेद्भूमिस्तमश्वत्थं नराधिप कृतोद्वाहं समं शम्या तावद्वंशोऽपि तिष्ठति

yāvatsaṁdhārayedbhūmistamaśvatthaṁ narādhipa kṛtodvāhaṁ samaṁ śamyā tāvadvaṁśo'pi tiṣṭhati

O king, as long as the earth sustains that ashvattha — ceremonially married to the shami tree — so long does one's lineage also endure.

Verse 55 (skanda.6.215.55)

अश्वत्थजनका मर्त्या निपत्य जगतीतले पापामुक्ताः समायांति योनिं श्रेष्ठां शुभान्विताः

aśvatthajanakā martyā nipatya jagatītale pāpāmuktāḥ samāyāṁti yoniṁ śreṣṭhāṁ śubhānvitāḥ

Men who plant an ashvattha tree, even when they fall back to this mortal world, become freed of sin and attain an excellent, auspicious birth.

Verse 56 (skanda.6.215.56)

एतस्मात्कारणादन्नं नित्यं देयं तथोदकम् समुद्दिश्य पितॄन्राजन्यतस्ते तन्मयाः स्मृताः

etasmātkāraṇādannaṁ nityaṁ deyaṁ tathodakam samuddiśya pitṝnrājanyataste tanmayāḥ smṛtāḥ

For this very reason, O king, food and water should always be offered in the name of the ancestors, for the ancestors are held to consist in that very offering.

Verse 57 (skanda.6.215.57)

अदत्त्वा सलिलं सस्यं पितॄणां यो नराधिप स्वयमश्नाति वा तोयं पिवेत्स स्यात्पितृद्रुहः स्वर्गेऽपि च न ते तोयं लभंते नान्नमेव च

adattvā salilaṁ sasyaṁ pitṝṇāṁ yo narādhipa svayamaśnāti vā toyaṁ pivetsa syātpitṛdruhaḥ svarge'pi ca na te toyaṁ labhaṁte nānnameva ca

O king, whoever eats food or drinks water himself without first offering it to his ancestors becomes a betrayer of his ancestors; even in heaven, those ancestors then obtain neither water nor food.

Verse 58 (skanda.6.215.58)

न दत्तं वंशजैर्मर्त्यैश्चेद्व्यथां यांति दारुणाम् क्षुत्पिपासासमुद्भूतां तस्मात्संतर्पयेत्पितॄन्

na dattaṁ vaṁśajairmartyaiścedvyathāṁ yāṁti dāruṇām kṣutpipāsāsamudbhūtāṁ tasmātsaṁtarpayetpitṝn

If it is not given by their descendants, they suffer a terrible affliction born of hunger and thirst; therefore one should always offer libations to one's ancestors.

Verse 59 (skanda.6.215.59)

नित्यं शक्त्या नरो राजन्पयोऽन्नैश्च पृथग्विधैः तथान्यैर्वस्त्रनैवेद्यैः पुष्पगन्धानुलेपनैः

nityaṁ śaktyā naro rājanpayo'nnaiśca pṛthagvidhaiḥ tathānyairvastranaivedyaiḥ puṣpagandhānulepanaiḥ

O king, a man should daily, according to his means, with milk and various foods, as well as with garments, offerings, flowers, fragrances, and unguents—

Verse 60 (skanda.6.215.60)

पितृमेधादिभिः पुण्यैः श्राद्धैरुच्चावचैरपि तर्पितास्ते प्रयच्छंति कामानिष्टान्हृदि स्थितान् त्रिवर्गं च महाराज पितरः श्राद्धतर्पिताः

pitṛmedhādibhiḥ puṇyaiḥ śrāddhairuccāvacairapi tarpitāste prayacchaṁti kāmāniṣṭānhṛdi sthitān trivargaṁ ca mahārāja pitaraḥ śrāddhatarpitāḥ

—as well as with meritorious rites like the pitri-medha and Shraddhas both great and small, satisfy his ancestors. O great king, ancestors thus satisfied by the Shraddha grant the desires cherished in one's heart, and the triple goal of righteousness, wealth, and pleasure.

Verse 61 (skanda.6.215.61)

तर्पयंति न ये पापाः स्वपितॄन्नित्यशो नृप पशवस्ते सदा ज्ञेया द्विपदाः शृंगवर्जिताः

tarpayaṁti na ye pāpāḥ svapitṝnnityaśo nṛpa paśavaste sadā jñeyā dvipadāḥ śṛṁgavarjitāḥ

O king, those wicked men who do not daily offer libations to their own ancestors should always be regarded as mere beasts — two-legged creatures without horns.